OFFBounds Retail

Hosted by Paula Macaggi

Business Careers

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Episodes

136

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

OFFBounds is where the world’s retail and commerce leaders go beyond headlines to talk about the decisions, strategies, and ideas shaping the future of the industry. Every week, Paula Macaggi sits down in person with executives from leading brands, retailers, and technology companies for candid conversations about leadership, innovation, growth, and the realities behind building modern commerce businesses. More than a traditional interview show, OFFBounds explores the human side of leadership: the risks taken, the lessons learned, the moments of reinvention, and the perspectives that rarely make it into press releases or conference stages. Recorded in person with premium audio and video production, OFFBounds brings global commerce executives together in conversations designed to inform, challenge, and inspire the next generation of industry leaders.

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60 recent

August 18, 2026Episode 13031 min

130. ☀️ [Rewind] Vitamin Shoppe's Andrew Laudato on AI, Innovation and the Future of Retail

What does it take to lead retail innovation when technology is evolving faster than ever? In this OFFBounds Summer Rewind, Paula Macaggi revisits her conversation with Andrew Laudato, Chief Operating Officer of The Vitamin Shoppe and author of Fostering Innovation . Andrew explains why companies do not need a separate AI strategy, but a strong business strategy that uses AI and other technologies to solve real problems and better serve customers. The conversation explores AI agents, composable commerce, technology leadership, and how retailers can build high-performing teams prepared for constant change. Andrew also shares why curiosity is becoming one of the most valuable skills for the next generation of leaders. Recorded before many of today’s AI conversations became mainstream, this episode feels less like a prediction and more like a practical roadmap for the future of commerce.

August 11, 2026Episode 12933 min

129. ☀️[Rewind] How Tony’s Chocolonely Scaled Purpose Without Compromise

Can a purpose-driven brand scale without compromising its mission? In this OFFBounds Summer Rewind, Paula Macaggi revisits her conversation with Dusan Vujovic, President of North America at Tony’s Chocolonely, to explore how the company entered one of the world’s most competitive consumer categories and built a loyal following around its mission to make chocolate 100% exploitation-free. Dusan shares how Tony’s expanded into major retailers including Walmart, Target, Costco, Whole Foods, and Kroger while using bold branding, supply chain transparency, and purpose as engines for growth. Now the subject of a Columbia Business School case study published through Harvard Business Publishing, Tony’s story offers a powerful lesson in brand building and proves that doing the right thing can also be good business.

August 3, 2026Episode 12837 min

128. ☀️[Rewind] How Mecca Brands Scales Human Connection in Retail

This week on our Summer Rewind series, we're revisiting one of our favorite conversations from Singapore at NRF APAC with Ian Burl, Chief Retail Officer at Mecca, Australia's leading prestige beauty retailer. Long before "experiential retail" became an industry buzzword, Mecca was building stores centered on human connection, empathy, and memorable customer experiences. In this episode, Ian shares how the company has created a culture where customer stories matter more than short-term metrics, why investing deeply in frontline education pays dividends, and how emotion has become one of the retailer's greatest competitive advantages. As AI reshapes commerce, Ian makes a compelling case that emotional intelligence will become even more valuable than technical intelligence. From designing stores that foster genuine human connection to using technology only when it enhances, rather than replaces, the customer experience, he offers a refreshing perspective on the future of retail leadership. Whether you're building stores, digital experiences, or leading teams, this conversation is a powerful reminder that in an increasingly automated world, the most meaningful competitive advantage is still profoundly human.

July 28, 2026Episode 12741 min

127. Randa Apparel and Accessories' EVP and CMO, David Katz: “Signal is the thing that challenges what you believe.”

Retail leaders have access to more information than ever, but knowing what actually matters is a different challenge. In this episode of OFFBounds, Paula Macaggi sits down with David Katz, EVP & Chief Marketing Officer of Randa Apparel & Accessories, to explore how leaders can separate signal from noise and identify the shifts that could fundamentally change their businesses. Drawing from Randa’s unique position across manufacturing, wholesale, brands and retail, David looks beyond the obvious implications of major forces shaping the market today. From GLP-1 adoption and America’s aging population to climate change, geopolitical instability and evolving consumer behavior, David reveals the secondary effects that businesses may be overlooking. He also shares how Randa uses scenario planning, behavioral economics and early indicators to challenge assumptions and prepare for changes before they fully appear in the data. At the heart of the conversation is a powerful idea: we don’t have a shortage of information, we have a shortage of interpretation.

July 21, 2026Episode 12627 min

126. Veronica Beard's CEO, Stephanie Unwin: "The strongest brands are built one customer at a time."

This episode was brought to you by Rayon. As retail brands open stores across new markets, from New York to Paris, keeping design consistent while moving fast gets harder. Rayon is a collaborative, browser-based platform built for people who design spaces, helping retail teams create layouts, documentation, and standards in one place, so every new location stays on-brand without slowing the rollout. Visit rayon.design and sign up for free today. ---- Veronica Beard has become one of fashion's most admired brands by taking a very different path to growth. In this episode of OFFBounds, Paula Macaggi sits down with CEO Stephanie Unwin to explore how the company built a loyal community before opening stores, expanded thoughtfully from New York to London and Paris, and created a brand that women genuinely connect with. From retail strategy to international expansion, Stephanie shares the decisions that shaped Veronica Beard's remarkable journey. The conversation also dives into leadership, entrepreneurship, and the future of retail. Stephanie explains why profitable, long-term growth beats chasing rapid scale, how AI should enhance—not replace—human connection, and why understanding your customer remains the foundation of every successful brand. This episode offers timeless lessons on building a brand that lasts.

July 14, 2026Episode 12526 min

125. Shannon Flanagan's Book, 'Choose, Don't Chase Your Career'.

In this episode of OFFBounds, Paula Macaggi sits down with retail leader, five-time Top Retail Expert, NRF Top Voice, and Retail Women in Tech founder Shannon Flanagan to discuss the launch of her new book, Choose, Don't Chase Your Career . After being laid off four times between 2016 and 2024, Shannon shares how those experiences forced her to rethink success, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves about work. Together, they explore why career transitions are about far more than finding the next job—they're opportunities to redefine who we are and what truly matters. The conversation dives into fear, comparison, burnout, financial insecurity, and the courage to pause instead of rushing into the next opportunity. Shannon explains why the traditional definition of success is no longer enough, how to recognize the "scripts" that shape our decisions, and why choosing purpose over chasing titles can lead to a more meaningful career and life. Whether you're navigating a layoff, considering a career change, or simply questioning what success looks like, this episode offers practical wisdom and an honest reminder that sometimes the greatest transformation happens in the space between chapters. You can buy Shannon's book here!

July 7, 2026Episode 12324 min

124. Scanteak's CEO, Jamie Lim: "AI should be part of the process, not the purpose."

Artificial intelligence is transforming retail, but Jamie Lim believes most companies are starting in the wrong place. As the second-generation CEO of Scanteak, a retail group with more than 10 brands and over 200 stores across Singapore and Taiwan, Jamie has spent two decades embracing technology not because it's new, but because it solves real business problems. From automating delivery scheduling to experimenting with AI-powered demand forecasting, she shares candid lessons on what worked, what didn't, and why failure is often the price of meaningful innovation. In this episode of OFFBounds, Paula Macaggi and Jamie explore how retailers should evaluate emerging technologies, why AI should remain an enabler rather than the end goal, and why authentic human connections will become even more valuable in an increasingly artificial world. They also discuss leading through uncertainty, building a culture that embraces experimentation, and why the best innovation strategy is surprisingly simple: don't shop for technology—shop for problems worth solving.

July 6, 2026Episode 12430 min

123. 7-Eleven Singapore's Managing Director, Anushree Khosla: "We don't just want to be a convenience store. We want to be a place of discovery."

Convenience retail is evolving beyond speed and accessibility. In this episode of OFFBounds, Paula Macaggi sits down with Anushree Khosla, Managing Director of 7-Eleven Singapore, to explore how one of the world's most recognizable retail brands is transforming its stores into destinations for discovery. Inspired by the success of convenience retail in markets like Japan, 7-Eleven Singapore is rethinking everything from store design and food innovation to viral products, collectibles, and customer experience to give consumers a reason to come back again and again. Anushree also shares lessons from her career across India, Hong Kong, and Singapore, explaining why understanding consumer behavior is more important than ever and how leaders can build organizations that continuously adapt to changing customer expectations. The conversation offers valuable insights into retail transformation, merchandising strategy, convenience retail, and what it takes to stay relevant in one of the world's fastest-moving industries.

June 23, 2026Episode 12229 min

122. Warehouse Group's Head of Strategy and Media: "The future of retail media is audience-first, not retailer-first."

Recorded at NRF APAC in Singapore, Paula Macaggi sits down with Alex Lawson, Head of Strategy & Media at The Warehouse Group, one of the largest retailers in New Zealand, operating more than 160 stores across brands including The Warehouse, Noel Leeming, and Warehouse Stationery. Alex shares how the company built its retail media business from the ground up in a market where stores remain central to shopping behavior, offering a unique perspective on how retail media evolves beyond the supermarket playbook. The conversation explores the realities of launching a retail media network in a smaller, highly distinctive market, balancing in-store and digital experiences, educating internal teams and brand partners, and creating value for both endemic and non-endemic advertisers. Alex also shares lessons learned from building the business, discusses why physical stores remain powerful media channels, and offers his perspective on the future of retail media, first-party data, AI, and agentic commerce. It's a thoughtful look at innovation, experimentation, and what happens when retailers start thinking like media companies.

June 16, 2026Episode 12126 min

121. OnTheList's CEO, Delphine Dultzin: "Even with AI, you can never predict 100% what customers will want."

In this episode of OFFBounds, Paula Macaggi goes to Singapore for NRF APAC 2026 and sits down with Delphine Dultzin, CEO and Co-Founder of OnTheList , to explore a retail challenge that rarely gets discussed: what happens to the products brands don't sell. What began as a side project in Hong Kong has grown into a business operating across 11 markets, helping luxury and premium brands transform excess inventory into curated shopping events that create value for both consumers and brands. Delphine shares how OnTheList built trust with some of the world's leading brands while creating a model that combines profitability, customer experience, and sustainability. The conversation also dives into the realities of building and scaling a company across Asia and the Middle East. Delphine reflects on launching without a playbook, learning through trial and error, navigating cultural differences across markets, and why understanding local consumers matters more than replicating a formula. From the future of inventory management and AI-driven forecasting to entrepreneurship, resilience, and retail innovation, this episode offers valuable lessons for anyone interested in the evolving world of commerce. Based on the interview transcript you shared.