OFFBounds Retail

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.