OFFBounds Retail

In this episode of OFFBounds, Paula Macaggi sits down with Azita Martin, VP & GM of AI for Retail, CPG, and QSR at NVIDIA, the world’s most valuable company. Together they explore how AI is transforming retail, from e-commerce and supply chain optimization to computer vision, robotics, and digital twins. Azita shares real-world examples from companies like L’Oréal, Lowe’s, and Yum! Brands, and explains why agentic AI and “Physical AI” will redefine how we shop and experience brands in the years ahead.Understand more how Nvidia supports retailers here: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/industries/retail/

In this episode of OFFBounds in partnership with Groceryshop, Paula Macaggi sits down with Linda Bethea, CMO of Danone North America, to explore how one of the world’s largest food companies is navigating a massive shift in consumer behavior. From the rise of GLP-1 medications and America’s growing focus on wellness, to innovations like Oikos Fusion, cultural activations at Coachella, and retail media strategies, Linda shares how Danone is making health both accessible and engaging. She also reveals her 4 C’s of leadership: Curiosity, Courage, Conviction, and Compassion, and what it takes to build brands that truly drive sustainable growth. ----Sponsored by VTEX

In this episode of OFFBounds, Paula sits down with Jenna Bromberg, Chief Marketing Officer of Papa Johns, to explore how pizza, hospitality, and retail collide in her career journey. From Pizza Hut to Hilton to Carter’s and now Papa Johns, Jenna shares how each experience shaped her leadership and vision for the brand. We talk about personalization at scale, creative campaigns that break through culture (yes, even a garlic bath bomb 🧄🛁), and the balance between creativity and performance. She also gives us a peek into how Papa Johns is using data, loyalty, and innovation to stay at the center of family rituals and celebrations. If you’re curious about marketing that makes people hungry and engaged, this episode is for you.

In this episode of OFFBounds, Paula Macaggi sits down with Jessica Alsing, Chief Digital Officer at Grendene Global Brands — the powerhouse behind Melissa, Ipanema, and Rider. Jessica shares how she helped Melissa achieve 12x growth in the U.S., why storytelling and community are essential to building authentic global brands, and the leadership lessons she’s carried from her time at Gap, West Elm, and Crocs. From Melissa’s cult following and iconic collaborations to its sustainable closed-loop manufacturing in Brazil, this conversation is packed with insights on scaling beloved brands, navigating new markets, and leading with curiosity.Jessica will be on stage at Shoptalk Fall in Chicago and you can join us by getting your ticket here: https://fall.shoptalk.com/tickets

In this episode of OFFBounds, Paula Macaggi sits down with retail leadership expert and author April Sabral to explore how positivity can transform teams, culture, and results. From her start as a 17-year-old sales associate to leading hundreds at Starbucks, Banana Republic, and David’s Tea, April shares lessons from three decades in retail leadership, including her ACT framework (Accept, Create, Teach), the $1M chocolate bar story, and insights from her upcoming book Positive Accountability. Packed with practical advice and inspiring stories, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to lead with purpose, empathy, and impact.

Lauren Steinberg, Chief Digital Officer at Loblaw Companies Limited, shares how Canada’s largest retailer transformed from an in-store-only business into a multi-billion-dollar digital powerhouse. She reveals how building a “startup within the enterprise” enabled agility and innovation at scale, the role of personalization and AI in reshaping online grocery, and why true customer loyalty goes far beyond points. Lauren also reflects on leadership lessons from her 13-year journey and how Loblaw is connecting food, health, and technology to better serve millions of Canadians.Lauren will be speaking at Groceryshop this September in Vegas. Click here to join us!

While in Singapore for NRF APAC 2025, Paula Macaggi sits down with Josh Friedman, SVP of Digital & E-commerce at Ulta Beauty, to explore how the iconic beauty retailer is blending personalization, AI, and omnichannel innovation to shape the future of shopping. From the Shop My Store feature and 45 million–strong loyalty program to a thriving online community and an upcoming curated marketplace, Josh shares how Ulta is creating seamless, relevant, and inspiring experiences that connect customers online and in-store.Subcribe to our newsletter: https://offbounds.substack.com

In this special episode recorded live at NRF APAC 2025 in Singapore, Paula Macaggi sits down with Panchalee Weeratammawat, Chief People Officer at Central Retail Group, and Mia Anderson, GM of Retail and Channels at 2degrees, to explore how investing in employee happiness leads to stronger customer experiences and business growth. From transforming HR into a strategic powerhouse to turning around employee NPS from -19 to +72, this candid conversation reveals the fundamental strategies behind building a people-first culture in retail.

In this episode recorded in Singapore for NRF APAC 2025, Paula Macaggi sits down with Ian Burl, Chief Retail Officer at Mecca Brands, Australia's leading prestige beauty retailer. Ian shares how Mecca has built a cult-like following by designing every part of the customer journey around how people feel.From spending every Friday on the store floor to investing 4% of revenue into team education and empathy training, Ian reveals how Mecca scales human connection across 110+ stores. Together, they explore why emotional intelligence (EQ) is becoming more valuable than IQ, how it drives loyalty, and why, in an AI-driven world, human connection will become the ultimate luxury.

In this episode, Shaoming Yang, VP of DingDong Fresh, shares how the company is transforming grocery retail in China through a deeply integrated, AI-powered model. From operating over 1,000 dark stores to delivering live seafood in under 30 minutes, DingDong combines precision forecasting, supply chain innovation, and customer personalization to create one of the most efficient grocery ecosystems in the world. Shaoming breaks down how AI drives everything — from replenishment and logistics to customer service — and why DingDong’s “one inch wide, one kilometer deep” approach is enabling not just fast delivery, but true sustainability and global scalability.