OFFBounds is a podcast where commerce executives share their perspectives, successes, and lessons learned in their careers to inspire other global leaders in their journey and decision-making.
Every week, the host Paula Macaggi meets industry leaders to discuss business strategies, careers, and leadership in one-on-one conversations challenging the limits of borders and boundaries.
Paula unveils the person behind the leader and brings to her audience of commerce executives experiences to relate, motivate, and reflect on decisions that are shaping commerce.
OFFBounds is the first podcast recorded in person with audio and video featuring executives in commerce from around the world.
OFFBounds is a podcast where commerce executives share their perspectives, successes, and lessons learned in their careers to inspire other global leaders in their journey and decision-making.
Every week, the host Paula Macaggi meets industry leaders to discuss business strategies, careers, and leadership in one-on-one conversations challenging the limits of borders and boundaries.
Paula unveils the person behind the leader and brings to her audience of commerce executives experiences to relate, motivate, and reflect on decisions that are shaping commerce.
OFFBounds is the first podcast recorded in person with audio and video featuring executives in commerce from around the world.
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.