So, does it matter that one of our top Ambassador’s has to resign because of a leaked confidential assessment of Donald Trump and the current US government? Yes – it most certainly does, and it is enormously damaging and not just because President Trump doesn’t take kindly to criticism. It matters because Ambassadors are expected,…
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Interview with Carole Hubscher, President, Caran d’Ache
In an age when communication takes place almost exclusively via screens, why should we still value the pen? Handwriting is an important tool for our cognitive development; it’s proven that handwriting has a direct impact on our reading and recall capabilities. Writing by hand, not on a device, provides a complete individuality and freedom to…
Read MoreLord Soley – ‘The Impact of The Increased Use of Referendums On The Functioning of Representative Democracy in The United Kingdom’
I have been increasingly concerned over the use of referendums in the United Kingdom. I do not like referendums. I think Britain functions much better under Edmund Burke’s representative democracy model, where MPs and Governments can be thrown out if the electorate so wish. By and large, referendums do more harm than good. There are,…
Read MoreInterview With Emma Winchurch-Beale, President, World Media Group & International Sales Director at The Washington Post
Why are the WMAs important? The World Media Awards are hosted by the World Media Group, a strategic alliance of the world’s leading international media brands, and together we represent a strong quality environment for advertising going forward. Our role is to be the champion of high quality and trusted journalism. With the back drop…
Read MoreMichael Bloomberg & Carl Pope – Climate of Hope, ‘Can We Heal The Environment’.
What happens if we do bust the 1,000-gigaton carbon budget? We can still bring concentrations of those gases back down to a level that sustains a stable climate. We won’t get back quite the climate of the last 500 years, but we can shoot for one that future generations can adjust to. We have some…
Read MorePeaches Golding OBE, ‘The Importance of Diversity in Executive Recruitment’.
I entered the world of executive recruitment with the perspective I gained over twenty years in the boardroom. My journey along the corridors of corporate power demonstrates how tough it has been for the boardroom to reflect the ethnic and gender diversity visible in today’s society. I do not believe this is a deliberate strategy…
Read MoreInterview with Evgeny Lebedev, Owner of the Independent and Evening Standard
Where do you live and spend most of your time? I live in London throughout the year. This is where I’ve lived since I was 8, and though I travel a huge amount, and have a place in Italy, there’s no doubt that I’m a Londoner first and foremost. How important is philanthropy to you?…
Read MoreAn Evening With Rabbi Marc Schneier, ‘Strengthening The Relationship Between Israel and the Gulf’
How did you get involved with the Gulf? When the late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, the custodian of the two great Mosques, launched his interfaith initiative in 2008, the then Saudi Ambassador to the United States, Adel al-Jubeir, reached out to invite me to the first interfaith gathering convened by King Abdullah and the…
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Capri Dolce Vita, by Assouline
Capri, a resort island dating back to the height of the Roman Empire, has long been an extraordinary destination full of ancient charm. Cherished by everyone from physician Axel Munthe, who recommended its clean air to his patients as a cure for bronchitis; to film director Jean-Luc Godard as the setting for his 1963 film…
Read MoreAlexander Johnson – Director, London Film & Media Company
Alexander Johnson is not what you might expect from a man who was, at the age of 23, the youngest CEO on the London Stock Exchange. Softly spoken, with an unassuming air about him, it’s difficult to imagine the former stockbroker playing hardball in business. But having been at the helm of several successful companies, he’s now…
Read MoreChristopher Hill – The Future of British Foreign Policy, Where are we Going?
The endless arm wrestling over Brexit has meant that Britain has been eyes down since June 2016, preoccupied with the backstop, the deal or no deal, and the internal agonies of the Conservative Party. The opportunity costs in terms of pressing domestic issues neglected are obvious. Much less discussed has been the long term future…
Read MoreVernon Bogdanor, ‘Beyond Brexit’, Towards a British Constitution
Perhaps an apology is needed for inflicting upon the public yet another book on Brexit. Someone has remarked that everything possible about Brexit has already been said, but it has not yet been said by everybody! But my recently published book, Beyond Brexit, is not about the whys and wherefores of Brexit. It seeks instead…
Read More‘Make, Think, Imagine’, by Lord Browne of Madingley
Several years ago, a friend took me to an auction of old watches in Switzerland. He told me he was keen to buy one made by Breguet; I had no idea what he was talking about, but I went with him to the pre-sale exhibition, and what I saw opened my eyes to a branch…
Read MoreTrevor Horwell, CEO at Nobu Hospitality
Since Nobu Hospitality moved into the hotel industry five years ago, the luxury lifestyle brand has grown to operate across five continents. On track to operate 20 hotels by 2020, the iconic portfolio will see properties in Barcelona, Los Cabos and Chicago launch this year alone. With a career in luxury hospitality spanning more than…
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A Touch of Style, by Assouline
Carlos Mota is the mastermind behind the amazing photographs seen in all the top design magazines, including Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, House & Garden, Vanity Fair, Departures, and Interior Design. His gifted and educated eye for selecting furniture, textiles, accessories, and art has produced some memorable imagery. Mota is known for adding color and sophistication…
Read MoreNiccolo Barattieri Di San Pietro, CEO at Northacre
How did you first become involved in the development industry? After many years of working in the City as a trader for various hedge funds, I realised that I’m more of a people’s person and that a finance career would never be able to fulfill me. I have always had a strong interest in property…
Read MoreErol Tabanca – Architecture, Business and The Odunpazari Modern Museum (OMM)
What was the first work of art you purchased for your collection? Was there a specific moment that was a catalyst for the start of your collecting? About 20 years ago, I went to an auction with a friend. Even though I wasn’t planning to buy an artwork, I took a liking to a small…
Read MoreSpeciality Food Industry – The History of Partridges, by John Shepherd, Managing Director
Partridges opened its doors for the first time at 132 Sloane Street on 25th May 1972 at 9am. A former car showroom had been transformed into a delicatessen with the slogan “Good things for the larder”. It was the vision of my older brother Richard who after studying at the LSE with Mick Jagger, among…
Read MoreEmily Young – Sculptor
What initially led you to become a Sculptor? When did you know it was the medium for you? My grandmother was a successful sculptor, so there were no huge taboos to break, the family home was full of her work, though she died years before I was born. For a while, till my early thirties,…
Read MoreJahid Fazal-Karim, Owner and Chairman of the Board, Jetcraft
Please introduce us to Jetcraft, what do you specialise in? Jetcraft is the largest international buyer, seller and trader of business aircraft. Through our 55+ year history, we have amassed a global presence, with more than 20 offices worldwide. Our Sales Directors know the local market, speak the local language and have facilitated numerous aircraft…
Read MoreCharlie Betts, Managing Director, Betts Group
Betts was founded in 1760 and is now in its third century of trading. Tell us a little about the history of Betts. The business was founded to service the newly developed jewellery industry in Birmingham at the start of the industrial revolution. Obviously a lot has changed since then, with huge technological developments in…
Read MoreLord Haselhurst PC – Starting Over, from the House of Commons to the House of Lords
Despite having served over forty years as a member of the House of Commons I am discovering on appointment to the House of Lords how much I have to learn about how the Upper House works. In a typical week at Westminster there is rarely any pressing need for MPs to familiarise themselves with proceedings…
Read MoreInterview with Hannah Akroyd, Managing Director, Akroyd & Co.
How did you get your start in residential property? I had set my sights on being a lawyer. However, whilst undergoing my law degree, I took a work experience role with a property company and rather surprised myself when I fell in love with the world of property. So after I completed my degree I…
Read MoreGiovanni Dolci – Senior Vice President, IMAX
What is your role at IMAX and what are you responsible for? In my role of senior vice president of theatre development and managing director of Europe and Africa, I am primarily responsible for overseeing IMAX’s growth and theatre expansion in these markets, as well as implementing the company’s strategy throughout the region. Please can…
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Nuraphone Headphones by Nura Review
Aussie-founded headphones first entered into the collective consciousness just a year ago with the launch of a Kickstarter campaign. And not just any campaign either, as the Nuraphone turned out to be Australia’s largest funded Kickstarter campaign ever. Quite the accolade indeed. So what made it so popular? Well, our guess is the premise that…
Read MoreBaroness Shirley Williams – The Biography by Mark Peel
During a discussion marking the death of Margaret Thatcher in April 2012, the journalist and broadcaster Andrew Neil turned to Shirley Williams, the Liberal Democrat peer and former Labour Cabinet minister, and asked her why Thatcher had beaten her in the race to become Britain’s first female prime minister. It was a pertinent question because…
Read MoreRichard Ovenden – Curator, Bodleian Library in Oxford
The position of Bodley’s Librarian is one of the top librarian jobs in the world. Richard Ovenden took the job in 2014, becoming the twenty-fifth curator of the legendary Bodleian Library in Oxford. As such, he is responsible for the largest university library in the UK and one of the major research libraries in the…
Read MorePeter Speake-Marin – The Luxury Watch Industry
The watch industry as we see it today is a constantly adapting animal. Born essentially from an innovation one century ago and forever adapting to its place in the world. An explosion of creativity in the first half of the 20th century in design and mechanics surrounding this innovation of the wristwatch gave birth to…
Read MoreFiona Dunlop – In Cáceres with José Pizarro
Sometimes even the best-made plans unspool alarmingly – but when they involve the gregarious chef, José Pizarro, that seems almost par for the course. Fiona Dunlop embarks on a voyage of Extremaduran discovery with the London-based chef. Hyperactive, he moves at lightning speed between his three London restaurants, his home city of Cáceres and finally…
Read MoreRobert Lacey – Model Woman
Between 1947 and 2007 Eileen Ford created the largest and longest lasting model agency the world has ever seen, famed for its blonde and slinky beauties whose thighs would stretch for miles. If you booked a Ford model, you got Ferrari and Porsche glamour—with Rolls-Royce prestige and prices: Jerry Hall, Lauren Hutton, Christie Brinkley, Christie…
Read MoreGisela Stuart MP – The Importance of Anniversaries
Anniversaries are helpful to put things into context. Give or take a year or two it’s 100 years since world war one started, 50 years since Winston Churchill died, 40 years since the UK joined the then Common Market and its been just over 25 years since the Berlin Wall fell. After that the Soviet…
Read MoreD.L Osborne – The Grand Tour, Geneva Region, Switzerland
Orson Welles said Switzerland’s accolades amount to 500 years of peace, brotherly love and the invention of the cuckoo clock. He was a cynic. What Switzerland symbolizes for the 21st century traveller is remarkable. Within this landlocked nation, her incredible natural beauty and peace allow you to be yourself because her prosperity and cleverly developed…
Read MoreTej Kholi – The Business of Philanthropy
There is a great difference between charity and philanthropy, but it is a difference that is too often ignored. Charity is the act of giving money, any amount, but not actively engaging in the cause. Philanthropy involves giving money, certainly, but also requires personal and proactive involvement. The traditional image of the billionaire philanthropist is…
Read MoreInterview With The President of The USA, Donald J. Trump
As Chairman and President of the enormously successful Trump Organization, how do you see the business evolving over the next ten years or so? For example will you be branching out into other industries to seek growth or stick to your current mainstays? That’s hard to determine. I’m always open to possibilities, and we have…
Read MoreBen Derbyshire, President, RIBA
What exactly does RIBA (The Royal Institute of British Architects) do? The Royal Institute of British Architects is a global professional membership body driving excellence in architecture. We serve our members and society to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. Being inclusive, ethical, environmentally aware and collaborative underpins all that…
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