Complex CEO: Aaron Levant – Street Culture, the Convergence of URL and IRL, & Why Curation Is the Highest Form of Innovation

Complex CEO: Aaron Levant – Street Culture, the Convergence of URL and IRL, & Why Curation Is the Highest Form of Innovation

The Gstaad Guy sits down with Aaron Levant, CEO of Complex and one of the most conviction-driven figures in modern media and culture, to explore what it truly means to build something at the intersection of taste, access, and community. From the early days of street culture to architecting ComplexCon into one of the most distinctive live experiences in the world, Aaron reflects on a career built not on following trends but on understanding them before anyone else does. The conversation gets into the art of thinking laterally, why being a generalist in a world of specialists is an underrated advantage, and what it really takes to democratise cultural experiences without diluting what makes them matter. Aaron speaks candidly about the stigma of trying and failing, the discipline of having strong conviction when the room disagrees, and why the future of retail belongs to those who can make people feel something. Restless, sharp, and deeply knowledgeable about how culture actually moves, it is a conversation about hustle, belonging, and what happens when good taste meets genuine dedication. Filmed at The Maybourne Beverly Hills Garden Suite. (00:00) Intro ✨🎙️ (01:06) Backstory 📖🌱 (03:28) Thinking Laterally 🧠🔀 (06:04) Wearing The Same Outfit 👔🔄 (09:14) What is Complex? 🤔💡 (11:37) ComplexCon 🎪🌍 (14:04) A Sense Of Belonging 🤝🏻❤️ (15:08) Typical Complex Consumer 👥🎯 (21:30) Taking A Bet 🎲💪🏻 (28:05) Democratising Experiences 🌍✨ (31:35) Art 🎨🖼️ (33:38) A Generalist In This Day & Age 🧠🌍 (36:16) Cultural Meshes 🌍🔀 (39:09) Street Culture 🏙️👟 (40:36) The Business Of Complex 💼📈 (45:10) Curation As A Form Of Innovation 🎯💡 (49:02) Creating Partnerships 🤝🏻🤝🌟 (51:27) Collectibles 🏆✨ (53:59) Headlines vs. Real Depth 📰🔍 (58:33) Sneaker Culture 👟🔥 (1:02:01) Design & Function 🎨⚙️ (1:06:19) The Future Of Retail 🛍️🔮 (1:10:05) Streamers & Live Shopping 📱🛍️ (1:13:10) Next Generation Of Hires 👶🏻💼 (1:17:45) Being A First Mover 🚀🌟 (1:19:01) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

SKIMS Co-Founder & CEO: Jens Grede – Timelessness, the American Dream, & What It Really Means to Make a Simple Product Great

The Gstaad Guy sits down with Jens Grede, co-founder and CEO of SKIMS and one of the most instinctive brand builders of his generation, to explore what it means to connect products with culture in a way that feels both inevitable and enduring. From his Swedish upbringing and the philosophy of lagom to a career that has taken him from Mr Porter to FRAME to one of the most talked-about consumer brands in the world, Jens reflects on a professional life built on honesty, minimalism, and an obsession with getting the product right. The conversation moves through the tension between being timely and being timeless, what American culture taught him that Europe never could, and why working with people who share your values is the only foundation worth building on. Jens speaks openly about the decision to back himself, the meaning of genuine partnership, and why family, far from being a counterweight to ambition, has always been its greatest source of purpose. Grounded, forward-looking, and refreshingly direct, it is a conversation about integrity, pop culture, and what happens when you care more about the work than the noise around it. Filmed at The Maybourne Beverly Hills Garden Suite. (00:00) Intro ✨🎙️ (00:40) Gstaad 🏔️❄️ (02:41 )Notion Of Family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦❤️ (04:30) Timelessness & Essentialism ⏳✨ (06:50) Value Retail 🛍️💡 (07:53) The Culture of "Lagom" ⚖️🧘 (10:30) Becoming A Founder 💡🚀 (13:35) Social Media 📱🌍 (14:41) Working With A Best Friend 🤝🏻❤️ (17:04) Moncler 🧥🏔️ (19:25) FRAME 👖✨ (20:06) SKIMS 🩱💡 (21:30) Remo Ruffini 👔🏔️ (22:41) "Making A Simple Product Great" ✨🏆 (25:58) Love vs. Passion ❤️🔥 (27:46) The American Dream 🇺🇸🌟 (30:50) The Greatest Partner 🤝🏻💎 (25:05) Making Decisions ⚖️💡 (36:56) Kim Kardashian 📱👑 (40:06) America 🇺🇸🌍 (41:33) American vs. European Culture 🇺🇸🇪🇺 (47:41) Definition Of "Timelessness" ⏳💎 (51:01) Pop Culture 🎤🌍 (56:33) The Modern Consumer 📱🛍️ (58:55) Shared Values Within A Team 🤝🏻❤️ (1:03:27) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Explora Journeys President: Anna Nash – The Ocean State of Mind, Redefining Luxury Travel, & Why Time Is the Ultimate Currency

The Gstaad Guy sits down with Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys, the ultra-luxury ocean travel brand rewriting what it means to experience the sea, to explore what happens when the finest hotel sensibility meets the freedom of open water. From the legacy of seafaring that runs through the MSC family business to the guest-centric philosophy that shapes every detail on board, Anna reflects on the vision, curiosity, and conviction required to challenge an entire industry's perception of itself. The conversation gets into why the stigma around cruising has persisted for so long and what it genuinely takes to dismantle it, the idea that true luxury is not about abundance but about freedom of choice, and why time, more than any amenity, is what the most discerning travellers are really seeking. Anna shares what she has learned from guests who arrive sceptical and leave converted, the particular dynamics of leading within a family-owned business, and why the next generation of leaders will need curiosity above all else. A wide-ranging and genuinely compelling conversation about hospitality, the sea, and the art of giving people an experience they did not know they needed.  Filmed in the Manor House at Rosewood London. (00:00) Intro ✨🎙️ (01:52) Explora Journeys 🚢🌊 (03:45) Hotel Experience 🏨✨ (07:53) A Cruise Experience 🛳️🌅 (10:29) Voids In The Industry 🔍💡 (12:52) Family Owned Business 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🏛️ (15:45) A Family Business Is Like A Monarchy 👑🏰 (20:21) The Onboard Experience 🍽️🌊 (23:42) Freedom, Choice & Variety 🗺️✨ (27:09) Destination Choices 🌍🧭 (33:53) Luxury Spending 💎💰 (38:17) Abundance Of Choice 🎯🌟 (43:18) Next Generation Leaders 👶🏻📈 (47:11 À) La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨ (50:00) Most Memorable Hospitality Experiences ❤️🏆 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Summer Fridays Co-Founder: Marianna Hewitt – Building a Real Brand, Cross-Generational Community, & Why There Are No Quick Wins

The Gstaad Guy sits down with Marianna Hewitt, co-founder of Summer Fridays and one of the earliest and most instinctive voices to emerge from the first wave of Instagram and lifestyle blogging, to explore what it truly takes to turn cultural momentum into something that endures. From her early days in fashion to becoming a first mover in the content creator space, Marianna reflects on the decisions, values, and relentless consistency that laid the foundation for one of skincare's most beloved modern brands. The conversation gets into the thinking behind Summer Fridays, why great skincare should never feel intimidating, and what it really means to build a brand with genuine cross-generational appeal. Marianna speaks honestly about the realities of life as a founder, the difference between good friends and old friends, and why decisiveness, not luck, is the quality that separates those who last from those who fade. Grounded, direct, and full of hard-won perspective, it is a conversation about community, longevity, and what it means to build something real in an industry that moves very fast. Filmed at The Maybourne Beverly Hills Garden Suite. (00:00 Intro ✨🎙️ (02:21) Starting Social Media 📱✨ (03:48) Love For Content ❤️🎨 (04:04) Fashion World 👗✨ (07:12) Being A First Mover 🚀🌟 (10:00) Why "Summer Fridays"? ☀️🧴 (13:38) Skincare Can Be Intimidating 😰🧴 (15:21) Effective Branding & Marketing 📢✨ (19:46) Remaining Excited & Motivated 🔥💪🏻 (21:14) "There Are No Quick Wins" ⏳💡 (25:22) Role Of Founder & CEO 👔🏆 (29:54) Forging Strategic Partnerships 🤝🏻🌟 (33:25) Creating A Social & Digital Brand 📱🌍 (36:14) Cross-Generational Products 👴🏻👶🏻 (39:00) Seeing People Use Your Product 😊❤️ (41:14) Message To Your Younger Self 📝🪞 (44:10) Old Friends vs. Good Friends 👥❤️ (45:34) Being A Decisive Person ⚡✅ (47:05) Key Skills That Drive Success 🔑📈 (49:38) Values 🏛️❤️ (53:16) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Langosteria Founder & CEO: Enrico Buonocore & Strategy Manager: Alessandra Maestroni – Intuition, Understated Excellence, & Building Italy's Most Desired Table

The Gstaad Guy sits down with Enrico Buonocore, Founder and CEO of Buonocore Hospitality Group, and Alessandra Maestroni, Group Strategy Manager, the founders behind Langosteria, Milan's most quietly coveted restaurant and one of the defining expressions of contemporary Italian hospitality, to explore what it truly means to build something extraordinary without a plan, guided entirely by vision, instinct, and an uncompromising sense of what feels right. Partners in business and in life, they reflect on the rare alchemy of working alongside someone who shares both your values and your ambitions. The conversation moves through the philosophy that built Langosteria from the ground up: the importance of locality, the details that most people never notice but always feel, and why understated excellence will always outlast noise. Enrico and Alessandra share what Italian cooking means to them in an era when it has been recognised as Unesco cultural heritage, how Milanese luxury differs from everywhere else, and why passion, not strategy, has been the truest compass throughout. Honest, warm, and deeply considered, it is a conversation about building something that lasts by never losing sight of why you started. Filmed at Mandarin Oriental, Milan. (00:00) Intro ✨🎙️ (01:28) Langosteria 🦞🍽️ (03:25) Italian Passion 🇮🇹❤️ (06:38) PEPE Barra Italiana 🍹🇮🇹 (07:25) Building A Team 👥🤝🏻 (08:38) What's Right For The Business 💼⚖️ (09:50) Starting New Projects 💡🚀 (11:39) Langosteria A Casa 🏠🦞 (13:55) Understanding The Customer 👂🏻🎯 (16:16) Italian Excellence 🇮🇹🏆 (22:14) Types Of Consumer 👥🔍 (24:00) How Milanese Luxury Differs 🏙️💎 (26:20) The Details 🔍✨ (30:15) Running A Successful Restaurant 🍽️🏆 (37:13) The Truth Behind Table Reservations 📋🤫 (39:55) Working With Your Partner 🤝🏻❤️ (43:28) Passion Driven 🔥❤️ (44:05) Path & Strategy 🛤️🧭 (51:10) Langosteria DNA 🧬🦞 (55:24) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨ (1:01:05) Spending Time With Family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦❤️ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]