The Gstaad Guy Podcast

Sabina Belli: CEO of Pomellato – Savoir-Vivre, Modern Femininity, & The Importance of Authentic Craftsmanship In Luxury Goods

The Gstaad Guy sits down with Sabina Belli, CEO of Pomellato, to explore how she transformed one of Italy’s most distinctive maisons into a modern emblem of everyday luxury. With a philosophy rooted in savoir vivre, Milanese elegance, and a deep tribute to women, Sabina reflects on how Pomellato revolutionised prêt-à-porter jewellery and redefined how women wear, express, and empower themselves. The conversation dives into the art of preserving and promoting craftsmanship, the difference between archetypes and personas in storytelling, and what truly defines “The Pomellato Woman.” Sabina opens up about the brand’s values of kindness, generosity, and authenticity, and how gifting, to oneself or to others, carries emotional meaning far beyond ornament. She also discusses navigating healthy versus unhealthy relationships, both personally and professionally, and why jewellery often becomes a symbol of self-respect, resilience, and love. Filmed at Mandarin Oriental, Milan. Chapters: (00:00) Intro ✨ (02:38) Pomellato 💎✨ (04:18) Quintessence of Milan 🇮🇹🏛️ (06:03) DoDo 🐦💍 (07:33) Running Pomellato 🎛️💼 (09:45) Craftsmanship 🛠️🎨 (12:16) “Pomellato Virtuosi” 🎻💎 (13:13) Intelligence of the hand ✋🏻🧠 (15:32) AI 🤖✨ (17:30) Fascinated by luxury 👁️💎 (20:39) Mapping our luxury 🗺️✨ (22:28) Archetypes vs. personas 🎭📊 (25:23) The Pomellato woman 👩‍🧡💍 (32:27) The meaning of the transaction 💍🤝🏻 (34:25) Essence of luxury 💎🌟 (35:25) Self-gifting 🎁💖 (38:53) You rule 👑✨ (40:52) Categories of knowledge 📚🔍 (43:13) Money 💰 (48:18) Be observant 👀🧠 (52:37) Be kind 💛🙂 (53:33) Inclusivity 🌍🤝🏻 (56:51) Reading the room 👁️🏛️ (57:49) Being extraordinary ⭐🌟 (1:02:03) “Virtuoso & La Sprezzatura” 🎻🪶 (1:07:56) Strong women 💪🏻👩‍🦰 (1:12:53) À La Poubelle 🗑️ (1:14:02) Fantastique ✨🌟 (1:15:04) Idea of perfection 🎯💫 (1:16:56) Giving back 🎁🤲🏻 (1:19:51) Kind is boring 💛😐 (1:26:17) The essence of generosity 🤲🏻✨ (1:29:58) Treat people right 🤝🏻❤️ (1:35:41) Inspiring the next generation 🌱⭐ (1:38:26) Modern day heroes 🦸‍♂️🦸‍♀️ (1:39:00) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Carl Pei: Founder & CEO of Nothing – Reinventing Tech, Inspiring Creativity, & Building a Hardware Revolution

The Gstaad Guy sits down with Carl Pei, Founder & CEO of Nothing, to explore what it means to build a hardware company from scratch in an industry dominated by software giants. Known for making technology emotional, expressive, and fun again, Carl brings a perspective that blends design, culture, and radical originality. The conversation delves into the discipline of creating physical products, how constraints sharpen creativity, and why individuality should be embedded into the technology we use every day. Carl reflects on the importance of optimism in innovation, the courage to think differently, and how great gadgets can inspire human creativity and self-expression. A look at the future of tech through the lens of emotion, intention, and personality, reminding us that the next era of innovation is not just about products, but about how they make us feel. Filmed at The Berkeley, London, Knightsbridge Suite. Chapters: (00:00) Intro ✨ (03:41) “Make tech fun to inspire human creativity” ✨🛠️🎨 (04:53) Creativity 💡🎭 (06:11) Tech landscape 🌐📱 (08:50) Launching a hardware business 🚀🔧 (12:59) “The tech world is influenced by Apple” 🍏💫 (18:30) Going into retail 🛍️🏬 (20:13) From Apple ecosystem to Nothing 🍏➡️⭕ (21:41) Vision for Nothing 👀✨ (23:19) Standing out in today’s market 🌟📈 (25:38) Work life balance ⚖️🌿 (28:09) Why phones and audio? 📱🎧 (32:01) Today vs. Tomorrow ⏳➡️🚀 (32:58) How AI will affect screen size 🤖📏📱 (34:33) How do you feel about folding screens? 📱🔁 (38:01) Entrepreneurship in Europe 🇪🇺💼 (41:58) Essential skills 🧠🛠️ (43:23) The new generation 👶🏻➡️💡 (44:32) Trauma fuels growth ⚡🌱 (47:30) Optimism ☀️🙌🏻 (52:00) AI 🤖✨ (54:51) Open source vs. private models 🔓💻🔒 (58:30) The best device for applied AI is a smartphone 📱🤖💡 (01:00:47) Robots 🤖🦾 (01:04:45) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

William Hanson: Author of Just Good Manners – Etiquette, British Dining Codes, & The Art of Grace in a Noisy World

The Gstaad Guy sits down with William Hanson, one of the world’s leading etiquette authorities and author of Just Good Manners, to explore the role of civility and decorum in a rapidly changing world. Known for blending British tradition with contemporary wit, William reflects on a strict upbringing, the foundations of proper behaviour, and how he crafted a global online persona rooted in charm, clarity, and good sense. The conversation dives into the nuances of British dining etiquette, navigating love and relationships with grace, and the art of managing social discourse in an age where opinions move faster than manners. William shares how etiquette is not about snobbery or rigidity, but about kindness, confidence, and the simple act of making others feel at ease. A thoughtful look at why timeless principles matter now more than ever, and how good manners can anchor us in an era of chaos and noise. Filmed at the club at The Twenty Two in London. Chapters: (00:00) Intro ✨ (03:17) Philosophy about peas (07:01) Dining etiquette dilemma 🍽️🤔 (07:48) What to do with foods you cannot swallow 😬🥄 (12:33) Teaching etiquette through entertainment 🎭📚 (15:05) Developing an online persona 👤💻 (16:16) The Gstaad Guy online vs. offline 🎭🧍‍♂️ (17:22) Having strict parents 👨‍👩‍👦📏 (18:38) Music and calls without headphones 📱🔊🙅‍♂️ (21:10) The voids in dating etiquette 💔📏 (24:58) People should not play games 🎭 🚫 (27:47) The art of asking someone out 💐 💬 (29:38) Ideal first date 🌹🍷 (30:52) “Reverse catfish” 🪤🔁😅 (31:13) The optimal flow for a first date 🧭❤️ (33:40) “I don’t like nightclubs” 🚫🕺 (36:24) Should you finish everything on your plate? 🍽️ ✅❓ (37:48) Is refusing to toast at a formal dinner acceptable? 🥂❓ (39:10) Is double dipping truly a faux pas? 🫕 🚫 (41:00) Should you ever correct someone’s table manners? 🍽️ ⚠️ (42:24) Loud vs. soft spoken 🔊 🤫 (43:26) How to ask someone to lower their volume? 🤫 💬 (44:10) Small talk go-tos 💬 ✨ (48:30) Being early 🕒 ✅ (51:34) The art of RSVPing ✉️✔️ (54:21) Is regifting ever ok? 🎁 🔁❓ (57:48) Handwritten thank you notes ✍🏻 💌 (01:00:50) How to politely end conversations 👋🏻 🙂 (01:02:58) What is etiquette fundamentally about? 🎩 🤝🏻 (01:05:23) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️ ✨ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Harley Finkelstein: President of Shopify – Democratising Entrepreneurship, Empowering Founders, & the Tools That Build Global Businesses

The Gstaad Guy sits down with Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify and one of the most influential voices in modern entrepreneurship, to discuss how technology is redefining capitalism by empowering anyone, anywhere, to start and scale a business. From equipping first-time founders to run their own stores, to enabling global brands to reach millions, Harley shares how Shopify is democratising opportunity and lowering the cost of failure, making entrepreneurship more accessible than ever before. The conversation explores the ambition required to build at scale, the obsession with sharpening one’s craft, and the emotional reality of operating a business that spans borders, cultures, and time zones. Harley reflects on the future of entrepreneurship, the rise of young business builders, and why success today is no longer defined by access, but by the courage to create. An exploration of how entrepreneurship and modern commerce have become powerful engines for empowerment, creativity, and self-actualisation. Filmed at Casa Cipriani New York’s Battery Corner Suite. Chapters: (00:00) Intro ✨ (02:49) What Gstaad Guy made Harley feel 🇨🇭✨ (05:41) The golden age of entrepreneurship 🏆⚡ (06:26) Building up Shopify 🧱🚀 (13:16) Creating a business 🛠️💡 (14:53) Entrepreneurship 🔥📈 (17:47) Entrepreneurship in 2025 🔮🏢 (19:20) Universities today 🎓❓ (20:30) What is life’s work? 🧭✨ (21:22) What Shopify solved ✅🧩 (24:17) The story of Fashionova 👗📦 (27:14) Sixteen years at Shopify ⏳🏗️ (30:36) “We are spiky objects” 🧬⚡ (31:10) Do you know the term Ikigai? 🎯🧘‍♂️ (33:01) Love for storytelling 📖❤️ (35:35) James Perse 👕🏛️ (36:49) Side quests vs. main quests 🗺️🎯 (38:15) The most successful stores on Shopify 🛒🏆 (41:46) Appetite for discomfort 🌶️💪🏻 (45:17) Nike 👟⚡ (47:19) If you study history of commerce 📜💰 (52:15) A desire to start a business ✨🚀 (58:00) Intrapreneurship 🧠🏢 (01:04:59) Company culture 🧬🤝🏻 (01:06:30) Choosing a co-founder 🤝🏻🔑 (01:07:30) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Jeremy Zimmer: Co-Founder & Former CEO of UTA – Building a Next-Gen Talent Powerhouse, Shaping Success, & The Nobility of Representation

The Gstaad Guy sits down with Jeremy Zimmer, co-founder and former CEO of United Talent Agency (UTA), to explore what it takes to build one of the most forward-thinking and culturally influential talent companies in the world. From discovering emerging stars to engineering opportunities across film, music, digital media, sports, and technology, Zimmer shares how diversification, strategic intuition, and innovation have shaped UTA into a modern powerhouse. The conversation delves into what it means to manufacture success alongside artists, curate teams driven by purpose, and dream in partnership with talent. Zimmer also reflects on the deep responsibility of representation, not just as a business model, but as a noble calling rooted in trust, belief, and legacy. A rare look into the mindset behind building an agency that doesn’t chase culture, but defines it. Filmed at Nobel LA’s Benedict property. Chapters: (00:00) Intro ✨ (01:00) Starting UTA 🚀🏢 (04:20) Building a next-gen agency ⏭️⭐️ (05:02) Fear of big agencies 😨🏛️ (05:38) Curating a motivated team 🔥👥 (06:44) The term “talent” 🎭✨ (09:50) Diversifying UTA 🌐🔄 (10:50) Choosing the right path for growth 🧭📊 (12:36) Pivoting to social media talent 📲🔁 (18:25) Discovering talent 🔍⭐ (20:59) The nobility of representing artists 👑🎨 (21:40) The greatest business tool is a mirror 🪞💼 (25:51) Progress breeds happiness 😊📈 (27:59) Process vs. Outcome ⚙️🎯 (29:52) Perfection is hard to achieve 👌🏻🧗‍♂️ (31:28) Stepping down from CEO of UTA ⬇️👨‍💼 (33:15) Focusing on what we need least 🧠📉 (34:25) Unlocking a spiritual life 🧘🏻‍♀️🌱 (37:34) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].