The Gentleman‘s Journal Podcast
Business
Federico Marchetti is the founder and Chairman of YOOX-Net-a-Porter. He grew up in Ravenna, an ancient town in Northern Italy, which is home to some of the most historically significant mosaics in the world. And Federico describes his career, in fact, like a giant mosaic — a long process of placing building blocks on top of building blocks, slowly working towards a grand design.
After an early career in finance, Federico hit upon the idea of a luxury e-commerce site in 1999, at the height of the Dot Com boom. Most people thought he was crazy for attempting to fuse these two worlds — but after cold calling Italy’s most famous venture capitalist, Federico quickly managed to get the idea off the ground — and the rest, of course, is history. Today, YOOX-Net-a-Porter is one of the biggest e-commerce players in the world, with customers in over 180 countries.
In a fascinating episode, Federico describes how Apple took some of its inspiration from Italian typewriters; why none of us will be using mobile phones in five years time; and how the next Coco Chanel won’t be a designer — but a programmer.
"Work is the greatest painkiller known to man" — Marco Pierre White, chef
"You've got to be present in your crisis" — Andy Coulson, strategic advisor
The 'Icarus of bling' and the joke that felled an empire — Gerald Ratner
The future of tech investment — Jonnie Goodwin OBE and Tommy Stadlen
"It's a marathon AND a sprint" — Will Ahmed, founder of WHOOP
The tinkerer-in-chief — Jamie Siminoff, founder of Ring
"Make it better" — Jasper Cuppaidge, founder of Camden Brewery
"It's not a job. It's more than that." — Sir Martin Sorrell, advertising mogul
Fortune favours the brave — Tim Warrillow, co-founder of Fever-Tree
Special Episode! Inside the Crockett & Jones factory
Buy less, buy better — Jacob Dworsky and August Bard Bringeus, Asket founders
Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good — John Foley, Founder and CEO of Peloton
Do interesting things, and interesting things will happen — Sir John Hegarty
Don't fit in — Imran Amed, CEO of Business of Fashion
Go with your gut — Jeremy King, restaurateur
The art of the deal — Eddie Jordan
Don't take no for an answer — Joe Grossman of Patty & Bun
Follow your nose — Jo Malone CBE
Embrace megalomania — Simon Woodroffe, founder of YO! Sushi
Bill Browder — Putin's Public Enemy Number One
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Commercial Edge: Unleash the Power of People
The emPOWERed Half Hour
U.S Property Podcast
Aligned Money Show
Gorse Culture PODcast : The H.R. Detective Agency!
The Ramsey Show
Planet Money