The Entrepreneurs
A weekly deep dive into global business. Inspiring stories from startups to legacy brands in hospitality, design, fashion, and retail.
Latest Episodes
Smoothlink
Monocle’s Asia editor, James Chambers, explores Hong Kong’s role in manufacturing with the CEO of Smoothlink, a textile and garment factory that partners with some of the world’s most innovative apparel labels – and puts branding at the heart of its operations.
Fromental and Leslie David Studio
We meet Tim Butcher, one half of the dynamic designer-maker couple behind luxury design brand Fromental, which specialises in handcrafted wallpapers and textiles. Butcher discusses how he and his co-founder wife, Lizzie Deshayes, navigate intertwining their personal and professional lives, the studio’s growth and its international presence. Plus: the creative…
Copenhagen International Fashion Fair special
Monocle’s Tom Webb joins the show to tell us who he met at CIFF, the longest-running fashion fair in northern Europe and a key date for industry insiders. Featuring Stine Goya, designer and founder of the eponymous womenswear label beloved by the city’s smart set; Barbora Surá, co-founder and CEO…
Matilda’s Bloombox and Sowvital
We meet the founder of a San Francisco-based flower delivery service that sources blooms from local farmers in California. Emily Boschetto talks about the origin of the business, which started in a Bay Area garage, and how it blossomed into a multi-state brand. Plus: Jack Lewis returns to chat about…
The Grey and Ipsum Alii
We meet the founder of The Grey, a skincare range tailored specifically for men, with sleek packaging designed for easy travel. Plus: we head to Zürich to hear how the Swiss-based Japanese skincare brand Ipsum Alii fuses ancestral healing herbs with modern science.
Norrsken Foundation and Round Rivers
Niklas Adalberth, co-founder of Klarna, talks about quitting the financial services company to pursue something more meaningful. He discusses launching the Norrsken Foundation, a Swedish non-profit that invests in start-ups tackling challenging global issues, the pitfalls of chasing financial success without purpose and the role of businesses in changing things…
Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Francis Kurkdjian is a world-renowned “nose” and founder of his eponymous perfume-maker that has created some of the world’s most celebrated fragrances.He discusses his lifelong fascination with couture, the importance of creative collaboration and how technology is shaping the future of perfume. Plus: how to navigate the challenges posed by…
Pillar Wellbeing
Harry Jameson, co-founder of Pillar Wellbeing, shares insights from his extensive career as a performance coach and explains the holistic approach to health and wellness that led to the creation of his company.
Ruskin
Alli Abdelal talks about founding her luxury bag brand in 2015 after a chance encounter with a farmer introduced her to the rare Herdwick sheep of the Lake District. Abdelal shares the importance of creating products with lasting integrity and collaborating with Italian artisans, as well as how customer feedback…
Festa and Gerações da Talha
Festa and Bar Douro founder Max Graham talks about the diversity and dynamism of Portugal’s wine scene and why he is so passionate about introducing people to the food and drink of his country. Plus: we head to a winery in Alentejo that dates back to the 1700s to meet…
