That gap between perception and reality is precisely what Millie Kendall has spent her career trying to close. The entrepreneur and co-founder of the British Beauty Council has worked in almost every corner of the industry – from shampoo girl at thirteen to brand founder to policy advocate – and few people understand its contradictions better. An industry where 86% of businesses are owned by women, and yet the top jobs still tend to go to men. An industry that outsizes automobile manufacturing but receives none of the same political attention. An industry that has thrived through financial crisis, pandemic and the cost of living squeeze, but still can't quite shake the charge of being frivolous.

In this episode, Georgina Godwin speaks with Kendall about the forces reshaping beauty right now: the rise of aesthetics and what it means for the future of makeup; why fragrance is quietly becoming the category to watch; what heritage brands get wrong in their panic to compete with challengers; and why biotechnology – creating ingredients in labs rather than sourcing them globally – may be the industry's shrewdest hedge against geopolitical instability. Kendall is also blunt about the fight to regulate the aesthetics industry, the limits of social media, and why the lipstick effect, far from being a marketing myth, tells us something true about how people cope.

Sharp, funny and unexpectedly political – this is the business of beauty, taken seriously at last.

Visionary is brought to you by Here East, London's home of innovation and creativity.

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Paul Krutko makes the case that economic turbulence is often the best time to start something new, explaining why the most resilient regional economies are built through patient "gardening" of local talent rather than chasing headline investments. Dana Thomas revisits her landmark argument that luxury lost its soul the moment it started answering to shareholders instead of customers — and finds the industry has only doubled down since. Tom Ough surveys the researchers and scientists working to prevent civilisation-ending catastrophes, from supervolcanoes to engineered pandemics to runaway AI. And Jeremy Hunt reflects on why the tax and welfare reforms that could genuinely unlock growth are precisely the ones that take the longest to show up in the numbers.

Guests:

• Paul Krutko — President & CEO, Ann Arbor SPARK
• Dana Thomas — Author, Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster
• Tom Ough — Author and journalist
• Jeremy Hunt — Former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer

Presented by Georgina Godwin and Marc Sidwell.

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When London won the Olympic bid in 2005, the real prize wasn't the Games themselves. It was the question that followed: what happens next to 560 acres of contaminated, neglected land in one of the most underserved corners of the capital? 

The answer, slowly and then all at once, has become one of the most ambitious urban transformations in modern British history.

In this episode, Georgina Godwin speaks with Shazia Hussain, CEO of the London Legacy Development Corporation, about what it truly means to build an inclusive innovation district from scratch – and why the hardest part isn't the architecture. From the days when the East Bank waterfront was stacked high with dumped fridges to its current incarnation as the home of the V&A, Sadler's Wells, the BBC, UCL and University of the Arts London, Hussain traces the full arc of a project that has survived three mayors, countless competing interests, and the perpetual tension between world-class ambition and community need.

She talks candidly about the living wage zone, the health innovation agenda, the drive to make these grand institutions genuinely porous to local people — and why the ten-year-olds of today are the real measure of whether any of it has worked. This is a conversation about growth done differently: not extracted from a community, but built with it.

Visionary is brought to you by Here East, London's home of innovation and creativity.

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Georgina Godwin speaks with Benjamin Wolba, co-founder of the European Defense Tech Hub, about how the age of the drone has fundamentally rewritten the rules of who gets to participate in defence. A cheap quadcopter can now neutralise a million-dollar tank. A weekend hackathon can produce a working interceptor prototype. And the skills that once seemed frivolous — flying drones for sport, writing game code, optimising flight algorithms — are suddenly among the most strategically valuable on the continent.

Benjamin charts the journey from Ukraine's improvised drone kitchens to the defence hackathons now running across Europe, from London to Lviv, pulling hundreds of young engineers, physicists and coders into a field they once considered off-limits. 

So where's Europe's real defence gap? Not hardware, Benjamin says, but mindset. In the future, the most innovative thinking will be the key to keeping us all safe.

Visionary is brought to you by Here East, London's home of innovation and creativity.

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Recorded live at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, this episode of Visionary ventures to one of the world's great gatherings of technology and culture. Here East CEO Gavin Poole sits down with Graham Hitchen, Director of the Policy Unit at Loughborough University London, to introduce the Creative Experience Lab London (CELL) — a new physical research and innovation space at Here East, born from a partnership between Loughborough University London and University College London.

CELL isn't a concept lab or a glossy think tank. It's a working prototyping space — equipped with motion capture, LED screens and high-performance computing — designed to bring together the artists, technologists, academics and investors who will shape how we experience culture over the next decade. With Studio Wayne McGregor, the V&A, Sadler's Wells and Sports Interactive already in the orbit, the ambition is clear: to make Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park the place where the world's next landmark creative experience is conceived.

Discover the transatlantic connections being forged at South by Southwest, the role of storytelling in an age of AI, and the enduring promise of the Olympic legacy — asking not just what East London has already become, but what it might yet produce.

Visionary is brought to you by Here East, London's home of innovation and creativity.

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Georgina Godwin speaks with travel writer and author Ash Bhardwaj — whose book 'Why We Travel' won Travel Book of the Year in 2024 — about what happens when the geography of flight is redrawn overnight. From the knock-on chaos affecting airline scheduling and aircrew logistics, to the quieter shift in traveller sentiment that may prove just as consequential, Bhardwaj maps out a world in flux. Could Istanbul emerge as the new pivot point? Will Changi step up? And as long-haul routes grow riskier and more complicated, might Europe and North Africa become the new horizon for global travellers?

The conversation ranges from the mechanics of airspace closures to the reputational stakes for Dubai — a city that sold itself, above all else, on safety — and what it means for a globally connected world when the systems we took for granted prove far more delicate than we imagined.

Visionary is brought to you by Here East, London's home of innovation and creativity.

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Speaking with Georgina Godwin at Here East, Daisy explains how the idea of art as leisure emerged in the 19th century alongside the professionalisation of culture and the rise of “art for art’s sake”. Before that, music, storytelling and communal creativity were woven into daily life. Today, we’ve relegated them to the margins — even as the science shows they may be as fundamental to health as diet or exercise.

The evidence was startling enough to inspire Daisy's new book, 'Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Transform our Health'. Engaging in music activates the same dopaminergic reward pathways as food or sex. Listening to art can lower stress hormones in ways comparable to anti-anxiety medication. Singing can stimulate endogenous opioids that reduce pain. Long-term engagement correlates with slower biological ageing and even longer life. The question, then, is whether we continue to treat creativity as optional — or finally recognise it as essential.

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And yet, despite the scale of several deadly weather events, climate policy remains one of the most divisive issues in Australian politics. In recent years, the country’s main conservative coalition has been largely forced out of the major cities by a new group of independent MPs — the so-called Teals — all women, all advocating stronger climate action.

Political journalist Karen Middleton joins Georgina Godwin to explore how climate change became such a fault line in Australian public life — and whether this hot, dry nation can forge a more unified path forward before the next crisis arrives.

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The same dynamic has shaped the way we work. Flexibility clearly matters, but the evidence increasingly suggests that working alongside others is often better for both productivity and wellbeing.

Offices, then, are not disappearing, but they are evolving. Abby Brown, a partner at Knight Frank, joins Georgina Godwin to discuss how the property market is changing — and what it reveals about the workplace of the future.

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That makes them an attractive target. Disrupt enough connections and daily life quickly begins to fray: communication falters, payments fail, and uncertainty spreads.

Acts of sabotage like this are not new. But they do appear to be becoming more frequent — often timed to coincide with moments when global attention is focused elsewhere.

Elisabeth Braw is a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. She recently wrote for Foreign Policy about the growing threat posed by data outages, and she joins Georgina Godwin to explain how such attacks are carried out — and what can be done to prevent a catastrophic global blackout.

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Sundance, she explains, has always been about reinvention. And amid a changing media landscape – where big-budget celebrity documentaries dominate streamers and selling smaller films is harder than ever – the festival remains a vital launchpad. “Young people are rediscovering the power of independent film,” she says. “Sundance has to reflect that.” While the big players bring scale, it’s the buzz generated on the ground that can turn a smart, small documentary into a global conversation.

As the festival looks ahead to its next chapter in Boulder, Bronwyn sees promise in the university town's fresh energy and audience. The departure from Park City may ruffle a few local feathers, but the mission endures: to create space for cultural dialogue, human storytelling, and artistic risk. “Festivals,” she reminds us, “aren’t just distribution engines. They’re where communities are built – and where new ideas begin.”

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Cornelia joins Georgina Godwin from Davos to discuss what’s really changing in the global economy — from the influence of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s landmark speech to the untapped power of the global south. They consider why Europe must rethink how it funds innovation, what CEOs are still missing about political risk, and how to plan for a future shaped by population shifts, AI, and capital flows.

Guest: Cornelia Meyer, Chairman and CEO of MRL Corporation and Chairman and Chief Economist at LBV Asset Management.

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James joins Georgina Godwin to explain where the theory came from, how it’s been used in diplomacy and business, and why understanding this tactic might make us all a little wiser when it comes to spotting power plays — whether in government or the boardroom.

James' new book is called "US Grand Strategy & the Madman Theory" and it's published by Manchester University Press.

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The future he describes isn’t one of humanoid robots or dystopian control, but of everyday devices becoming subtly more useful. Whether it’s a fridge that tracks your groceries, a smart pendant that summarises your day, or wearable glasses that enhance your memory, AI is quietly shifting the way we live — and raising some big questions in the process.

Products mentioned by Avi include the Looki AI wearable, Xreal One smart glasses, Samsung's Family Hub AI refrigerator, and Samsung's Odyssey range of screens.

Find out more about Avi at techsponential.com.

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As director of thought leadership at HOK, Kay Sargent has spent four decades at the forefront of global workplace design, and she's calling for a fundamental shift. Her philosophy? “Design for the extreme, benefit the mean.” In other words, workplaces built to support the most sensitive among us — those overwhelmed by sound, light or texture — end up being better for everyone. And with new research suggesting up to 50% of Gen Z identify as neurodivergent, the stakes have never been higher.

In her conversation with Georgina Godwin, Kay outlines the science of sensory design, the business case for inclusive spaces, and the cultural blind spots holding many organisations back. What emerges is a compelling vision for offices as human-centred cultural platforms — not productivity machines, but places that support deep focus, meaningful connection, and long-term wellbeing.

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Bestselling author Dana Thomas reflects on the legacy of a designer who understood that beyond a certain size, brands risk losing control — of their quality, their mission, and their meaning. While others raced for market share, Armani built something lasting. His company may have earned less than the likes of Dior or Louis Vuitton, but in terms of influence, he stood alone. On Hollywood’s red carpet, one name still means elegance: Armani.

Visionary is presented by Here East in London — soon to be home to NABA, the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (New Academy of Fine Arts), as it opens its first campus outside Italy.

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To mark the new year, we’ve brought together three standout voices from our first season: artist Jason Bruges; Professor Amanda Broderick, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of East London; and Sol Rogers, Director of Innovation at Magnopus.

From how tech is reshaping our cities to the fundamentals of great communication — and whether AI might change them — these conversations offer a glimpse of where we’re headed next.

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As creative careers become harder to sustain, Ramos argues for a rethink: treat arts education not as a pipeline to stardom, but as a foundation for problem-solving, collaboration, and emotional intelligence. In other words, skills that matter far beyond the stage.

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Charles Hecker — geopolitical expert and author of Zero Sum: The Arc of International Business in Russia — joins Georgina Godwin to unpack how hybrid warfare is transforming global business. Drawing from his time in post-Soviet Russia and his deep knowledge of modern intelligence operations, Charles explores how cyber conflict is no longer a side skirmish — it’s the main event.

The rise of digital hostilities isn't just about state actors. From energy companies to chipmakers, the private sector is increasingly caught in the crosshairs — and often left to defend itself.

Charles' message is clear: cybersecurity is no longer a specialist niche — it’s a frontline issue for every organisation. And just as military alliances shaped the 20th century, cyber alliances may define the 21st.

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In this candid conversation, he argues that spending reform — not higher taxes — is key to unlocking growth, and outlines a vision for an economy that rewards work, innovation, and enterprise. Drawing on his time at both the Treasury and the Department of Health, Hunt offers an unvarnished perspective on how policy really gets made.

This episode was produced in partnership with our friends at The Capitalist. Subscribe here: https://linktr.ee/thecapitalistpod

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With decades of experience and a hand in over 450 early-stage deals, Paul offers a clear-eyed look at what investors are really looking for: long-term vision, cross-sector collaboration, and a strong sense of place. His approach? “Gardening” — backing a wide portfolio of promising ventures, not just chasing the next unicorn.

For founders, policymakers, and anyone serious about startup growth, this is a blueprint worth hearing. As Paul puts it: “Real innovation doesn’t start with a building — it starts with a plan.”

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From his work exposing Russia’s colonial legacy to supporting frontline tech startups, Eristavi argues that Europe is still clinging to a peacetime mindset — and dangerously underestimating how fast things are changing. “You don’t wait until the door’s kicked in to install a lock,” he says. That applies to drones, defence investment, and even learning how to go a day without electricity.

This is an episode not just about Ukraine, but about Europe’s future — and why innovation and resilience are skills we all need to master.

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Georgina Godwin meets journalist and Harvard Magazine editor Joanna Weiss, whose career has been devoted to understanding how we exchange ideas — and how the culture of debate itself is changing. From the pressures of social media to the polarisation of politics, Weiss explores why honest disagreement has become so difficult, and what we can do to make it more constructive.

As universities and institutions grapple with questions of free speech, inclusion, and intellectual vitality, Weiss argues that progress begins not with shouting louder, but with listening better.

Recorded at Here East, this edition of Visionary asks: in a noisy world, how can we create the conditions for thoughtful conversation — and rediscover the value of ideas themselves?

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In this episode of Visionary, recorded on campus at Here East, Sol joins Georgina Godwin to share how immersive technologies are changing the rules of storytelling — and why that’s not something to fear. From blending physical and digital spaces to reframing AI as a tool for craft, Sol believes the future lies in content that respects our most precious resource: time.

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In this episode of Visionary, recorded on campus at Here East, Fi joins Georgina Godwin to reveal how Bonza’s ultra-low-latency technology and spatial soundscapes are opening new creative possibilities for performers, educators and venues alike. Think: virtual concerts, hybrid gigs, and masterclasses across continents — all with the sonic feel of a shared room.

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In this episode of Visionary, recorded on campus at Here East, Robert joins Georgina Godwin to share hard-won lessons from the frontlines of digital messaging. He unpacks the dangers of chasing trends, the case for owning your tone, and how smart storytelling — not shiny visuals — is what makes a message stick.

From influencers to cabinet ministers, Robert argues that today’s leaders must think like broadcasters, act like strategists, and speak with the kind of authenticity that algorithms — and audiences — reward.

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Nicholas joins Georgina Godwin to share how he built a brand that’s as comfortable in the 21st century as it was in the 19th — with a strong sense of identity, quiet confidence, and a modern take on craftsmanship.

From learning Illustrator at night school to navigating the secretive Swiss watchmaking world, Nicholas reveals the practical steps (and personal sacrifices) behind turning a family legacy into a thriving modern company.

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Ranya Nehmeh is a senior HR strategist, lecturer, and co-author with Wharton professor Peter Cappelli of In Praise of the Office: The Limits to Hybrid and Remote Work. Drawing on years of research and frontline HR experience at global institutions, she tells Georgina Godwin why remote work flourished at first, why hybrid has proven so difficult, and what we lose when the office disappears from daily life.

As organisations struggle with culture, collaboration, and career development in a dispersed world, Ranya makes a bold case for the enduring power of the office — while offering a clear-eyed view of when remote work truly works best.

Recorded at Here East, this edition of Visionary asks: in the age of hybrid work, how do we build workplaces that work for all of us?

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This week on Visionary, Georgina Godwin meets Imogen Ley-Clowes, founder of London-based Immo Studio. With over a decade of experience leading global rebrands and building agile brand identities, she helps ambitious teams cut through the noise and create brands that not only look polished but truly work.

As social media turns brands into conversations and AI transforms the creative process, Ley-Clowes argues that the very definition of “brand” is changing — from a fixed identity to an evolving ecosystem. In a world where audiences expect relevance in real time, what should businesses hold on to, and what do they need to leave behind?

Recorded at Here East, this edition of Visionary asks: in an age of disruption, how do you build a brand that lasts?

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This week on Visionary, Georgina Godwin meets journalist and best-selling author Dana Thomas, whose landmark book Deluxe revealed how family-run maisons were transformed into global empires, and how that shift reshaped not just fashion but culture itself. Today, with sales faltering, prices soaring, and a generation questioning the very idea of luxury, Thomas’s insights feel more urgent than ever.

From the passing of Giorgio Armani — the designer who helped define modern elegance — to the rise of counterfeits, corporate consolidation, and a crisis of credibility, the conversation explores whether we’re witnessing the end of one era in luxury and the uncertain beginning of another.

Recorded at Here East, this edition of Visionary asks: can luxury rediscover its soul, or has the meaning of status already moved on? For Dana Thomas, the answer may lie in redefining what we value — and what stories we choose to believe.

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Our guest is journalist and author Tom Ough, whose new book "The Anti-Catastrophe League" investigates the world's most catastrophic risks — and the remarkable people working to prevent them. From super-volcanoes and lab-made pandemics to solar storms, AI takeovers, and even the dream of transcending death, Tom explains how the worst-case scenarios might be closer than we think — and how they could also unlock transformational breakthroughs in science and society.

With humour and clarity on subjects that are often sensationalised, Tom argues that the most powerful tool we have is human ingenuity. His call is simple: take the threats seriously, support the people solving them... but don’t forget the water and torch.

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This week on Visionary, Georgina Godwin meets Sarah Kraning, the Minnesota-based artist whose synesthesia allows her to experience sound as vivid colour, movement, and texture. Recorded at Here East, the conversation explores how Sarah transforms her neurological condition into breathtaking visual art — and why she sees it not as a disorder, but as a gift.

From the first time she heard Holst’s Jupiter to her recent collaboration with RÜFÜS DU SOL, painting songs that feature the calls of endangered and extinct species, Kraning shares how her unique sensory world is helping others reimagine the connection between music, art, and the mind.

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Chief Foreign Correspondent at The Sunday Times, bestselling author, and a tireless advocate for global education, Christina joins Georgina Godwin to discuss her recent reporting on the mass abduction of Ukrainian children — a chilling campaign of forced assimilation and erasure — and reflects on what it takes to keep speaking out when the headlines move on. We discuss finding your voice in a noisy world, the moral responsibilities of journalists, and why some stories stay with you for life.

A measured, moving conversation with one of the finest foreign correspondents of her generation.

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“PR is no longer about press releases,” he says. “It’s about shaping how you're perceived by the people who matter to you — and doing it with purpose.”

Liam lays out a step-by-step strategy for building a public profile that cuts through — whether you're running a business, launching a podcast, or simply looking to grow your influence. He argues that authenticity, clarity of purpose, and rhythm are the new currency of trust — and offers a rare inside look at how the best campaigns work from the ground up.

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Georgina Godwin meets Mike Champion, chief executive of Tahaluf and the man behind LEAP, now the most attended tech event on the planet. Recorded at Here East, the conversation reveals how bold government strategy, global capital, and a deep embrace of AI are turning the Kingdom into a powerhouse of innovation.

From billion-dollar deals to seamless matchmaking between startups and investors, Mike shares the inside story of a tech transformation happening at unprecedented speed — and why this is just the beginning.

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In this episode of Visionary, Georgina Godwin speaks with Moreland about what it means to produce stories that are both commercially viable and emotionally true. From classic revivals starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal to bold new works with Daniel Radcliffe, his career has spanned the spectrum — and always with an eye on representation, craft, and meaningful connection.

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This is an episode about vision, beauty, and the evolving role of the artist in a fast-changing world.

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