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Daniel Widdicombe (London), CFO of Devolver Digital, and former head of investment banking for CBB (the world's second-largest bank), talks to Jessica about a career that has bridged east and west, the creative and the financial, and his plans to travel as widely as possible. 

Daniel told us what he has enjoyed about his Forum membership, too:  'It has broadened my perspectives on business and friendships, and also collaborative partnerships...You have people who are willing and hungry to experience together and work together and just interact. We're all so eager to interact and listen and learn from other people. So it's the perfect environment for that kind of experience.'

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Jennifer Schipf (London) is Global Chief Underwriting Officer Fine Art & Specie at AXA XL, which means she sets worldwide strategy for client solutions in the specialised market of fine art underwriting. In her conversation with Jessica, Jennifer talks about inspirational artists, the challenges of intersecting business and art, as well as her own work in the studio.

‘I sit at this very unusual intersection of the two extremes, which makes it a lot of fun, a lot of problem solving, and no two days are the same.’

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Pano Anthos is based in New York, where he is founder and managing partner of XRC Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm. Pano talks to Jessica about how technology has disrupted and changed human behaviour in the retail space, now we live in an 'online first, offline second' world. The future, says Pano, is in increasingly beautiful wearable technology. And, of course, AI. 

'I'm concerned that AI is a fundamental shift because the consumer cannot see the difference for the most part. It's almost indetectable, which means counterfeit grows dramatically. And if counterfeit grows dramatically and there is no truth in a small t, not capital T, we're not talking existentially here, but if there's no small t, then what are we left with?'

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Our latest podcast is an interview with Shwan Ibrahim Taha, our member based in Istanbul. Shwan grew up in Iraq, worked in America (for Franklin Templeton, later co-managing a hedge fund sponsored by George Soros) and has returned to the  region with Rabee Securities, a brokerage and investment firm. You can hear his fascinating insights into the risk and reward that is investing in a country that is at long last experiencing peace.

'It was a war-torn country for 50 years...We have arcane laws. We have very poor infrastructure for investments. The laws are murky still, not too clear. But if you can stomach that and navigate that, then it's a very promising country.'

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Jessica talks to Dan Sandhu (London), CEO of Education Development Trust (EDT), a vast not-for-profit organisation working to improve education outcomes around the world. Dan talks about how COVID changed education globally, how remote learning is enabling education to scale faster in countries without structural policy framework, his plans to expand EDT's footprint in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and identifying opportunities for the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office. 'Education is a great export out of the UK,' says Dan. 

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Jonathan Aeberhard (London) is Senior Vice President of Cheng Chung Design (CCD), leading the foundation of the CCD London studio. Founded in Shenzhen, the award-winning, publicly traded architecture and interior design studio has a focus on hotels and luxury residential developments worldwide. Formerly, Jonathan led GA Designs with his father, Werner Aeberhard, another long-standing and valued Forum members.

Here's Jonathan's take on Forum and why it works so well for him: 'If you're an entrepreneur or in a start-up or you're in a senior role, I found 95% of my consciousness was taken up with my to do list...you don't get a chance to step back and look at the broader landscape, and I think Forum has really helped me do that.'

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Justin Peimani (London), a strategic advisor and investor, talks to Jessica Fellowes this week about his move to London, his excitement about the opportunities for investors in software companies and the constant flow of new information and possibilities. 

We asked Justin what he liked about his Forum membership: "Every time I think that the connecting thread has always been [that] there's always a deep level of reflection and insight that you see within the members and within the conversation. So I think every lunch that I've been to, I feel like I've gotten a little bit smarter."

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This week, Jessica Fellowes is in conversation with Chris Wilkins (London), managing partner of Audley. Chris is an expert in strategic leadership, having whispered in the ears of several Conservative Party leaders and cabinet ministers. Audley advises leaders in business and government around the world, to help them achieve their political, professional or personal goals. 

"To be in the room with some of those brilliant leaders making these world-changing decisions at those critical moments is an incredibly privileged position to be in and it's really what my business now is all about and I wouldn't be doing anything else, I love it."

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In this episode, entrepreneur and executive coach Lara Holliday (London) talks about her women's network ,Tide Risers, as well as the coaching and equine therapy retreats she holds at Shore Hall. 

"If the horse won't follow you willingly, I know that there's some kind of emotional blockage stopping you from being able to make the decision to go down that pathway towards that new career. And that just as an executive coach gives me immediate feedback to know that there's a problem."