There’s something about the idea of a ‘genius’ that has always captivated us. Whether it’s the artist painting their masterpiece or the entrepreneur betting on the future, we’re captivated by people who seem to see the world differently – and stake everything on that vision. While Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos might be household names, there’s one figure who I’d argue is even more fascinating: the maverick billionaire investor and founder of SoftBank, Masayoshi Son. Equal parts visionary and gambler, Masa as he’s more commonly known has built an empire on being an early investor in companies like Alibaba, Yahoo and Uber.

My guest today is Lionel Barber. Lionel is an acclaimed journalist and author, best known for his 15-year tenure as Editor-in-Chief at the Financial Times. A veteran reporter, over the course of his career he has conducted interviews with a real ‘who’s who’ of the international stage, including Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel, Barack Obama, Donald Trump. His recent book, Gambling Man: The Wild Ride of Japan’s Masayoshi Son, takes readers on a journey through the life and business ventures of one of the tech world’s most thrilling figures.

The book is a great read, and I strongly recommend it for anyone who’s interested in business, tech, or international affairs. It was such a pleasure to have the opportunity to sit down with Lionel and pick his brains, and I’m very pleased to be able to share our conversation with you.

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Lionel Barber’s four books were: