My Mission Is...

This week we sat down with Olga Iserlis, founder and CEO of Adagio Events. Iserlis has 20 years of experience in business and event planning and the high-profile client list to match: she’s worked with Prada, Ferrari, American Express, and many more, and is regularly featured on the Tatler 300 list of Singapore's Most Powerful Elite. In 2016, she released Save the Date, a coffee table book that goes behind the scenes of the event-planning industry and documents her creative process.

In this episode, Karina Givargisoff and Sharleen Spiteri speak to Olga about her work as Singapore’s go-to event planner, the country’s cultural depth and how philanthropic events, although earnest in intent, should always be memorable.

FIND OLGA ISERLIS

Instagram: @eventsbyolga 

Website: adagio.events

FIND MISSION HOSTS

Karina: @missionmagazine

Sharleen: @sharleenspiteri

Website: missionmag.org 

This week, Mission Founder Karina Givargisoff and Texas lead singer Sharleen Spiteri are joined by London-based fashion designer Nick Wakeman. In 2010, Wakeman used her experience as a menswear designer to launch her own brand, Studio Nicholson, for which she designs clothes for both men and women, creating garments that focus on softness, tailoring and craftsmanship.

This episode sees Nick discuss her start at Chelsea School of Art, working for Diesel in the brand’s early days and how she learned to design clothes; on the computer, in Italian.

FIND NICK

Instagram: @nickwakeman

FIND STUDIO WAKEMAN

Instagram: @studionicholson

Twitter: @StudioNicholson

Website: studionicholson.com

FIND MISSION HOSTS

Karina: @missionmagazine

Sharleen: @sharleenspiteri

Website: missionmag.org 

This week we talk to environmental power couple Philippe & Ashlan Cousteau who are working hard to save the planet. You may know them from their Travel Channel series Caribbean Pirate Treasure or as co-hosts on documentary shows like Nuclear Sharks and Treasures of the Terai. Philippe is a multi Emmy-Nominated TV host and producer as well as an author, speaker, and social entrepreneur. Ashlan is a journalist, explorer and speaker. She is known for her past work as a leading correspondent and co-host for Emmy-award-winning entertainment shows E! News and Entertainment Tonight.

We sat down with them this week to chat about their world expeditions and passion for the planet. And how Philippe’s efforts are honoring his family’s conservation legacy. They talk about pirates and sharks and how resilient Mother Earth is...if we ever need her to defend herself it is now.

This podcast episode sheds light on the political power of young people and how at any age, everyone can get involved in the environmental movement.

Tune in for a delightful and educational conversation on environmental advocacy.

Like what you heard? Help us spread the word by rating and reviewing in iTunes to help others find us or share about the show on social media.

FIND PHILIPPE AND ASHLAN

Philippe: @pcousteau

Ashlan: @ashlancousteau

EARTHECHO INTERNATIONAL

Website: earthecho.org 

FIND MISSION HOSTS

Karina: @missionmagazine

Sharleen: @sharleenspiteri

Website: missionmag.org 

This week we speak with UK based Professor Mike Barnes to discuss the medicinal benefits of cannabis. In recent years the medical legalization of marijuana has become a hot topic in mainstream political debate. As such, it’s now more important than ever to be armed with factual information on the subject.

In this educational episode, Sharleen and Karina get all of their marijuana-related questions answered by Professor Barnes, a cannabis expert, neurologist, and rehabilitation physician working toward cannabis awareness, education and clinical excellence in the field.

An insightful installment, the three discuss everything from the stigma associated with cannabis to governmental regulation. Mike touches on where he thinks CBD is heading next and advocates for better education on the benefits of cannabis and cannabinoids. He even gives advice on how to find quality CBD products made with good manufacturing practices.

Tune in for expertise on all things cannabis.

Like what you heard? Help us spread the word by rating and reviewing in iTunes to help others find us or share about the show on social media.

FIND MIKE BARNES

Twitter: @Mikebarnes29

Website: profmichaelbarnes.co.uk

FIND MISSION HOSTS

Karina: @missionmagazine

Sharleen: @sharleenspiteri

Website: missionmag.org 

This week we speak to Noel Fitzpatrick, otherwise commonly known as Supervet from his TV show by the same name. The show follows him and his team while they work to implement progressive surgical techniques to cure animal maladies. He is a leading orthopedic-neuro veterinary surgeon, who over the past ten years has been developing custom implants for hip replacements in animals, which allow his practice to deal with the most complex situations. He made his commitment to animals and life mission to save them at the age of 11.

In this episode, Noel and Sharleen discuss Noel’s innovative work along with his dedication to a more compassionate and kinder society through his Humanimal Trust, a charity that works towards the convergence of human-animal healthcare to benefit both parties. Listen for a thought-provoking discussion around animal rights.

“I strongly believe that animals do so much more for us than we do for them - through their companionship, love and selflessness. I dedicate my life to trying to give a little back to them by showing compassion and providing hope and options through medicine.”

Like what you heard? Help us spread the word by rating and reviewing in iTunes to help others find us or share about the show on social media.

FIND NOEL

Instagram: @profnoelfitzpatrick

Twitter: @profnoelfitz

Website: noelfitzpatrick.vet

FIND MISSION HOSTS

Karina: @missionmagazine

Sharleen: @sharleenspiteri

Website: missionmag.org 

This week we share the Mission x COS panel, recorded last week at the COS 5th Avenue store to launch the Restore collection, created in partnership with The Renewal Workshop, who helps provide circular solutions for apparel and textile brands. Moderated by Mission’s EIC Karina Givargisoff, the panel featured Nopor Stuart, Head of Sustainability at COS, Abrima Erwiah, Co-Founder and President of Studio One Eighty Nine, and Marie Geneviève Cyr, Assistant Professor of Fashion Design, Parsons School of Design + International Speaker & Creative Consultant.This panel discusses various stakeholders' responsibility in doing their part to change the fashion industry for the better, and their role in moving towards circular and renewable fashion. Humanizing the process by decoupling the layers and understanding the story of the supply chain was an overarching theme, as well as the importance and sacredness of craftsmanship.It also sheds light on the partnership between COS x the  Renewal Workshop. As part of the brand’s commitment to longevity and product care, COS wanted to re-imagine the lifecycle of damaged garments by investing in the restoration of COS pieces, sourced from their own supply-chain or returned by customers. Tune in to hear more about the launch of the trial as well as from experts in the sustainability field and what they believe is the most important thing in driving the industry forward. 

FIND NOPOR

Instagram: @cosstores

Website: cosstores.com

FIND ABRIMA

Instagram: @abrimaerwiah

Website: studiooneeightynine.com

FIND MARIE

Instagram: @marie_genevieve_cyr

Website: mariegenevievecyr.com

FIND MISSION HOSTS

Karina: @missionmagazine

Sharleen: @sharleenspiteri

Website: missionmag.org

Our sixth episode, which was our first live recording of “My Mission is…” is a conversation between Fisher Stevens, director of award-winning climate change documentary Before the Flood (co-produced with Leonardo DiCaprio for Nat Geo) and Ethan Novek, chemical engineering student at Yale who made the Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2018 and holds 12 patents for CO2 technologies. Both cynical and optimistic, this engaging and thought-provoking discussion between two generations, offers some insight into how the fighting spirit of individual action needs to be supported by the synergy of businesses, technological innovation, and policy all working together if we want to solve climate change. Is it possible? Who knows...but have a listen now and see for yourselves. This fascinating panel, moderated by Mission founder, Karina Givargisoff was open to the public and features a Q&A. Hosted by Public Hotels.

Like what you heard? Help us spread the word by rating and reviewing in iTunes to help others find us or share about the show on social media. 

FIND FISHER

Personal: @fisherstevens

Website: beforetheflood.com  

FIND ETHAN

Twitter: @ethannovek

Website: innovatorenergy.com

FIND MISSION HOSTS

Karina: @missionmagazine

Sharleen: @sharleenspiteri

Public Hotels: @publichotels

Website: missionmag.org

This week we speak with Dylan Jones, editor-in-chief of British GQ and the chair of London Fashion Week Men’s who is often credited for being integral to its success.  In this raw, humorous and multi-dimensional conversation you’ll hear about the nostalgia of growing up in the late 70 early 80s, as Dylan fondly remembers being obsessed with pop culture and drawn to London as the nucleus for self-expression and the ability to reinvent yourself.  We discuss everything from the sounds of his youth, his perspective on fashion and history, his connection to writing as a force for good, and how the desire of self-expansion is embedded in human nature. Let’s not forget to mention when he tells us about the time in 1984 when his ex-girlfriend chopped up five bags of his designer clothes!Dylan’s career began in I-D magazine in 1983, following other notable positions at Arena, The Face,The Observer Magazine and The Sunday Times. With all conversationalists engaged with writing as part of their career, Dylan sheds light on the fact that writing, like anything, is a learned skill, which when harnessed is incredibly powerful. This is a conversation you want to tune into and end by feeling inspired. Like what you heard? Help us spread the word by rating and reviewing in iTunes to help others find us or share about the show on social media. 

FIND DYLAN

Personal: @dylanjonesgq

Website: gq-magazine.co.uk

FIND MISSION HOSTS

Karina: @missionmagazine

Sharleen: @sharleenspiteri

Website: missionmag.org

This week’s guest of “My Mission is…” features Francisco Costa, founder of Costa Brazil; a lifestyle brand with a mission to innovate in sustainability and reinterpret what beauty is all about. Costa first entered the fashion industry 30 years ago when he left Brazil at the age of 19 not knowing any English. Surrounded by fashion from an early age, with his mother owning a children’s wear factory, he is renowned for working with some of the most prominent fashion brands including Oscar de la Renta, Tom Ford, Gucci and his iconic 13 year stint as creative director at Calvin Klien.

Tune in to hear his inspiring story where Costa dives deep into his personal mission of protecting Mother Earth through the spirit of beauty, as well as his journey of reconnecting with his Brazilan roots in the Amazon. Like what you heard? Help us spread the word by rating and reviewing in iTunes to help others find us or share about the show on social media. 

Photo credit: Weston Wells

FIND FRANCISCO 

Personal: @costafrancisco  

Brand: @costabrazil 

Website: livecostabrazil.com

Karina: @missionmagazine

Sharleen: @sharleenspiteri

Website: missionmag.org

This week, we speak to Mission’s first supporters, Lauren Bush Lauren. Former model and actress, Lauren is a social entrepreneur, hunger activist, Earth lover and mama of two young boys. She founded the bag company, FEED in 2007, which creates products that make a tangible impact on the life of a child. Through their on the ground partner, the World Food Programme, FEED has provided over 107 million meals to children and families globally to date. Lauren is mission-driven, ambitious, and focused on doing good in all her endeavors. She talks to us about the inception of FEED, her travels to Africa as a student, the power of community, and the FEED Supper program. She also gives us insight into her upcoming projects, inspired by her Father in Law, Ralph Lauren. Like what you heard? Help us spread the word by rating and reviewing in iTunes to help others find us or share about the show on social media. 

FIND LAUREN

Personal: @laurenblauren 

Brand: @feed

Website: feedprojects.com  

FIND MISSION HOSTS

Karina: @missionmagazine

Sharleen: @sharleenspiteri

Website:  missionmag.org