Visionary returns in 2026! To mark the new year, we begin with a special tribute to a true visionary: Giorgio Armani — a fashion icon whose quiet authority reshaped the meaning of modern luxury. Armani, who passed away in September 2025, never chased scale. His vision was built on restraint, refinement and staying power.

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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As we step into 2026, the world feels more uncertain than it has in years. Economies are wobbling. Politics is in flux. And the rise of AI has left many wondering not if, but how our lives will be reshaped.

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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In a time when AI churns out scripts and screens compete for every spare second, is there still a future for live performance? Award-winning designer and producer Clint Ramos ('Sunday in the Park with George', 'Into the Woods') believes the answer begins in the classroom — not just in training artists to create, but in preparing them to endure. The Lincoln Centre's Artist-in-Residence shares why education needs to do more than teach technique — it must build resilience, adaptability, and a long view.

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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When we talk about global security, most people picture boots on the ground or missiles in the sky. But today’s conflicts are unfolding in quieter, more invisible arenas: in hacked servers, misinformation campaigns, and silent sabotage of infrastructure.

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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Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt joins Marc Sidwell for a rare insider’s look at what it takes to build a Budget under pressure. From late-night policy calls to the fine balance between fiscal discipline and economic ambition, Hunt reveals how the Treasury weighs every decision between raising revenue and protecting productivity.

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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In a volatile economy, launching a startup might seem risky — but for Paul Krutko, CEO of Ann Arbor Spark, it’s exactly the moment to act. In this energising episode of Visionary, recorded at Here East and hosted by Georgina Godwin, Krutko shares practical advice for founders looking to secure early-stage investment and turn bright ideas into lasting impact.

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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For journalist and activist Maksym Eristavi, defence isn’t just a military term. It’s a mindset. And it starts at home — literally. In this episode of Visionary, recorded at Here East and hosted by Georgina Godwin, Maksym lays out how Ukrainians have turned innovation, identity, and DIY resilience into a powerful toolkit — and why Europeans urgently need to follow suit.

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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What does it mean to disagree better — and could learning how to do so help rebuild the foundations of public life?

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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When Sol Rogers and his team at Magnopus were asked to reimagine The Wizard of Oz for the Sphere in Las Vegas, they weren’t just remastering a classic — they were redefining what a cinematic experience could be. Using cutting-edge generative AI, they expanded the original film beyond its frame, creating a 360-degree memoryscape that wraps the audience in colour, sound and emotion.

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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Live performance, music education, even your next band rehearsal — all of it is about to change. At the forefront of this shift is Fiona Ryder, founder of Bonza, a British startup creating immersive audio spaces where musicians can collaborate in real time, no matter where they are in the world.

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 a world where political fallouts, policy shifts and leadership moments play out in real time, being offline is no longer an option. Just ask Robert Midgley, the digital strategist who advised two British Prime Ministers on how to communicate with clarity, confidence and authority — all under the spotlight of the internet.

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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How do you relaunch a watch company that’s been dormant since 1976? For Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, the answer lay not just in heritage, but in hustle. When he discovered that his great-great-great-grandfather once ran one of Britain’s oldest watch firms, he left his job at Rolex, sold nearly everything he owned, and set out to bring Fears Watches back to life.

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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What does work really look like when it happens not just in offices, but across living rooms, coffee shops, and Zoom calls? And could that shift make us rethink the value of the workplace more profoundly than ever?

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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What does it mean when “brand” is no longer a logo or a set of guidelines — but something fluid, social, and constantly shifting? And could that change make branding more powerful than ever?

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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What does it mean when luxury loses its lustre — and could that decline open the way to something better?

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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Remember the 1998 film "Armageddon", when Bruce Willis leads a team of oil drillers to save Earth from an asteroid? It might seem fanciful — but in this episode of Visionary, we explore the real-life innovations that could one day prevent the end of the world.

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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What does it feel like to see music — not metaphorically, but literally? And what can we learn from artists whose perception challenges everything we think we know about the senses?

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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From war zones to Westminster, Christina Lamb has spent nearly four decades telling the stories that matter — often long before the rest of the world catches up.

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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In the age of TikTok, AI-generated content, and hyper-personalised feeds, the rules of PR have changed — but the fundamentals remain. Liam Keogh, Entrepreneur in Residence for Media at City University and a strategist with two decades of experience, shares the tools, mindset, and repeatable routines that anyone can use to build influence in a noisy world.

“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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What does it take to build a world-leading tech ecosystem — almost overnight? And what can the rest of the world learn from Saudi Arabia’s astonishing rise?

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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