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Konrad Bergström’s passion for silence

by: Simon Pavitt
12/10/2020

Konrad Bergström is one of Sweden’s most prominent high-tech entrepreneurs. He had a “booming” career in sound-related products, creating, at the time, the fastest growing company in Sweden. Upon reaching the top, Konrad felt a strong compulsion to commit to a project that reconnected him to his passion since childhood: the sea.

Konrad registered the trademark X Shore for his electric boats in 1996, however, it took nearly 20 years before he felt the timing was right to fully focus on his idea – the ‘Tesla of the sea’: electric watercrafts.  

Monaco Life: Konrad, tell us about your project and why Monaco is important to you? 

Konrad Bergström: I have always had a passion for the sea as it was a big part of my childhood in a very natural way. So, one of the first things I wanted to buy with the money from my keystone phase was a boat. I couldn’t understand why boats were so expensive and how people that are passionate about the se, would pay that money for a loud, chunkily-designed, conventional motorboat, which is essentially like a lethal weapon towards our oceans and animal life. I knew that I wanted to create something that enabled people to feel closer to the benefits of being out on the water but without harming surrounding nature and the environment. Monegasque people’s lives are intrinsically linked to the harbour and coastline and I share their passion for mobilising ocean protection. I know the Monaco government and Prince Albert are active in marine conservation, so I am always drawn to Monaco to also assist where I can, with the likes of Monaco Ocean Week, marine biodiversity projects, etc.

Photo credit Mira and Thilda Berglind

Let’s go back to what I call the cornerstone phase of a career – growing up and the defining moments in getting you to where you are today. Can yoy tell us more about your early years?

I was born into both a creative and maritime family. My father owned a surfboard shop and my mother was a theatre director. My grandfather was from a seafaring family and was a prolific innovator in medicine with over 200 patents. I have always felt compelled to create new products, to try to innovate and look to create new trends. Let’s be clear though, I don’t have a perfect record, I have had failures also – in my early career I found myself going from the cover of a business magazine to sleeping in my car. Learning from mistakes made along the way have been crucial in my development to become the entrepreneur that I am today.

Next is what I call your keystone phase – the time you make your mark, the ‘middle age’ where you make a dent in the world, create and achieve success. When did this happen?

I was working at a skateboarding fashion company and helped to create a line of fashionable headphones. It provided the spark for me to launch Zound Industries in 2008. Zound grew rapidly – for three consecutive years it was the fastest-growing Swedish firm. For the 10 years as president of Zound, I was very proud that the company sold 20 million products in 135 countries. I am happy that Zound is a leading international music hardware company at the forefront of fashion and technology. We created many popular brands such as Urbanears. One of our most successful partnerships was with the iconic brand Marshall, best known for their music amplifiers and speaker cabinets – we helped them corner a significant segment of the headphones market. 

Now onto our focus, the Capstone phase. I like to look at what someone does after they’ve reached the top of their game, mastered their craft. What is next for you? 

X Shore was bubbling away in my mind throughout the period of growth with Zound. But timing is everything and I was fully focused on creating great products with the likes of Marshall. Then as I saw what was happening in the automotive industry with Tesla, my idea started to feel more and more achievable. I started the process of X Shore in 2012 and the momentum started to really build from 2016. My time naturally came to an end at Zound in 2019 and so I was able to fully focus on X Shore. We are ready to ride the wave of electric battery technology and the green decade ahead. Now, with the recent launch of our first commercial model, Eelex 8000 2021 Edition, our full focus is on scaling X Shore and telling the world about electric boats. I have found a larger purpose to hopefully inspire and benefit many others.

It is interesting that you made a success out of products that amplify sound, and now you are focused on a project where the main feature is silence…

At X Shore, our core tag line is ‘The power of silence’. So yes, I was focused on people enjoying music through headphones and speakers but now I am looking to muffle sound and let people appreciate silence. It is magical to be out on a boat, cruising, and all you can hear is the waves. I want as many people as possible to appreciate and benefit from that. Once you experience the power of silence, you never go back. It is truly amazing. There are many benefits, from the mindfulness of being out on the water with peace and quiet to the lack of pollution from the boat.

Do you have a vision for X Shore in Monaco? 

X Shore is a luxury product based on high-level design and craftmanship. Monaco is a natural place for our boats where I hope to see widespread adoption from pioneering customers. My dream is to be sat at the Yacht Club of Monaco and looking down to see X Shores everywhere, while enjoying a quieter harbour. Our new boat is equipped with features such as a fleet management which open up to new customer segments in the shape of B2B and B2G. This means that the X Shore experience can be made widely available as part of, for example, public transport, hotel boat fleets or smart cities.

What is fuelling your passion?

The chance to redefine the marine industry through innovation and sustainability. I know what incredible benefits being out on the water has had on my personal wellbeing. I hope many others get to explore the water without as much harm to the natural environment or scaring away the wildlife. I strongly feel that the future of boating is electric – there isn’t any other option if we want to keep enjoying our waterways for many years to come. 

 Final thoughts… Why do people undertake Capstones?

I have been lucky to progress a project that combines both my passion with a wider purpose. I believe that in the near future, energy will be almost infinite as we learn to get it from the sun, from the wind and the movement of the earth. This will provide more opportunities for people willing to take calculated risk. It might be that you don’t immediately find the right idea or project, but be patient. Remember your interests and your passions – often the things you enjoy in your spare time provide the best spark and inspiration for new ventures. It might take 10 to 20 years, but when you know it’s right, you know It’s right!

 

More details about Konrad and X Shore can be found here: www.xshore.com

In his regular column for Monaco Life, Simon Pavitt, pioneer in helping remarkable individuals with their ‘Capstones’, talks to those in the Principality about how they are finding meaning and fulfilment through passion projects that are beyond their day to day business. Simon’s focus is around the ‘non-financial’ motivations of success of the projects. Capstones include the likes of philanthropy, sports teams, venture, wine and space projects.

Simon Pavitt is Founder of Wingman: www.wingmanthinks.com 

 
Top photo: Oscar Fors, Konrad Bergström, and Jenny Keisu
 
 

Interview: Chris Buncombe on being an F1 wingman

by: Simon Pavitt
19/08/2020

Simon Pavitt speaks with British racing driver Chris Buncombe about life supporting best friend Jenson Button and rekindling the Rocket Motorsport name.
Chris Buncombe is a former winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours in LMP2 and had a prolific career in the ‘golden era’ of GT racing behind the wheel of such cars as the Ferrari 575, Maserati MC12 and Corvette C5 GTI. He raced at Le Mans until 2011 with Aston Martin. After a seven-year sabbatical from driving, Chris made a racing comeback in 2018 winning the Blancpain GT Endurance Championship in Pro-Am and was runner up in the Asian Le Mans Series. Chris is best friends with Jenson Button and together they have co-founded Jenson Team Rocket RJN. The team, amongst other racing, will partner with McLaren to run a 720S GT3 in the GT World Challenge.
Monaco Life: Chris, why is Monaco so special to you?
Chris Buncombe: I fell in love with Monaco when Jenson moved to the Principality in 2000 and I started to spend more and more time here. I am an outdoor person and need sunshine, space and sport. The views of the Cote d’Azur are unrivalled. Monaco feels like a village to me, where I am always only five minutes from catching a friend for coffee or popping somewhere for a meeting. I love zipping about on a scooter around the Principality on, essentially, the most iconic circuit in motorsport. I have a great network of sporty friends that I regularly train with, especially cycling, which the region is great for. Everyone is like-minded here and there’s always a group of people in very close proximity to be able to catch up with. So, there is much less planning required versus London, for example.
Let’s go back to what we call the cornerstone phase of a career – growing up and some of the defining moments in getting you to where you are today. Can you tell us more about your early years?
I grew up with a pure passion for racing. My early career began in karting where I drove for Jenson’s father, John Button’s, Rocket Motorsport team. I moved through the junior ranks and loved going racing. I joined the Factory Nissan Europe Team and that’s where I first met Bob Neville who was management at Nissan Motorsport Europe. It’s funny now how it’s come full circle as Bob is the third partner in our new venture with Jenson. Much of our focus is giving back to the sport and so the early memories are always a good reference point. I’ve always remembered the people that would take time to mentor me and the drivers that would be nice in person. It’s important for kids to be inspired when they meet their heroes. What can be a short moment can have a lasting impact as a cornerstone experience.

Chris Buncombe

Next is what we call your keystone phase, we consider this the time you make your mark, the ‘middle age’ where you make a dent in the world, create and achieve success. When was that?
It’s been an interesting one to look back on. I spent a huge amount of time racing in Le Mans, GT championships etc. But, also as a close friend of Jenson’s, we had a really close group that would support him at F1 race weekends. They were really special times, being there for your friend when he reached the pinnacle of the sport: an F1 World Champion. There was a close-knit group of friends from childhood from Frome, our hometown in the UK. Jenson liked having his family and friends around him, some drivers just prefer having their trainer and manager there. As I was a racer, it helped having knowledge and understanding of the sport. It doesn’t always work having people at the track as they can be a distraction from racing. But we loved going racing all together. Often during the race weekend’s we’d relieve the pressure by chatting about what we would both do after retiring from professional racing. We’d envisage doing Le Mans together, classics, off road etc… so when thinking about peak moments, I had my own highlights, such as winning at Le Mans, but also highlights within a group all supporting Jenson’s mission of reaching the top of F1. What made it special was the long-term friends and close family all together.
Do you have any top Monaco memories from the ‘keystone’ phase?
The year Jenson won the F1 World Championship, in 2009, he also won the Monaco GP – every racer’s dream and amazing times celebrating with the likes of his dad, John. We then had to follow him to support him in his fight for the Championship so I ended up supporting at 15 races that year. I was also able to build a business around Grand Prix hospitality and events. We’ve hosted on yachts for many years at the GP. One year, Jenson was out of the race early so came straight to the yacht to watch from there. That’s a pretty unique experience for sponsors and guests on the yacht and also for the driver… what other sport in the world can you start a race knowing you could either end up on the podium or on a superyacht? There’s a great video on YouTube of Kimi Raikkonen doing so in 2006.
We would host sponsors around the Grand Prix and it was always rewarding to bring them into the sport. Nothing beats being firmly at the centre of the action of the Monaco GP weekend. Many who experience F1 at Monaco are then hooked on the sport for life.
Chris Buncombe in McLaren

So, onto our focus now, the capstone phase. We like to look at what someone does after they’ve reached the top of their game, mastered their craft. What is next for you?  
I would say we are both in a bit of a transitioning phase at the moment. We are both still racing in various championships but have one eye on capstone thinking. We are actioning now the plans we used to discuss at F1 weekends. For both of us, it’s about giving back and thinking more about helping others. We want to make sure that young drivers have the chance to go racing and ensure that they are enjoying it rather than having too much pressure at a young age.
A few dots have joined at the same time which has enabled us to form Jenson Team Rocket RJN. We were chatting to our friend Bob Neville who was running the Nismo GT racing team with Nissan. They were at a crossroads and we felt this was the right opportunity and time to all come together. Our vision is to use our experience and passion to be at the forefront of the next generation of motorsport. Our future is supporting young talent across a range of different mediums including the growth of women’s sport, the need for sustainability and the opportunity eSports provides in removing the barriers to entry into the sport. We want to rekindle the Rocket Motorsport name.
It seems that you were happy to be a Wingman to Jenson in order to support him to reach the top of motorsport. Now you are more about your joint ambitions.  
Yes, it’s now about shared ambitions and endeavours. Jenson’s late father John started Rocket Motorsport in the 1990’s as a karting team to help young drivers. Our team now successfully transitions drivers from the virtual to real world as the professional team for the World’s Fastest Gamer Competition. We have the opportunity for the team to compete in numerous championships and race series in the future from Extreme E (electric vehicle off-road racing) to W-Series (all-female single seater racing) to eSports. We also both have a vision of us racing in the same team at an endurance race like Le Mans in the future. It’s time for us to be Wingmen to each other but also to many others around us.
What is driving your passion?
As I mentioned, we are at the start of this new journey so it’s exciting to push to see where this takes us in the future. I want to leave a legacy and ensure I give back more to the sport so it’s in a better place from me being a part of it. We have shown already proof points for our potential. From supporting emerging drivers to getting more youngsters choosing careers in engineering. Our team’s chief engineer has come through the ranks having been with us since graduating. I am driven to create more of those examples.
Final thoughts… Why do people undertake capstones?
It’s enabling me to think about ‘what next’ in my life post professional racing. It’s giving me a purpose and something beyond just my own racing career and striving for personal championships. It’s a nice feeling to be free of certain constraints in order to think ‘what next?’ for our team and mission. It’s a chance to redress certain balances in life. Ideally, it will be closely linked to Monaco whether that’s due to sponsors, team members, partnerships, collaborations or simply the team racing on the circuit. It’s about designing life and projects to fit our future needs as well as being able to help many others at the start of their career. Monaco, hopefully, will continue to be a key part of that.
More details about Chris can be found here: www.rocket-motorsport.com
 
In his regular column for Monaco Life, Simon Pavitt, pioneer in helping remarkable individuals with their ‘capstones’, talks to those in the Principality about how they are finding meaning and fulfilment through passion projects that are beyond their day to day business. Simon’s focus is around the ‘non-financial’ motivations of success of the projects. Capstones include the likes of philanthropy, sports team, venture, wine and adventure projects.
 
 
Top photo: Jenson Button (left) and Chris Buncombe (right)
 
 

Jeremy Williman’s Dragonfly capstone

by: Simon Pavitt
01/07/2020

Simon Pavitt, pioneer in helping remarkable individuals with their ‘Capstones’, talks to Jeremy Williman (commonly known as Jez), the British Entrepreneur and former chief executive of Tensator, the world’s largest crowd control company. The retractable barrier system ‘Tensabarrier’ will be familiar to anyone queuing in venues from airports to clubs to cinemas. Jez scaled the company into a global business before embarking on ‘Dragonfly’, his new Capstone project – a hyperscooter bringing luxury to the future of micro-mobility.
 
So, Jez what is your vision for the future of residents in Monaco?
People want to get about town as frictionless as possible. Taxis are ok but there’s often traffic. People want to avoid public transport due to Covid-19. Walking is a joy except for Monaco being so hilly and most of the time you need to be somewhere faster than at walking pace, not arriving drenched in sweat. E-scooters are flexible but we wanted something luxury, more powerful and yet safer. We have built a new vehicle which is the world’s first luxury hyperscooter. So, for me, the future is using a Dragonfly – the urban-mobility equivalent of the supercar. The vision is a Monegasque darting around the Principality on a Dragonfly.

Let’s go back to what we call the cornerstone phase of a career: growing up and some of the defining moments in getting you to where you are today. Can you tell us more about your early years?
I grew up with severe dyslexia. I really did think I was the stupid kid in the class. I just couldn’t understand why certain tasks were a challenge to me and not anyone else. But I was a hard-working kid and the minute I finished school I got an apprenticeship at a local engineering firm in the Midlands. I studied for an HNC in Mechanical and Production Engineering and would sneak back in the office to finish off projects late at night after classes. I started to receive recognition and was given more and more responsibility. I enjoyed the engineering aspects of business. One day a management consultant just said to me, “You do know you have severe dyslexia?” I was like “huh- makes sense”. It gave me confidence to follow my own path, trust my instincts, take risks and accept that everyone is different. It helped me understand my strengths and weaknesses.
Next is what we call your keystone phase. We consider this the time you make your mark, the ‘middle age’ where you make a dent in the world, create and achieve success. When would you say that happened?
Things took off for me when I saw an opportunity to make a product that was sat there not being the core focus of the company and take it to the next level. I took a risk, pitched my idea to the board, convinced the then-Midland Bank to give me a loan and I bought Tensator from Autoliv.
I grew the business to the largest crowd control company in the world. It was all about being an expert in two things: the psychology of queuing and the ability to scale manufacturing and distribution. In 2008 I felt I had reached the top of my game with Tensator, we were selling in 152 countries and had over 2,000 distributors all over the world. Not surprisingly, given I was the expert in barriers, I felt hemmed in (excuse the pun!) so I sold the business.
Now onto our focus, the capstone phase. We like to look at what someone does after they’ve made their money and fulfilled many ambitions already in life. What did you do next?
I conceived the Dragonfly when I was sat in my apartment in Monaco. The day before I had been riding my bike in the hills with my local fitness cohorts Jenson Button and Thor Hushovd. I had completely destroyed my knees. It was the 2017 F1 Grand Prix weekend and I was wondering how I was going to get around. I drove a lot of scooters but none of them were practical or felt safe. I found that build qualities were poor and they were a bit of an eye sore. My passion for designing a game-changing new vehicle started. It became an obsession. I put my own money in, refused to cut corners and sourced ‘automotive grade’ manufacturing, advanced materials, cutting-edge engineering and technology. I had a few key criteria: 1) I wanted something I’d be happy to let my wife ride in terms of safety; 2) I wanted something that was aesthetically beautiful, something people would be proud to have on display and not want to hide; 3) An exhilarating ride that brought joy each time it was used. I think we’ve got there.

It seems barriers are the connecting theme. First it was about improving the experience of queuing through smart barriers, now it’s about removing barriers in order for people to have frictionless mobility…
That’s a nice way to put it. In the end though it’s about solving the problem of getting to a destination and enjoying (even whilst queuing) the experience. You would see my products being used in every airport in the world. I want the same buzz by seeing Dragonflies in Monaco. If my keystone was to be a specialist in the business of queue control, now it’s the fact I might be bringing a bit more freedom to people’s day to day. Plus, I hope I am doing it with style. Monaco needs a super cool product to match its racing car status and heritage.
What is driving your passion?
This has been about a passion for design and performance engineering. I have immersed myself in creating full tilt technology to provide a three-dimensional way to steer, carbon fibre composites and KERS (kinetic energy recovery systems). I’ve taken design cues from the likes of F1 and one of my hobbies: kite surfing. It influenced the experience of riding a Dragonfly. I feel immensely proud of where it’s got to already. It’s not about the money.
That said… no one likes to lose money. I didn’t set out to be a leader in micro-mobility but hopefully that’s what we will become. The e-scooter market was expected to reach $30bn by 2030. That estimate was before Covid-19…  it has now been revised and is expected to be $42bn.
Why do people undertake capstones?
It’s a unique moment when you have sold your company. It took me some time to adapt to not being the decision-maker at Tensator. I’m 52 so I still have plenty of energy and ideas. It initially left a bit of a void. Then once you’ve taken stock, the shackles are off and you can think more freely. This project is all about exploring and adventure as much for me as what the product will enable people to be able to do with it. Being in Monaco definitely helped provide inspiration for the project.
Can you give us a few final thoughts around the Dragonfly?
I keep thinking about the floods of people that come into the Principality during the iconic events that are hosted. It could really help solve the problem during the busy weekends. I also envision every yacht having their own Dragonflies. So when they dock in Port Hercule or Fontvieille harbour, they take a Dragonfly to get about town. I think of friends sitting in their apartments happily looking at their Dragonfly proudly out on show. Imagine the Hôtel de Paris, the Hermitage Hotel and the Metropole Hotel all having Dragonflies available for guests to use.
Whilst 70% of the world’s journeys are less than 5km, in Monaco close to 100% are less than 5km! I hope this proves to be the way forward.
 
More details about the Dragonfly can be found here: https://www.d-fly.com/
 
Simon Pavitt is Founder of Wingman: www.wingmanthinks.com Experts in Capstone Projects.

Interview: Eddie Jordan

by: Simon Pavitt
04/05/2020

In a new regular feature for Monaco Life, Simon Pavitt, pioneer in helping remarkable individuals with their ‘Capstones’, talks to Principality residents about how they are finding meaning and fulfilment beyond their day to day business. Simon’s focus is on passion projects and the ‘non-financial’ motivations to getting people going.
Simon spoke with Eddie Jordan OBE, (commonly and affectionately known as EJ), the Irish former F1 team owner, entrepreneur, TV personality and philanthropist.
So EJ, what is your connection to Monaco?
I moved to Monaco in 2009. A lot of F1 people move here, especially current and ex-drivers. Partly because they can go about their usual day to day activities without fuss. Then there is the motor racing heritage whereby people here understand and embrace Formula One. It is also well connected to get across Europe to races in Spain, Belgium, Italy, and the Netherlands. There have been quite a few private jet ‘lift sharing’ with a bunch of drivers to and from Monaco before and after race weekends.
I do love Monaco, it feels safe and a bit like a village. I have always gravitated to smaller places – the likes of Jersey where I spent summers karting to the Wentworth Estate. Similar to the F1 paddock, you develop better relationships in smaller places, and there’s more chance for me to use my Irish blarney within a community.
Let’s start with what we call the cornerstone phase of a career. Can you tell us more about your early years growing up and some of the defining moments that set you on your path?
I grew up in Southern Ireland. I went to a strict school. I was destined to either follow the family footsteps and become a banker, accountant, dentist or priest! But I also had a passion for karting. I started late, though, compared to the professional drivers of today. Lewis Hamilton was taking karting seriously aged eight! After only one serious year racing, at age 23, I won the 1971 Irish Kart Championship. I started too late really but got the racing bug.
I have taken the classic path working up through the ranks of motorsport, from karting to Formula Ford to Formula 3, Formula Atlantic and Formula 2. I even had the briefest of experiences driving in Formula 1: one test at Brands Hatch for McLaren in 1980. Moving through the different series put real racing into my blood. Like rising to the top from the bottom up. I look back and still find racing the most enjoyable in the feeder series versus the glitz and glamour of Formula One.
Moving onto your keystone phase, we consider this the time you make your mark, the middle age where you create and achieve success.
I would say things really started to gain momentum in 1979 when I formed my first team Eddie Jordan Racing. Rather than the driver, I was the team owner. During the 80s I found and employed some amazing drivers and won some prestigious championships such as British Formula Three. I had a knack of being able to spot and nurture talent. I have enjoyed punching above my weight and taking calculated risks. I was ‘all in’ on many occasions during these times. I am probably well known for having some of the world’s best drivers come through the ranks with me: Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Nigel Mansell, Giancarlo Fisichella, Damon Hill, Jean Alesi, Rubens Barichello, Johnny Herbert, Eddie Irvine and Martin Brundle. The list goes on. I am very proud of that stable. I think I could spot a racer with talent and quickly sus out how to adapt to him in order to make him a fast driver.
In 1991 I took one of the biggest risks in my life by starting Jordan Grand Prix to race in Formula One. I had my Wingman Gary Anderson as chief designer. He was a genius. We were the underdogs, the scrappy start up. We were able to punch above our weight by being agile and making whatever funds we had from sponsorship work harder than any other team. I risked it all. It was still a people and relationships business then, as opposed to today which is very corporate.
I worked night and day to schmooze sponsors and high net worth individuals. We came across as the fun ones, less serious than other teams. But behind our facade was a steely attitude and a strong work ethic. There were some real highs over the 15 or so years in charge of the team, especially the four race wins and 19 podiums. We achieved a ‘one-two’ at the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix. That was a special moment for the whole team as well as F1 followers that loved the independent teams beating the old guard. Giving Michael Schumacher his first drive in F1 is a really proud moment. Looking back to the earlier racing – giving Ayrton Senna his first drive in a Formula 3 car in 1983 – was quite a moment. Naturally, there were also some quite public lows. It was a real roller coaster to say the least. I sold the team in 2005 to Midland and a Canadian businessman Alex Schnaider. I like to think my timing was good. It often was. Looking back, that was the end of the keystone phase of my career and I don’t regret a day of it. It was quite a ride.
Onto our focus, the Capstone phase. We like to look at what someone does after they’ve made their money and fulfilled many ambitions already in life. What did you do next?
I had made a few quid and felt my family were financially secure. I have four kids, now all grown up, and an amazingly patient wife. Firstly, I didn’t want to walk away fully from motorsport. Racing becomes a way of life. But I don’t miss the stress and relentless pressure of F1 I tell you! So, I continued as a TV pundit and commentator to keep myself involved. I also worked and toured with BBC’s Top Gear and Top Gear Live. I remain a part of that and give my outspoken opinion on UK’s Channel 4. I still like to break the odd news story in F1… (he says with a glint in his eye).
Like the race teams I built, I am independently minded. I am unemployable really. I quickly threw myself into other activities and still love jumping from one thing to the next.
Where do I start on my passion projects?
Well, I have certainly switched gears. A lot of my focus shifted to my family and helping others. My daughter Zoe has her own label, a thriving fashion business. My other daughter Miki worked in sports events and her husband Tom has an events infrastructure business called Caboose & Co. I’m very proud to see the company has been helping in the UK with the coronavirus crisis, installing a temporary village to support NHS staff working at the Royal Berkshire Hospital on the grounds of a nearby school.
I’ve spent a lot of time following my eldest son’s sports career: from his 50 caps for Ireland in Lacrosse and his amateur boxing career to becoming a Varsity snowboarding champion. Lastly, I work closely with my youngest son Kyle on an online charity fundraising platform called GoodGood Giving. The idea is to offer the chance to win one of a kind experiences in return for a donation. Most charity auctions are not accessible to the general public so we hope by widening this out we can raise large sums of money for charity partners. We hope to raise £5 million over the next five years. It complements a lot of charity work I have been a part of over the years. We have the Jordan Family Foundation, I am a patron for both CLIC Sargent and Amber Foundation, and I do like to get involved in charity events in Monaco to help the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. My latest project is for a charity in Cape Town. More can always be done. I particularly like ways to enable people to move on to positive independent futures.
I think you never fail to surprise people. Many didn’t know how good a drummer you are…
Part of your Capstone phase is being able to do things you are passionate about. I have my band Eddie & the Robbers. We are alright, you know! Drumming is a great outlet for me and my restlessness. We’ve enjoyed performing big gigs and get invited to do a lot of F1 race weekends to entertain the crowds (including performing in front of over 50,000 at Silverstone). Music is very powerful for me alongside cycling and sailing – these are my must haves to keep me going. I can’t cope without the sea so it’s good to have Monaco Harbour and the Yacht Club on the doorstep.
I bought Debrett’s with friend Darryl Eales a few years ago which people didn’t expect. It is a 250-year-old start up. It has chronicled aristocracy and the greatest contributors to British life through many, many generations. I was interested in how it was reinventing itself as an engine for social mobility. The company’s own charity, the Debrett’s Foundation, selects bright underprivileged youngsters to develop their skills in self-presentation. I have never really followed the rules of a class system, I have always broken ceilings and tried to avoid the feeling of the imposter syndrome. Despite one’s background, its attitude that counts for me and that can be learned.
I am starting to see a theme EJ, which is mobility. From loving racing – the ultimate mobility challenge, to your personality – always moving onto the next thing and never staying still, to social mobility…
Yes, you are right. I refocused from trying to make two drivers the most mobile people on the planet to looking at social mobility for many more. I am still just trying to apply my way of going about things and getting things done.
Why do people undertake Capstones?
I’ve always enjoyed the craic with people so this phase of life is no different. I like to challenge the status quo, show people what’s possible, keep the wheels in motion. Having turned a corner into my 70s it all keeps me young and energised. Over the years I have connected a lot of friends and acquaintances that want to do fun projects together. Monaco is great for that, connecting good people wanting to do passion projects together over a pint of Guinness. So really my Capstone phase has been about helping others around me with their Capstones, it makes every day different.
Any last words of advice for those living in Monaco and readers of Monaco Life about starting a Capstone project?
Do it. Don’t wait. I would say my best decisions came from the heart, backed up by fast action and then the guts to stick to bold decisions. I’ve always been a believer in regretting the things you did do rather than the things you didn’t end up doing. I’ve always been a hard worker, keeping busy and leading from the front. I think that work ethic has rubbed off on my kids and one day hopefully my grandchildren, as well as maybe inspired a few race fans to also follow their passions with guts and determination.
 
 
www.wingmanthinks.com