My spontaneous interview with Manoj Bairstow, Director of Geneva Supercar Show and my selected highlights from this fascinating event

Let me say in advance that it was such a great and inspiring event and a magical summer day - all in all, a worthwhile investment of my free Saturday...

What does make me say that?

Am I looking for a supercar?

Of course not - you know my sustainable mobility priorities - I love hiking/walking/jogging, I love biking, I love all kind of sustainable mobility where I can use my time effectively while moving closer to my destination ??

Am I looking for a millionaire looking for a supercar?

Sorry, I couldn’t resist to make that joke ?? But understanding very well which target group is interesting for who you can imagine that such events attract very different audiences - it's very entertaining to observe ??

My very clear answer is: No, not at all - money doesn't make people more interesting to me, only intellect does.

Or do I just like to spend a nice summer day on a free Saturday in Geneva with a champagne glass in my hand?

For God's sake - No, I already don't drink alcohol all my life and there are no exceptions.

So what IS IT that made this event so exciting?

To say it was the people present - would be too simple, but yes, it was the people present with exciting life stories, inspiring mindsets, high and bold goals and fantastic energy. Some I knew vaguely, some I call business friends, some I saw for the first time.?I'll also start with a highlight and the absolute surprise of the day. It was not planned at all, but I spontaneously got to interview Manoj Bairstow , the director of Geneva Supercar Show . This name should mean something to you in connection with Monaco, because just a few years ago Manoj was the Director of a world-renowned supercar event in Monaco and worked alongside His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco himself to bring supercar enthusiasts from all over the world to Monaco.

If you, dear reader, are familiar with our Elite Experts Conferences Technology Podcast , then you know that I am never just interested in facts and figures. I also ask questions about personal development, motivation, challenges overcome, visions for the future and much more. I like to look at people holistically as personalities and not just like professional roles and job titles.?That's how you get to the best stories, as only life itself writes them.

So, what is the story of Manoj Bairstow?

If you expect fortune and glamour right from the start, you're a bit wrong. It starts with a simple and tough job in the sales area. Ultimately, it's about selling space to customers at events in London, Baku, Moscow, Hong-Kong and many more. Do you know what that means? Making countless phone calls, most of them cold calls and most of the time potential customers would have countless reasons not to buy. Sounds tough. It was tough. But it was also a good training for Manoj. Knowing how to sell is an extremely important skill in our time. Having the applied knowledge, the practice of how to sell is of immense value. Manoj also tells me how his approach works: "Never disagree with the customer.?If the customer says the event was not good, say - yes, the event was not good. If the customer says, no, that's too expensive, just agree - yes, that's too expensive. And then listen to what the customers continue to say. That feedback, what comes afterwards, is very useful." Furthermore, he adds, "Even if a customer doesn't buy in that year and doesn't come to my event, I continue to at least build trust. I'm constantly networking, a business lunch there, a dinner together here. I'm constantly in touch with my customers, even if I only come to a city for a few days."

Manoj also tells us what a time challenge it was to set up the Geneva Supercar Show from scratch. It is a cooperation between him and Franck Muller luxury watches manufacturer in Geneva. When he got the call and was asked if he would like to help set it up, he said yes. The time frame was just under half a year. Insider info at this point: for such high-profile, large-format events, you normally calculate a year in advance. That was also tough. Fascinating question: do such strong personalities like Manoj also doubt sometimes? Yes, they do, he says without me even having to ask. He actually thought in between that he wouldn't be able to do it. Again, what helped was his network. Many customers trust him and said - "yes we will do it, because we know you will deliver what you promise". The logical conclusion at this point is: invest in your network looong before you need it.

Yes, we talked about difficult topics, about stumbling blocks, challenges, but also about inspiration and visions for the future. Manoj's eyes are shining when he talks about the future - he wants to make Geneva Supercar Show an experience for the whole family and bring in some sponsors that would also be attractive for the ladies and the children. Whoever might be rolling their eyes now and thinking - well, is an event like this really something for children? Yes, it can be. You shouldn't imagine closed, stuffy rooms with no daylight. You should rather imagine a villa with lots of green areas around it, where the supercars are displayed outside. A few large trees surround the property and provide shade, Lake Geneva glistens in the distance - it's a truly beautiful setting.

So, the second edition of Geneva Supercar Show will take place on July 4-7, 2024.

Will it be less challenging because there is now a year to prepare everything? I don't think so, because Manoj has big plans. What I am convinced of is that this person will do everything possible to deliver a class performance to his customers. What makes Geneva Supercar Show really special is that there are real rarities from the world of supercars on display that you don't constantly see on the road, not even in certain places like for example Monaco or Zurich.

At this point, thank you Manoj for taking the time to do the interview, for the great event and I wish you great ideas, trustworthy cooperation partners and simply the best of luck for the second edition of Geneva Supercar Show in 2024! Many thanks also to your wife Natasha, who was the first to come up with the idea of the spontaneous interview. It was a pleasure to meet both of you ??

If you are rightly wondering where the details of the supercars are, I would like to say that I have, of course, also summarised a few highlights.

Automobili Estrema:

If you are not new to my network, you know that I have a special bond with Automobili Estrema . Gianfranco Pizzuto , the CEO of this supercar startup, was even the second guest on our Elite Experts Conferences Technology Podcast.

That was exactly when it all started. If anyone ever doubts whether real interpersonal connections based on values are possible via LinkedIn, I can tell you this much: yes, they are. Because that is exactly how we met. You can also quickly find out via digital media whether you are on a similar level in terms of values, in our case regarding sustainability. In the meantime, a business friendship has developed and I like to support Gianfranco with visibility in my network.?

So, what is the fascination of Automobili Estrema's first model "Fulminea"? The design and proportions of this beautiful lady in electric blue? That it will be the first 100% electric supercar made in Italy? The technical equipment, battery power etc? The sustainable approach in the choice of materials? What is it?

Fascinating as it all is, it is none of these things individually. It is the complete mix of the factors mentioned and the most important part has nothing to do with Fulminea as such. The biggest fascination and credit goes to the whole team around Gianfranco and Roberto Olivo , who is the COO at Automobili Estrema. It is a small group of less than 10 people who are intelligent, courageous and probably for outsiders crazy enough to make a dream of a sustainable supercar come true. Is it a rocky road? You bet it is! Are there more challenges along the way than you ever expected at the beginning? But of course! Is it still worth it to keep going and never give up? Absolutely!!!

Good luck to the Lady "Fulminea" and see you all again at the IAA mobility in Munich ??

GFG Style:

My network already knows my affinity for design. It's not for nothing that we've had so many fascinating personalities from the design world as guests on our Elite Experts Conferences Technology Podcast. So, I couldn't pass by the GFG Style booth. The supercar presented by GFG Style was the Kangaroo concept car. It is a two-seater, electric hyper-SUV with 4-wheel drive and 4-wheel steering. Umberto Giorio , Head of Communication and Business Development, was such a great host at the booth and readily answered lots of questions. One of my first questions is of course about the target audience. Kangaroo is a concept car, so you don't want to sell it. So who is the target audience? Basically anyone who wants to produce a supercar and needs design as a service.?

But anyone who expects only styling, i.e. only the exterior and interior design of this concept car, is massively underestimating GFG Style. Because the goal of such projects is not only the pure appearance, it is also the combination of the latest technology and features. Kangaroo is electric and can be charged on both sides - fast and standard charging are available.?

The next surprise comes when you take a closer look at the interior. Yes, it is honestly super comfortable as I can confirm from my personal experience, but that is not the surprise. The surprise is how clear and organised the interior looks - there is no overload of details, features and screens. Supercars are often opulent and overloaded. Kangaroo stands up to this - less is clearly more. It's almost minimalistic and wonderfully pleasant in an aesthetic way. Super appealing - bravo ?????? As with people, outer beauty must go hand in hand with inner beauty - otherwise it's worthless.

Many thanks, Umberto Giorio, for your time, for all the detailed explanations and your ‘tolerance' for someone who is not from design but is interested in that topic ?? That was fun - thank you very much and see you at the next show ??

Lucid Motors:

If you know a bit about the automotive industry, you might be a little puzzled: what is Lucid Motors ' Lucid Air model doing at a supercar show? Logically, you could look at the price range and see that Lucid Air is placed more in the Maserati price range which would justify that. But that would be a little too easy to explain. As I approach the booth with curiosity and have the opportunity to have an in-depth tour with Amelie Auzolle Mahieu , Studio Director of Lucid Motors in Geneva, it immediately becomes crystal clear to me why this elegant car is absolutely right for this show.?

The model on display is presented in the best and highest specification and it is evident. Amèlie tells me about the technical details and yes, it is immediately clear that no one will ever have any range anxiety in that car. It goes without saying that the luxury sedan is also very pleasant to look at. But what really excited me was when I sat inside the car and looked at the craftsmanship, the interior design and the choice of materials. It really is of the highest premium quality and extremely well arranged, also in terms of the digital display. Of course, it is also my personal taste that is being addressed, but I think a little bit of order, clarity and minimalism in our overloaded and overstimulated world can't hurt. An interesting detail is that the interior of the car is even divided into two areas - front and rear. In other words, you have a completely different atmosphere in the car depending on where you sit. Not at all unimportant, as all parents among us know.

At this point, a huge thank you to Amèlie Mahieu for your time, your enthusiasm for sustainable mobility and exciting discussion on how Lucid Motors is now positioning itself marketing-wise across Europe. I wish you every success and hope to see a studio in Zurich very in the near future. It was also a particular pleasure for me to discover that we both actually have our technical background in chemistry - isn't it fascinating how particularly exciting non-linear life paths can be? It's just proof time and again that if you want to, you also can. So, until next time and thanks a lot ??

Radical:

Before I can write about Radical Motorsport Ltd. , I must first admit that racing - apart from my technical interest in Formula E - is not one of my interests or hobbies. So everyone can get an idea that my knowledge about it is also very limited. Especially when it comes to the classic generation of racing cars with the ICE.?

So it was all the more pleasant that Klaus (Nikki) Schumann , the founder of Acqua Rossa Motorsport Sàrl , who are authorised as one of the local dealers for the racing cars of the British brand Radical, gave me a helping hand.?

Radical has been around since 1997, and when I ask him if there is anything going on in the field of electrification, Nikki immediately answers in the negative. No, the Radical racing cars will continue to be powered by ICE. From our discussion I also learn that the Radical concept is based on 4 pillars: speed and performance, lightweight construction, quick repair in case of damage and, of course, driving fun. It must all cost an insane fortune, right? The surprise par excellence is that there is even an entry-level model, which is possible at just over 60 thousand Swiss francs. A bargain in comparison, then. So if anyone in my network dreams of racing cars, the Radical entry-level model could be the answer.

Many thanks to Nikki Schumann for your time, interesting stories and the patience to introduce me to the world of racing - it was fun. Thank you and see you next time ??

That was my short overview of the highlights of the first edition of the Geneva Supercar Show. It was a lot of fun - see you next time and best of luck and success to Manoj and his team with the preparations for 2024 ??????

Stay tuned for the next event and next articles.

Ludmilla

#DERRtoBeDifferent