Nachson Mimran on Leveraging Privilege for Good and in Service of Others

With great privilege, believes the humanitarian and entrepreneur Nachson Mimran, comes great responsibility. Brought up in a family that operates one of the largest agri-industrial businesses in West Africa, Mimran comes from considerable wealth, but unlike so many who have a background such as his, he is open and forthright about his inheritance and the responsibility he sees of doing good with it. With his decarbonization, refugee empowerment, and “human optimization” organization to.org, he’s creating deep impact through various design and development projects in refugee settlements—including the Bidi Bidi Performing Arts Center, completed last year in Uganda—and empowering individuals and communities via what he describes as “venture philanthropy.” At The Alpina Gstaad hotel in the Swiss Alps, which he’s the co-founder of, he provides exceptional hospitality experiences that subvert certain traditional industry codes, fostering a relaxed but elevated environment. On the episode, recorded in front of a live audience at The Lobby “hospitality event” in Copenhagen earlier this fall, Mimran discusses his big-picture view of the word hospitality; how a family tragedy led him and his brother to found to.org; and his bold vision for building transformative spaces for refugees. Special thanks to our Season 10 presenting sponsor, L’École, School of Jewelry Arts. Show notes: Nachson Mimran [00:44] The Lobby [03:46] to.org [09:37] The Alpina Gstaad [09:37] Jean Claude Mimran [11:00] Marcel Bach [13:47] Arieh Mimran [19:29] Pangaia [23:28] Regenerate [23:28] Kakuma Refugee Settlement [23:28] Sumayya Vally [26:04] Hassell [26:04] Xavier De Kestelier [27:06] Bidi Bidi Performing Arts Centre [27:06] Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement [27:49] Mike Zuckerman [27:49] Nakivale Refugee Settlement [32:11] The Throne [38:16] Kutupalong Refugee Settlement [48:09] André Balazs