EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Simone Martin:

The Man You Won’t Forget

Conducted by Guillaume Jean Lefebvre

Simone Martin. A name as common as it is unforgettable. Rooted in the ancient Roman Martia lineage, yet echoing across continents not because of its bearers, but because the name itself commands space. "It moves, it stays," he says. It lingers in the mind, whether you want it to or not. Just like him.

Born in Genova—La Superba—Simone grew up between Western Liguria and Portofino, with the sea as his witness and the sky as his only limit. A childhood surrounded by beauty, yes, but also marked by moments that forged a will of iron. He was the quiet one, the dreamer, the target. Until the day bullies destroyed a book gifted by his great-grandfather—ripping away not just paper, but memory. It hurt. But it sparked something. From that fire, he rose, vowing never to break again.

His passions were no accident. He chose them. Acting, storytelling, making people laugh—not for applause, but to move souls. “Knowing people multiplies your life,” he says. Books, performances, real stories—these are time machines and soul shifters. And Simone is both the passenger and the pilot.
His first job? Selling cranes to hardened businessmen twice his age, in a language they barely spoke. It was the perfect battlefield. No one gave him respect—he took it. That job taught him everything: calculate fast, never flinch, and always have a plan B.

A product of Italy’s liceo classico, Simone mastered dead languages before he ever spoke in boardrooms. University? He tried four. None satisfied him. He didn’t want lectures; he wanted a pulse. He learns on his terms now—currently diving into theology not for status, but for truth.
Key career moments? There are a few. Like surviving a bombing in Kyiv while working in the crane industry. Or giving a speech about peace at Lviv Polytechnic University, with war echoing in the background. Or that insane dash across Asia and Oceania in under a month—no breaks, just drive. And now, the thrill of a new chapter: becoming an influencer, with a voice that resonates far beyond the screen.

His method? Pure instinct. Every mission is a blank page. No scripts. “On s’engage et puis on voit,” he quotes Napoleon. You commit, then adapt. That’s how he wins. Every time.
His greatest pride? Showing up when others run. Delivering when no one believes. But above all, staying humble. Never letting pride dull his hunger.

Work-life balance? Not his thing. "I live where I work, and I work where I live." For Simone, if something doesn’t set your pulse racing, it’s not worth your time.
What’s next? He’s off to one of the world’s most dangerous zones with his close friend, photographer George Lagarde—not for fame, but for the untold stories. Long-term, he’s building a space for misfits and visionaries—a launchpad for those who don’t belong and never wanted to.

Ask Simone how he wants to be seen, and he’ll tell you he doesn’t care. What matters is what lingers after he leaves the room. He doesn’t aim to be liked. He aims to be unforgettable.
And he is.

INTERVIEW

1. You’ve operated in extreme environments, including war zones. What have those high-stakes situations taught you about leadership and decision-making under pressure?

Operating in war zones taught me one thing above all: leadership under pressure isn’t about glory, it’s about preventing catastrophic failure. You learn to detach emotionally when it counts. Stay sharp, make decisions fast, and never worsen a bad situation by acting on fear. It’s not about playing hero, it’s about saving yourself and as many others as possible.
I remember during one of the bombings in Kyiv, the shelter was tiny. I made the call to let women and children in first, and stayed upstairs in the most protected room I could find. Minutes later, an explosion hit so close the walls cracked and the floor shifted under my feet. It teaches you real fast what matters, and what leadership really looks like when no one’s watching.

2. You mentioned leading teams through “impossible” deadlines. Can you walk us through one of those moments—your role, your tactics, and what you learned from it?

I’ve had a few. Like the time I had to set up a meeting at Lviv Polytechnic University from Italy... arranged it less than 24 hours before. No flights, no easy way in. So I crossed into Ukraine for the second time by an almost 22-hour bus ride. Didn’t blink. Made it on time.
Or the time I was in Indonesia, and they changed my meetings while I was already there. The only way to salvage it? Catch a flight to Adelaide that same day. I was bumping down a jungle road in the middle of a thunderstorm, phone signal cutting out, coordinating strategy with the commercial office while dodging potholes and lightning.
What I learned? Leadership isn’t about clean schedules and safe calls. It’s about moving fast, deciding faster, and knowing the mission comes first.
If you’re lucky, you get a good story out of it. If not... well, at least you’re not the guy back in the office writing emails about synergy.

3. As you step into the world of influence and media, how do you choose the messages or causes you stand behind? Is there an unspoken editorial line you follow?

I want to influence people to do good, to see possibilities where others see walls, to bring hope where there’s none, and joy where there’s sadness.
I’m not on the cover of this extremely famous magazine because I’m the son of someone important. My parents are normal people, and so am I.
I’m on the cover of this magazine to prove a point: if you have grit, persistence, and hope, you can do whatever you want — but only if it’s right. Always remember: love others as yourself.
My unspoken editorial line? Always smile — it’s underestimated what a simple smile can really do.

4. You spoke about building a “launchpad” for unconventional minds. What does that space look like in practice, and who exactly is it built for?

I want to build a launchpad; a place for the ones who feel out of place in this ruthless world. For those who’ve been told their creativity is useless, that they should ‘study STEM to get a job’ or whatever else society throws at them. It’s a safe space where people can create whatever they imagine — no judgment, no limits. Because real innovation never came from playing it safe or fitting in. This place is for the overlooked, the misunderstood, and anyone bold enough to build a future that doesn’t yet exist.

5. You have a sharp sense of strategy and disruption. Are there any entrepreneurial ventures or industries you're planning to reinvent—or already working on behind the scenes?

I skip announcements, I prefer headlines — and you will see me everywhere very soon.

6. Your professional style is instinctive, direct, and unscripted. Have you ever faced rejection or resistance because of that? How did you handle it?
All the time. People aren’t always ready for someone who skips the small talk and gets straight to it. I smile, let them take a look at their annual invoicing, and casually write ‘x2’ next to it. Most of the time, that gets their attention.
If they bite, good. If not, their competitors will — and they’ll watch them grow with my help. Either way, I don’t chase. I create demand.

7. When instinct is your only compass and everything falls on you, how do you manage isolation, doubt, or the weight of your own decisions?

Oh, I just say ‘finally.’ Finally, I get to work without a ball and chain around my ankle telling me what’s safe or sensible. Isolation? Doubt? That’s where clarity shows up. When it’s all on you — no noise, no committee, no backup — just instinct and consequence. That’s my favorite terrain.

8. If you could pass on just one lesson to someone entering the professional world today, what would it be—and why does it matter more than anything else?

If your client’s clever, out-clever them. If your competitor’s a strategist, be a guerrilla commander. If you’re good, be better tomorrow. Be unpredictable, keep your opponents guessing.
But here’s the kicker: if you see someone in need, help them. Not for some reward or guru points, but because it’s right. Brotherhood beats money every single time.

9. Have you ever turned down a major opportunity because it clashed with your values or your vision? What was the cost—and was it worth it?

Once, I was offered a gig in real estate. The catch? I’d have to sell houses for less than they’re worth just to close deals fast and earn my commission. I said no.
Just the thought of families making sacrifices to buy a home, only for me to shortchange them for my own gain, made my blood boil.

10. What would you say is your greatest invisible achievement—the one no one sees, but without it, everything else would fall apart?

My greatest invisible achievement? My relationship with God and my closest family.
Think of it like filling a jar: you start with the biggest stones — that’s faith and family. Then comes the rubble, the smaller struggles and victories. Finally, the sand — the rest of life’s noise.
Put the order wrong, and you won’t fill the jar properly. Without that foundation, nothing else holds.

Art Director/Photographer: George Lagarde
Lighting Assistant/Videographer: Michela Corezzola
Model: Simone Martin
Location: Portofino