In a Q&A with Forbes Australia’s Editor-in-Chief Sarah O’Carroll, the maestro of the billion-dollar RØDE company, Peter Freedman, shares what brings him happiness, his love of Sydney and his 100%, foolproof Christmas gift.
This story was featured in Issue 17 of Forbes Australia. Tap here to secure your copy.
Your go-to breakfast:
Steak and eggs or chicken.
Favourite meal:
Sashimi.
Bedtime:
2am-ish.
Favourite restaurant in Australia:
Margaret – Double Bay.
Restaurant in the world:
Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons (Oxfordshire, UK).
Favourite tipple:
Absolut Vodka Martini with a twist.
An ideal Saturday night:
At home alone thinking about new technology.
3 dinner guests you’d like:
My mother, my father and my grandfather David. Sadly, just a dream!
Weekend away in Australia:
Potts Point.
Current car:
Rolls Royce Spectre.
Best drive:
The Great Ocean Road. (On my 1974 Green-Frame Ducati 750 SS).
Best airline:
Freedman Air – or Emirates A380 First Class.
Favourite city in the world:
Sydney.
Country you love to visit:
England.
Best overseas escape:
Laucala Island Fiji.
Best hotel:
Claridge’s Mayfair, London- nothing else even comes close!
Favourite artist:
Tom Roberts.
Designer:
Marc Newson.
Creative inspiration:
Tony Fadell.
Work of art:
The Suiter by Charles Blackman.
Most beautiful building:
Jenner House, Potts Point.
Most beautiful place:
Potts Point.
Foolproof Christmas gift:
A handwritten letter telling someone how much joy they bring to your life, and that you love them unreservedly.
Perfume or Cologne:
For men, Creed Millesime Imperial, and for women, Astier de Villatte – Le Dieu Blue.
Most extravagant purchase:
My Supermarine Spitfire MKVI (TE-184). One of the 50 truly airworthy ‘Spits’ in the world.
Hobbies:
My work is the entire focus of my life.
Book you tell people to read:
Summer of the Seventeenth Doll.
Biography you loved:
Sam Walton – Made in America.
Favourite song:
Fire and Rain by James Taylor.
TV series:
MadMen.
Movie:
Harold and Maude.
Podcast:
Lex Fridman.
The app you can’t live without:
I can 100% live without apps.
How you unwind:
Writing.
Biggest influence:
Sun Tzu (The Art of War).
Best friend:
Myself.
Who makes you laugh:
Norm Macdonald.
Best advice:
Be kind.
Hero:
My mother Astrid.
Your legacy:
A ‘Legacy’ is just ego! It is what you do every day that you are alive that counts.
Proudest moment:
I really can’t think of a ‘single moment’ that I could define as that. My life is a work in progress, and far from anywhere near where I want it to be.
Greatest Flaw:
My inability to ‘live in the moment’. It’s all about tomorrow!
Businessperson you admire:
My father, Henry.
Makes you happy:
Listening to little kids laugh.
What you wish you could change about yourself:
Way too many things to list.
What you wish you could change about the world:
Human beings’ propensity for fundamentalist tribalism.
Life motto:
Never give up.
This story was featured in Issue 17 of Forbes Australia. Tap here to secure your copy.
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