Business Concept Magazine March 2024

Mid-February the Ballet announced a historic $60 million gift—the largest single gift ever given to the company and one of the largest gifts to an American Ballet Company. The gift is to ensure the organization’s capacity to create new works, acquire masterpieces, and bolster its vision of revolutionizing ballet. MERE MORTALS A Meditation on Artificial Intelligence Mere Mortals, San Francisco Ballet’s highly anticipated world premiere commission, is a reimagination of the Pandora and Prometheus myths inspired by the ethically complicated discovery and proliferation of artificial intelligence. Marking many “firsts” for the company, including its first full-length commission from a female choreographer (Aszure Barton), Mere Mortals has been brought to life by an international collective of artists across disciplines and performed by a 43-member cast. Performed in the heart of the…

If you are not familiar with Garibay outside of his work as a skincare expert, you might be surprised that he and his gracious husband, Isaac Montez of MG Designs, will soon be celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary. It’s increasingly rare to see an entrepreneur’s work commitment and decency spill over into his personal life, especially if he is an openly gay man. It is an achievement worth our praise. The Mexican businessman brings a level of integrity that Business Concept represents, and it was an honor to dive deeper into his story and latest achievements. After venturing to Sacramento, the capital city of California, I sat down with Humberto at his home. I was moved by his genuine humility and commitment to helping others. You have a gift for…

“Perfect symmetry is uninteresting; it’s the unexpected that draws attention.” PK Bijoux captures the artistic essence of PK, an artist rooted in California, drawing inspiration from every corner of life to craft statement jewelry pieces that evoke deep personal meaning and weave captivating narratives. What compelled PK to become a jewelry designer was her frustration with the lack of uniqueness in the high-end designer market. Despite a generous budget, PK found the offerings of Beverly Hills’ designer houses lacking in distinction and allure. At that time, she held expertise in Videoconferencing as an SME for a major tech company, yet her true passion lay in fashion and art, nurtured since childhood. Seeking an outlet for her creative impulses after long days immersed in technology, PK transformed her extensive collection of…

Antonio’s childhood dream was to be a star. Growing up in the ‘70s, Antonio loved listening to the music of Donna Summer and Barry White. “I used to imagine arriving in a sleek, black limousine at Studio 54 clad in Halston, Pierre Cardin, or Yves Saint Laurent, where I’d dance the night away and mingle with Andy Warhol, Liza Minelli, and all the glamorous individuals,” he reminisces. Born and raised in Mexico City, Antonio pursued Arts at La Esmeralda School of the Arts where Frida Kahlo once studied. He migrated to America and settled in San Francisco during the ‘90s. The minute he stepped on US soil, Antonio felt that this was the place he could call home. “San Francisco pulsated with energy and creativity, shaping me as an artist…

Lise chattedwith the team at Mesa & Bar over a melange of their vintages from a newly released Brut 2021 to their 2017 Lolita Pinot Noir, 90 points on Wine Enthusiast, dedicated to the first responders and survivors of the 2017 North Baywildfires. Every time you talk about a vintage, you light up with so much fondness. How did you discover your love for grapegrowing and winemaking? It started at grad school at UC Davis. Being in thevineyards and learning from Dr. Walkerwas an amazing experience. My love was solidified after my first harvest in the industry: growing grapes and making wines brought things back full circle on how beautiful this process is. Where and how did you begin your career? There aren't a lot of women of color in…

It was such a delight for me doing this interview and getting to know more about Sommelier Raphael Santos as he deftly paired up the wine and dinner cuisine for me at the Pebble Beach Food and Wine premier epicurean lifestyle event on the West Coast. The wine pairings were superbly selected and truly enjoyable. It was a gustatory delight for me to have a flawlessly prepared dinner. Raphael Santos never had any inkling that he would be working in wine in any capacity as he pursued an undergraduate degree in Fordham University in New York in the early 2000s. He was geared towards a career in finance concentrated as he was on his studies related to Information Systems and Business Management. He recalls the times in his childhoodwhen he…