The Refiner: Philippe von Borries

Growing up in his grandmother's and mother's hospitality business in the heart of Cologne, working and living alongside powerful women and hosting others became part of Philippe von Borries' DNA. Venturing out of Germany, he eventually landed in New York, where he, in 2005, co-created a virtual shopping mall for the many independent lifestyle brands popping up in his new home, Brooklyn: Refinery 29 – a virtual place to refine content and products, geared towards the next generation of women, with 29 shops on each virtual floor. What started as a sketch on a napkin he drew together with his partner, Piera Gelardi, and two other friends, ended up being a global internet business – sold to Vice Media in 2019 for $400 million.

What started as a sketch on a napkin Philippe drew together with his partner, Piera Gelardi, and two other friends, ended up being a global internet business – sold to Vice Media in 2019 for $400 million.

In episode 22 of the Wunderbar Together podcast, Philippe von Borries, Co-Founder of Refinery 29, takes us on his journey from German kid to internet wunderkind and how becoming a father has turned his view on work upside down. He also takes a stand on the recent accusations of discrimination at the company and his own reckoning with racism.

"The company is not your baby. I realized that once I had a a real baby." – Philippe von Borries

Follow Philippe von Borries on LinkedIn and Instagram. Find Refinery 29 here. And of course, re-visit his music pick and wedding dance, "Time Of The Season" by The Zombies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzpPy9hJYA8