CEO IN THE PICTURE: our very own Franc Kardakhian-XiaoBi III

Q: Professor Kardakhian...

FKXIII: Please, please, there's no need for all this formality, just call me professor.

Q: Professor, you gave up a life of wealth and opulence in your native country of New-Gondor. Why exactly?

FKXIII: An interesting question, and one worthy of a good response!

Q: Professor, what is your main goal in doing business?

FKXIII: Ow, all the regular motives like money and fame mean very little to me. As a matter of fact I was selected for the top ten of influential people of the New-Gondor Times, but I left all that behind. No, mine is an altruism that is truly extraordinary, and I wanted to spread all the knowledge I had to a wider audience, so really I saw I had to move to a more international country. New-Gondor is fantastic but it is lagging far behind in lots of aspects that were important to me.

Q: Why is your hair so soft?

FKXIII: Haha, now stop it, you sycophant! But it is very soft, true. Gift of God, I can't help it.

Q: Why Ghent? Why business intelligence?

FKXIII: Ghent, because it's a great town, with truly great people, the best people. Amazing people. And intelligence has always been important to me. I always used to say, back in West-Asia, if you have it you don't need it, but if you don't have, boy, do you want it! It's always like that, I have learned that through hard work and even harder experience.

Q: If you could give one hint to young people what would it be?

FKXIII: Flossing of course. And hunting is a good sport, for almost everybody. But also, and maybe this is the most important hint: go your own way. You can call it. Another lonely day. Also, if I could just give you one hint, young person: don't waste your time on a formal study in a university or some other place. Study yourself! That's the main thing: get to know your business. Even if you aspire to be a surgeon or a malpractitionist.

Q: That's very inspiring.

FKXIII: You know what, I don't care. I don't care what you find inspiring.

Q: That seems a little harsh.

FKXIII: You are fake news, fake.

Q: I work for you, you just hired me twenty minutes ago. This is your website.

FKXIII: And that's great, great, couldn't be better.

Q: Okay, I'll edit these last bits with the fake news.

FKXIII: No, I want it all in, the full ham sandwich. Honesty. We should be authentic. The idiots out there will gobble it up, you'll see.

Q: Okay, but I'll at least edit out that you called your readers idiots.

FKXIII: No, no. It's fine. I think it might be the best interview ever written. Sensational. Did you know I 've been to China? And that I sit in an airplane? Only to see you? I'm a merchant, born and raised! Great talking to you! Regards to Barbara!