I Bought this Car before Elon went Crazy - It that it?
"Auto hui, Elon pfui" – a sticker on a Tesla triggered this deep dive into a complex question: Can we separate a product from the person behind it? Can – or should – we appreciate innovation while questioning the character of its creator?
In this episode, I explore the philosophical, ethical, and practical challenges of separating work from creator. From Wagner to J.K. Rowling, from Michael Jackson to Steve Jobs – we look at how society deals with controversial figures and their legacies. Then we zoom in on the tech world, where companies often are their founders – and how this plays out in the case of Elon Musk and Tesla.
Topics in this episode:
- Can art, tech, and business be judged independently of their creators?
- Why Tesla is both an innovation icon and a usability paradox
- The risks and rewards of strong personal branding in tech
- How Musk's political turn is impacting Tesla’s sales and stock – especially in Europe
- What happens when the CEO becomes the brand’s biggest liability?
This episode is part cultural critique, part market analysis, and all about the human behind the machine.