Capstones: The Art & Architecture Of Meaningful Passion Projects

Taking the personal visions of great people and making them a reality.

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Capstones: The Art & Architecture of Meaningful Passion Projects

Author: Simon Pavitt ~ Published by: Harriman House

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BRIGITTE BARDOT’S ANIMAL ACTIVISM CAPSTONE

Compendium: Latest article

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Arts Music & Culture, Nature & Sustainabilty
BRIGITTE BARDOT’S ANIMAL ACTIVISM CAPSTONE
Arts Music & Culture, Nature & Sustainabilty

Robert “Bertie“ Eden is a committed pioneer and THE reference for organic and biodynamic winemaking. He is a forward-thinking icon leading to inspire widespread environmental change. His winery, Chateau Maris, “is one of the top five most environmentally friendly vineyards in the world”. A fantastic biodynamic wine Capstone.

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Arts Music & Culture, Nature & Sustainabilty

Introducing Capstones

THE ARC OF YOUR CAREER PASSES THROUGH THREE PHASES…

The Cornerstone lays the foundations and sets you on your path. The Keystone is relentless commitment — commercial success, reputation secured, your mark made, mastery achieved. Then comes the question: What’s next? Where does life’s meaning now lie?

Can your influence, capital and creativity be channelled into something more fulfilling? Time to initiate the something different. The project you’ve always wanted to do. Your Capstone.

It’s not about the money. It’s about authorship — that it’s yours. Sometimes it begins in the margins: a pastime that brought joy outside the stresses of business and the career you’re best known for.

As pioneers of this discipline, we understand that time is scarce, and reputations — built over decades — can be lost in a moment.

We are not wealth managers. We are not a concierge service. We are the architects and enablers of something far more personal. Hands-on experts who fly under the radar, mitigate risk, accelerate impact, and shore up extraordinarily meaningful projects.

Examples?

Buying a Formula One team. Creating a philanthropic foundation. Forming a technology club. Planting a vineyard. Launching a jazz festival. Rescuing a sports car company. Buying a custom cycling brand. Opening a restaurant. Revamping an art gallery. Creating a new luxury shoe line. Rejuvenating an island. Starting a record label. Investing in longevity science. Building a monument. The list goes on.

So, esteemed reader: What’s your Capstone?

The Twelve Capstone Pillars

We have identified twelve themes of projects that are typically chosen as Capstones. We are yet to find a Capstone that doesn’t fit into at least one of these categories, and many inhabit more than one. Click on each of the twelve pillars below to see related Capstone projects and published content.

Collaborators

Consulting

We provide a number of advisory offerings around Capstone projects: Counsel, Connections, Corners, Content & Compere services.  

  • We provide strategic advice, trusted counsel and discreet project design using our Capstone blueprint.

  • We connect people, ideas (and sometimes if necessary) broker opportunities across our extensive Compendium and the twelve Capstone pillars.

  • We create corners - i.e., environments defined by a high density of remarkable people, influence and resources. 

  • We amplify storytelling through content and media partners.

  • We chair and compere events, bringing structure and clarity to conversations.

Together, these services show how we put Capstone thinking into practice—catalysing projects and turning the visions of great people into reality. To enquire about how we can help fill in the enquiry form.

Contributions

Examples below of articles, reports and interviews we’ve written for the likes of the London Technology Club, Mayfair Times, Monaco Life, Club Oenologique and the Stanford Center on Longevity. Our projects have been featured in and on the New York Times, FT How to Spend It, Wired, The Times, Forbes, LUX, Bloomberg, Gulf News, Billionaire, The National, ESPN, Sports Business Journal and beyond…

Featured Articles in…
Read our thinking and contributions in leading publications

Featured
ARTICLE FOR THE MAYFAIR TIMES: TECHNOLOGY & SAILING
Contributions
ARTICLE FOR THE MAYFAIR TIMES: TECHNOLOGY & SAILING
Contributions
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Contributions
BUILDING A WINE COLLECTION? ARTICLE FOR CLUB OENOLOGIQUE MAGAZINE
Food & Drink, Contributions
BUILDING A WINE COLLECTION? ARTICLE FOR CLUB OENOLOGIQUE MAGAZINE
Food & Drink, Contributions

Writing for the prestigious luxury lifestyle magazine Club Oenologique, Simon Pavitt outlines how tech entrepreneurs are bringing a Silicon Valley mindset to the world of fine wine. We consider the disruptive impact of tech on wine lovers and explain the benefits for those willing to embrace the digital evolution. Often seen as old-fashioned, fragmented and complex, it’s an industry that has been slow (even overtly resistant) to adopt mainstream technologies, let alone cutting-edge ones

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Food & Drink, Contributions
CHAT GPT AND WINE EXTINCTION-LEVEL EVENT FOR WINE WRITERS AND SOMMS?
Food & Drink, Contributions
CHAT GPT AND WINE EXTINCTION-LEVEL EVENT FOR WINE WRITERS AND SOMMS?
Food & Drink, Contributions

Jane asked me to write about a new tool using cutting-edge technology called ChatGPT and its potential impact on wine, I was happy to help. …This is one of the first times that an AI tool of this type has become available to the mainstream, certainly one that is so easy to use and inevitably its adoption will be fast.

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Food & Drink, Contributions

Capstones Thinking:
Our latest articles on remarkable Capstones

Featured
BRIGITTE BARDOT’S ANIMAL ACTIVISM CAPSTONE
Arts Music & Culture, Nature & Sustainabilty
BRIGITTE BARDOT’S ANIMAL ACTIVISM CAPSTONE
Arts Music & Culture, Nature & Sustainabilty

Robert “Bertie“ Eden is a committed pioneer and THE reference for organic and biodynamic winemaking. He is a forward-thinking icon leading to inspire widespread environmental change. His winery, Chateau Maris, “is one of the top five most environmentally friendly vineyards in the world”. A fantastic biodynamic wine Capstone.

Read More →
Arts Music & Culture, Nature & Sustainabilty
GUY RITCHIE'S WILD KITCHEN CAPSTONE
Food & Drink
GUY RITCHIE'S WILD KITCHEN CAPSTONE
Food & Drink

Guy Ritchie, the British director known for his stylized gangster films such Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. Yet one could argue his true passion lies in his Wild Kitchen Capstone. Part of his Cashmere Caveman Co, it is an innovative take on outdoor entertaining, primeval cooking, with luxurious features and modern comforts for fire, food and friends.

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Food & Drink
THE KING'S CORONATION CAPSTONE
Food & Drink
THE KING'S CORONATION CAPSTONE
Food & Drink

The Coronation Food Project is inspired by King Charles III which seeks to tackle food waste and food insecurity across all four nations of the United Kingdom. The project hopes to establish an enduring legacy in His Majesty's name by encouraging others to take part in the fund's vision and mission and to help it grow. The Project aims to rescue surplus food and redistribute it to those who need it most, whilst supporting local farmers and reducing carbon emissions

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Food & Drink

  • “Capstones reframes succession from passive inheritance to purposeful creation. Simon goes beyond storytelling — he equips you with frameworks to shape your experiences, resources and passions into something that matters. It’s a practical blueprint for anyone determined to leave more than just their name behind.”

    Jenny Penser, vice chairman of family-owned Erik Penser Bank

  • “If you believe life follows the pattern of learn earn retire expire… read this book and you’ll no doubt, think differently afterwards….”

    Jim Mellon, British Billionaire 

  • "The world needs more Simon Pavitts in it and the world definitely needs this book right now."

    Lord Ed Vaizey of Didcot 

  • "I wanted to let you know, since reading your book I’ve been even more inspired to follow my Capstone. I’m making change once again, but this time it’s for me and the family."

    Adam Ridgway, Serial Entrepreneur 

  • "It's a key challenge for an elite-level athlete that has been hyper-focused on their keystone achievements to know what to do post their sports career. This book is a great place to start to think about what next."

    Nathan Robertson, Olympic Silver Medallist and World Champion, Mixed Doubles Badminton

  • “Generational diversity is a force multiplier for good — if we know how to unlock it. Capstones is a powerful guide for families to do exactly that, building connection, purpose, and shared values that endure.”

    Rebecca Robins, advisor and best-selling author, including Five Generations at Work: How We Win Together, For Good

  • "A must read for anyone who’s just sold their business, inherited wealth, ended their sporting career or thinking about retirement.”

    David Nash, former England A & Middlesex CCC cricketer, entrepreneur philanthropist

  • "This feels like a book that will endure. It's positive life advice, cover to cover."

    Fional Hill CBE, former joint Downing Street Chief of Staff supporting UK Prime Minister Theresa May and founder of the Future Resilience Forum

  • "Like the passion projects Pavitt describes and the processes he outlines, this book too is profound."

    Joe Stringer, Executive Chairman Automata

  • Capstones is a brilliant, well-crafted concept - and this book is the definitive guide to bringing it to life. Essential reading for anyone considering their next chapter."

    Dr Robin Bagchi, Chairman London Technology Club, Chair of the Advisory Board for the Centre For Responsible Leadership at Imperial Business School

  • "The book is a giant shot of positivity and has been a great guide for my own Capstone."

    Louise Johnson, Global CEO of Fuse (Omnicom)