Ep. 4, Will Welch: Editor-in-Chief of GQ - Fashion, Journalism, Hype, Creative Leadership, Virality, & the Evolution of GQ.

In this episode, The Gstaad Guy sits down with GQ Editor-in-Chief Will Welch to talk about the intersection of fashion and culture, the importance of storytelling in an era of algorithms, and how GQ has evolved into a creative platform where the best idea wins, and every voice matters. Will shares his perspective on the devolution of traditional media, the unpredictable nature of virality, and why being yourself is the only strategy that truly lasts. From deep journalism to digital creativity, this conversation explores how GQ continues to innovate and remain culturally relevant, not just as a magazine, but as a global creative community. Filmed at Casa Cipriani New York’s Bartholdi Presidential Suite.  Timestamps: (00:00) Intro ✨ (00:49) A lesson in pronouncing “Gstaad”🗣️🇨🇭🏔️ (04:50) The Gstaad Guy is a big fan of GQ 🏆📔 (06:55) “What was your introduction to the world of GQ?” 🤗🤝📔 (08:16) “What was your perception of GQ?” 🧐📔 (11:40) GQ’s positive work environment 😁✅💼 (13:25) “What was the industry like back then, and how does GQ compare from then to now?” 🆚 (17:42) “Who the GQ reader was, and has become, and what the White Stripes were, and have been, for GQ?” 🤓☯️🌱 (21:07) GQ is a community platform 🧑‍🧑‍🧒🤲 (22:28) The Gstaad Guy platform 🏆🤲 (26:23) The Gstaad Guy’s creative decisions 🏆🎨 (28:43) Predicting performance 🤔📈 (31:11) The obsession of being on a cover of a magazine 🤩📔 (34:47) Building the GQ universe 🔧📔🌎 (39:22) “What does it take for someone to be obsessed with the passions?” ❤️‍🔥 (41:38) Definition of “cool” 😎 (44:04) “Be yourself” 😊 (49:05) Generalist vs. Expert 🤔🤓 (50:03) Virgil Abloh 👑✨ (54:28) “The is the era of the multi-hyphenate and the freelancer” 🧑‍💻👩‍💻 (54:53) “What’s it like to be the Editor-in-Chief of GQ?” ✍️👨‍💼📔 (58:52) Managing creative freedom 🧑‍💼👩‍💼🎨 (01:01:22) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨