Monocle on Sunday The week in global affairs from Europe to the Gulf
Feb 22, 2026
Alexei Korolev, Vienna correspondent covering culture and politics; Tyler Brûlé, editorial director reporting from Abu Dhabi on design and travel; Simon Brooke, media and communications analyst; Isabel Hilton, international and environmental commentator. They talk about cold‑water routines, Abu Dhabi neighbourhoods and design, career paths for young people, Etihad’s long‑range A321LR, shifts in global trade and tariffs, Vienna’s cultural scene and Iran and Ukraine security tensions.
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Paid In Magazines At 14
- Tyler Brûlé recounts working at WH Smith at 14 and being paid in magazines and books.
- He credits that early job as foundational to a lifelong work ethic and career trajectory.
Early Work Builds Transferable Skills
- Encourage teenagers to take early jobs to learn real-world skills like customer service and conflict resolution.
- Tyler Brûlé recommends roles such as airline or hospitality work to build transferable people skills.
Favor Practical Risk Over Paper Credentials
- Don't overvalue degrees at the expense of hands-on risk-taking and entrepreneurship.
- Tyler Brûlé urges encouraging practical experiments and early business attempts over defaulting to expensive formal education.