Wood is also deeply committed to his role as a father. “I make sure I spend plenty of time with my kids. I’m not waiting until I’m older to create time for my family, and I’m not waiting to teach them the things I love about life,” he says.
It is Wood’s firmly held belief that travelling with young children is not something to be wary of. “It’s incredibly important to expose them to different environments as much as possible. We all come from a nomadic heritage and travel brings new experiences while supporting the development of the mind in meaningful ways,” he explains.
He credits these values to his own parents, both of whom helped shape the man he is today. “My dad put me on skis for the first time when I was two years old and, as a child, took me on a month-long sailing expedition. He gave me my love for the outdoors.” It is clearly something he has worked hard to pass on to his own children, with two of them already enjoying paragliding adventures with their very hands-on father.
Wood’s mother, meanwhile, is the source of his business acumen. “My mother is a great businesswoman but always found time to be with us. Mealtimes were very important. Her cooking still inspires me today. It was essential for me to pass that down to my own children too.”
When asked whether fatherhood has made him a better businessman, Wood answers simply, “Of course. You learn new skills for handling situations. You also remind yourself that there are many different ways to do the same thing and that you cannot be an expert in raising children without learning from others.”
When it comes to family time, Wood believes sharing a meal is one of the best ways to connect. So what do his children think of Maximal Concepts’ food? “My kids love the tacos at Limewood and, as a family, Mott 32’s Peking Duck is a long-standing favourite. We have also just launched our plant-based menu at Mott 32 and they love every dish.”
Tell Us a Dad Joke
“Here’s one I told my wife, who is from Switzerland…
‘What’s the best thing about Switzerland?’
‘I don’t know, but the flag is a big plus.’”
