Business of Speed Podcast

Shami Kalra had $10 left in his bank account, no food in the house, and a wife who told him she'd had enough. That Friday night, he designed two watches in Photoshop. By Thursday, he'd taken his first $1,000. Within 30 days, $50,000. He didn't even have a product yet.

That was the birth of Omologato — the motorsport watch brand built by a fan who couldn't afford a hamburger at Silverstone, let alone the $7,000 watches roped off behind VIP barriers.

In this episode, Shami tells us the full story: 20 years working for people he hated, the moment his wife forced a change, launching on Shopify with no money, and how a cold introduction to Chip Ganassi at Le Mans turned into a phone call, a partnership, and a spot on the podium when Alex Palou won the Indianapolis 500.

We get into:
  • Why he flew to the south of France for a 2.5-hour meeting instead of doing a Zoom call
  • The swimming pool watch dial born from COVID isolation and what it taught him about hope and belonging
  • Supporting drivers from age 9 who are now knocking on the door of Formula 1
  • The FIA blocking him on social media for advocating for a disabled marshal at Le Mans
  • Meeting Mario Andretti behind the bins at a race and Tony Kanaan at Thermal
  • His dream of owning an IndyCar team — and how close it came to being a 2025 reality
  • Why kindness is not a weakness, toxic people are insecure, and karma always collects

Shami also shares stories about Juan Pablo Montoya, Roger Penske, Scott Dixon (who lives a mile away), Tom Kristensen, Luke Browning, and why the greatest people in racing are the ones who stand up when you walk over to say hello.

Creators and Guests

Host
Lali Michelsen
Chief Creative Officer, Business of Speed
Host
Vincenzo Landino
Founder + Managing Director, Business of Speed

What is Business of Speed Podcast?

Business of Speed is the definitive, deep-dive into the money, power, and technology driving modern racing.

We don't report the race, we pull back the curtain on the strategy behind it. This show treats global racing as the ultimate laboratory for competitive advantage, focusing on the high-level business decisions that shape the sports. We move past passive sponsorships to explore how teams, brands, and executives leverage racing for technology transfer, cultural relevance, and operational impact.

This is where the C-suite goes to learn how to harness velocity into a sustainable business advantage.