Reconciling Commerce and Collection with Isaac Sultan Cohen

Isaac Sultan Cohen bridges the worlds of business and art collecting, finding parallels between strategic decision-making and the emotional value of owning timeless pieces.

Isaac Sultan Cohen highlights the importance of balancing business with personal passions, finding inspiration and lessons in art collecting that enrich both his life and career.

Even for an experienced corporate executive, the intricate realm of art collecting can seem like entering a totally new reality. Like the corporate realm, the domain of collecting is propelled by passion, curiosity, and a quest for creation. Isaac Sultan Cohen, a professional in the shipping and logistics sector currently residing in Miami, navigates the intersection of two realms. He commenced his journey into collecting upon unexpectedly inheriting an art collection from his uncle, a prolific collector, whose legacy would profoundly influence Isaac Sultan Cohen's professional life and commitment to collecting for years to come.

Isaac Sultan Cohen contemplates the commencement of his adventure, which has spanned over twenty years. “Upon inheriting my uncle’s collection, I found it to be modest in size, yet meticulously curated.” Upon acquiring it, I felt a duty to uphold his commitment to collecting by both augmenting it with my personal preferences and exploring further avenues of collection, such as timepieces. What truly ignited his love and motivated him to further augment his collection was the comprehension of its profound significance, along with the opportunity that collecting affords to possess a fragment of history.

Isaac Sultan Cohen compares art collecting to business, emphasising the importance of patience, timing, and understanding value in both worlds.

Commencing a collection without professional expertise in art proved challenging. Isaac Sultan Cohen presents a compelling analogy between the initial phases of his collecting endeavors and the commencement of his professional career. “In collecting, akin to business, I had to master the vernacular—a particularly challenging endeavor, as the language of art transcends mere verbal expression.” It necessitates an understanding of the history, complexities, and market dynamics of this wholly novel realm. After many years of experience in both collecting and leadership roles, the hitherto distinct realms of business and art have rapidly merged.

 Isaac Sultan Cohen explicitly states that his art collection is motivated only by his passion for art; nonetheless, he identifies distinct connections between art collecting and commerce. “Allow me to provide an illustration.” Collecting art imparts significant knowledge on value and timing. Shipping and stock market investing necessitate a comparable skill set. Success in all domains necessitates the ability to predict market trends and engage in long-term strategic thinking. Significantly, in each of these sectors, instant financial rewards are not evident; rather, one must exercise patience to observe returns over time. The subject of value, however, is distinct. The significance of art, in my view, is exclusively emotional rather than financial. I perceive myself not as an investor, but as an art collector. The emotional value of a work of art, akin to the financial value of a business enterprise or a stock, will appreciate over time. One must only exercise patience.

Isaac Sultan Cohen believes both art collecting and business require patience, logical decision-making, and valuing passion over immediate returns.

Collecting also imparted a significant lesson on strategy to Isaac Sultan Cohen. “Emotion should invariably be moderated by reason,” he asserts. “When I am bidding on a rare watch or a masterpiece, as well as finalizing a transaction, I consistently take a moment to assess.” Regardless of the pressure exerted by others, I consistently maintain my composure and refrain from hastily making decisions. That is essential for gathering information and while managing a company.

Isaac Sultan Cohen reflects that the fundamental lesson he has acquired from collecting is the realization that not all aspects of life pertain to immediate returns on investment. “In executing a transaction, we are predisposed to consider solely profit and loss.” Engaging with the realm of art serves as a reminder that certain aspects of life are purely driven by passion. It is an experience of unadulterated, abstract elation that I cannot find anywhere.

Many CEOs find it challenging to integrate professional responsibilities with personal interests; nonetheless, Isaac Sultan Cohen asserts that success in the corporate realm necessitates allocating time for both pursuits. “One of the most lamentable observations I make is how individuals become engulfed by the obligations of managing a company.” They consistently struggle to allocate the time required to commit to their passions. It need not be collecting! Whatever induces your smile, you will recognize it, as it is solely that which facilitates the rejuvenation of your mind. Isaac Sultan Cohen elucidates that CEOs focused solely on their business endeavors can benefit from the novel insights and competencies derived from his personal passions, which he consistently integrates into his daily work, equipping him with numerous practical tools.

Isaac Sultan Cohen emphasizes to CEOs the necessity of discovering significance that transcends superficiality. Executives inhabit a realm where all aspects are quantified by returns. In both our personal and professional spheres, do not assume that all matters can or ought to be evaluated solely by immediate profitability. It mostly concerns passion and enhancing our lives outside the confines of the boardroom.