Leonardo Avezzano is a man who turns challenges into opportunities and dreams into action. As a filmmaker, explorer, photographer, and business innovator, he draws from his unique journey to inspire others to master change and embrace innovation.

This February, he’ll be sharing his insights at the Radial “360 Dome Experience!” event in Rotterdam. But before that, we caught up with him for an exclusive interview – just a glimpse of the incredible stories and lessons awaiting you at the event.

With a career spanning startups, corporate giants, and nonprofits – as well as extraordinary feats like scaling a 7,000-meter mountain in a jacket filled with recycled human hair—Leonardo’s perspective blends professional expertise with the spirit of adventure.

Don’t miss the chance to hear more from Leonardo live at Radial “360 Dome Experience!” on February 20, 2025.

Leonardo Avezzano: One of the magic ingredients of any adventure is play, and play is the opposite of work. Adventure is a mindset, and it’s something I connect to climbing mountains or tackling big projects, like that one in business, projects that involve change.

When you climb a mountain, planning is essential, just like in any project. You need the dream and the vision to get started, but without flawless execution, you won’t reach your goals. And if you’re on a mountain, failing to execute could mean serious consequences, although, not to sound dramatic, you might even risk your life!

Leonardo: My career has been a mix of product management, marketing, and sales across big corporations, startups, and even nonprofits. One of my key roles was leading product management at Philips Hue. I managed product development and marketing from the headquarters, and later I moved to North America to lead marketing, sales, and partnerships. During that time, I secured partnerships with Apple, Amazon, and Google. It was an exciting phase of growth and innovation.

Leonardo: For me, the top achievement as a manager is when you’re no longer needed. When you’ve done your job well, your team can function without you. That’s when you know you’ve succeeded.

And that was a point in my life when I changed direction. I started walking, I mean literally walking, I crossed Jordan from Um Quais (north Syria border) to Aqaba (south – Red Sea). That was a pivotal moment for me. I thought, “This is my call. This is what I’m meant to do.” And then, of course, another adventure came along.

Leonardo: It started with a conversation I had with Boyan Slat, the founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup Foundation. He told me, “To clean the ocean, we need three things: technology, money, and a solution for the plastic we collect.” They had the technology and were working on funding, but the third piece—the plastic—was a challenge. Everyone told them it was impossible to do anything with it.

When I heard that, I thought, “Let’s make the impossible possible.” Eighteen months later, we launched the first-ever product made from ocean plastic collected in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It was a pair of beautiful sunglasses. Everyone said it couldn’t be done, but we proved them wrong.

Leonardo: Yes, I got involved with a startup that uses keratin waste, human hair, essentially, to create textiles. The textile industry is the second biggest polluter in the world after oil. If you include the weapons industry, I’d say textiles are the third.

The concept was to challenge the status quo and create something sustainable. As part of this, I used a prototype jacket filled with human hair and climbed 7,000 meters high wearing it. The jacket lasted in temperatures as low as -50° C.

Leonardo: Some parts of the fashion industry are doing interesting work, but it’s not easy to create change. For example, when we discussed the challenges of the textile industry with potential investors, one investor made an interesting observation. He said, “Are these problems, or are they challenges? The industry doesn’t see them as problems because they’re not forced to change.”

It’s an important perspective. But I also believe consumers have the power to drive change. We live in a world where we’re treated as consumers. The only way to truly change the world is by deciding what to consume. What I buy or pay for must align with my values. It’s not an easy lifestyle, but it’s a way to lead change, and that can push brands to take action.

Leonardo: Adventures always continue. I’m always looking for the next challenge that combines innovation, sustainability, and impact. For me, it’s about making the impossible possible and inspiring others to think the same way.

Lightstories, the latest exhibition by Leonardo Avezzano that you can see in Italy, is more than just an exhibition. It’s an exploration of light and its power to tell stories. In this collection, Leonardo captures breathtaking landscapes using long exposures and unique light sources. It all started by accident when a forgotten headlamp created a glowing, lava-like effect in one of his photos. Inspired by this mistake, he developed a technique that blends natural and artificial light in a beautiful, intentional way.

Each image reflects his deep connection with nature, shaped by long nights of planning and quiet moments behind the camera. From the Himalayas to the Sahara, from Iceland to Peru, Lightstories invites you to see the world in a whole new way.

7-9 FEB 2025: PALAZZO BENTIVOGLIO, BOLOGNA, ITALY

21 MAR – 15 APR 2025: PALAZZO MALVINI MALVEZZI, MATERA, ITALY