My personal and professional journey is rooted in a deep conviction: nothing truly meaningful can be built without discipline, vision, and a constant search for purpose. I did not come from a predefined or facilitated path. From the very beginning, what guided me was the desire to understand how to transform potential into concrete, lasting value while maintaining full independence an approach that naturally distanced me from the idea of a permanent, conventional position.
Early on, I felt the need to look beyond local, cultural, and mental boundaries. I have always believed that authentic leadership is never improvised; it is forged through study, experience, and the courage to question oneself. This continuous pursuit of improvement has become the foundation of both my character and my vision. During my formative years, I had the opportunity to collaborate with major foreign investment funds in the renewable energy sector through a professional studio where I was involved in design and organizational support an organization with which I still proudly collaborate today. This experience allowed me to understand the internal dynamics of large companies and international groups, as well as their operational and market-driven strategies. It was an intellectually intense period that pushed me to deeply explore and understand the managerial world.
Education has always represented a central pillar of my development. I deliberately chose academic paths that combined analytical rigor with a deep understanding of human behaviour. The Master in Leadership Behaviour at SDA Bocconi School of Management provided me with concrete tools to interpret organizational dynamics, governance systems, and the management of complex teams. Subsequently, the Master in Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland in the United States further broadened my perspective, exposing me to global business models, innovative ecosystems, and an entrepreneurial culture focused on vision and scalability. These experiences were not merely academic milestones, but true laboratories of thought that shaped my strategic and managerial approach—analytical, pragmatic, and profoundly human.
Alongside my academic journey, traditional martial arts have played a central role in my formation. For me, they were never simply physical disciplines, but complete educational systems capable of shaping character, self-control, resilience, and a strong sense of responsibility. The study of the katana, Kenjutsu, and traditional principles profoundly influenced the way I face pressure, make decisions, and guide others. From the integration of martial discipline and managerial strategy emerged the concept of Vertical Leadership a model based on structure, vision, ethics, and the ability to act with clarity even in the most complex and demanding contexts.
After completing my training, I gained hands-on experience in strategic consulting and the development of international projects, operating in highly competitive and complex environments. This phase was crucial in helping me understand how organizations truly function, how effective processes are built, and how to manage people, resources, and differing visions. I learned that sustainable success is never the result of improvisation, but of solid structures, consistent leadership, and the ability to face challenges without compromising integrity. These lessons became the foundation of everything I would go on to build.
Together with Elodie Vegliante and Angelo Vegliante, I co-founded YOKAI INTERNATIONAL, an ecosystem integrating training, leadership, sport, culture, and human development. Today, I serve as President of W.K.O. Italy and co-founder of YOKAI ACADEMY, an organization that has redefined training standards in the sector. Our objective was never simply to create a successful institution, but to develop an international educational and managerial model capable of shaping conscious individuals, responsible leaders, and high-level professionals. YOKAI Academy has since become a benchmark for quality, ethics, and innovation, maintaining a constant balance between tradition and modernity.
Alongside YOKAI INTERNATIONAL, I also founded Horizon, a platform dedicated to leadership training for managers and to supporting national and international organizations in building solid, competitive businesses. Horizon was created to bridge the gap between theory and practice, guiding leaders and organizations toward excellence. Its work focuses on strategic vision, decision-making, organizational resilience, and the development of sustainable business models. The aim is not merely growth, but growth grounded in method, identity, and long-term solidity.
In 2025, my journey received significant international recognition, which I view not as personal milestones but as confirmation of a shared vision. I was awarded the COA 2025 for Best International Leadership at the House of Commons in London and the University of Oxford, as well as the G.R.A. Global Recognition Awards 2025 with five Rasch Stars for the strategic and innovative impact of applied leadership. In the same year, I received the WBO 2025 Award for Best Innovative Leadership, with specific recognition for Vertical Leadership, along with the Best CEO under 40 award at the Best CEO Awards 2025.
A particularly meaningful moment came in January 2025 in Florida, when four WOMA awards were conferred upon me, Elodie Vegliante, and Angelo Vegliante. This achievement holds historic significance: we became the first Sokè and the first academy YOKAI ACADEMY to receive four awards in the organization’s 65-year history, alongside induction into the Global Hall of Fame of Martial Arts. This recognition celebrates not only technical excellence, but also a unique cultural, educational, and value-driven journey.
Today, I continue to dedicate myself with discipline and consistency to the pillars that define my vision: family, culture, study, mental and physical training, martial arts, and leadership. I firmly believe that credible leadership must be coherent, rooted, and lived daily. The path I have taken is not an endpoint, but an ongoing process of construction and responsibility. I remain committed to building solid organizations, training authentic leaders, and contributing to a model of international excellence grounded in vision, ethics, and discipline.
From the very beginning of my professional life, my approach to work like that of many others was primarily oriented toward technical learning. I explored different roles across diverse sectors, driven by the desire to understand mechanisms, numbers, and strategies. At that stage, I believed success was mainly the result of strong technical skills and a clear understanding of one’s industry. Over time, these experiences converged into a single, coherent foundation of great value. While competence and vision are undoubtedly essential, I gradually realized they are not enough. What truly makes the difference is mind set: motivation, purpose, and the ability to build and lead strong teams where skills are united and managed with efficiency and clarity.
A defining moment arrived early in my career, when I found myself operating in a highly complex environment characterized by constant pressure, rapid change, and decisions imposed from above. In a social and economic context dominated by the pursuit of money and rising living costs, stress became a daily burden often at the expense of time, the most precious resource we have. It was in that moment that I drew a clear line: I decided I did not want to depend on others for how my time and energy were spent. Observing different leadership styles in those environments proved decisive. I saw how teams guided by inspiring, listening-oriented leaders consistently achieved more sustainable results than those subjected to rigid control. That realization reshaped my understanding of leadership not as a position of power, but as a responsibility.
This awareness prompted a deeper reflection on the professional and personal path I wanted to pursue. My goal was no longer simply to “build a career,” but to generate value by fully investing my potential in the time I consciously chose to dedicate. This principle guided my decisions toward continuous education, a strong focus on organizational culture, the development of strategic skills, and, when the moment felt right, the courage to take entrepreneurial risks.
Another powerful source of inspiration has always been change. We live in an era of extraordinary technological and social acceleration. While such speed often generates uncertainty, for me it has always represented opportunity. I have never viewed change as a threat, but as a chance to rethink outdated models and create organizations that are more agile, inclusive, and future-oriented. My professional identity today is the result of this constant tension between strategic vision and adaptability.
Mistakes, too, have been invaluable teachers. Some decisions did not produce the results I expected, but those moments strengthened my determination and clarity. I firmly believe that a CEO should not assume to have all the answers. True leadership lies in asking the right questions and building solutions together with the team. Growth requires the humility to challenge one’s own certainties. What has consistently motivated me is the desire to make an impact on people, on organizations, and on the broader context in which we operate. Awards such as being named Best CEO Under 40 in Europe and entering the Forbes list of the top 30 CEOs are honours I value deeply, but I see them above all as confirmation of a leadership approach grounded in vision, responsibility, and respect for people.
My journey has been shaped not by a single event, but by a sequence of experiences: observing both effective and ineffective leadership, understanding that change is constant, and embracing the conviction that true success is shared. For me, this is more than a mission, it is a lifestyle. It means living each day with awareness, discipline, and determination, striving constantly to surpass mediocrity and explore the limits of my potential. This pursuit is not only about external achievements, but about becoming a better version of myself every day, transforming every experience into an opportunity for growth.
I believe deeply that our duty in life is not so much to leave a mark on others, but to leave one on ourselves. Too often success is measured through external judgment, while true value lies in knowing we have given our best, cultivated our abilities, and faced challenges with courage. Reflection and self-challenge are essential tools in this process. Reflection provides clarity; challenge pushes us beyond comfort zones. Together, they transform goals into meaningful journeys of growth.
Throughout my entrepreneurial path, challenges have been numerous. One of the most complex was entering a national context marked by intense competition, cultural prejudice, and often unfair practices. The difficulty was not only operational, but cultural: dismantling entrenched mentalities and replacing them with an international, ethical, and innovation-driven vision. Contrary to popular belief, we discovered that growing within such a context can be more difficult than international expansion. Yet it was precisely this environment that strengthened our resilience, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities, ultimately enabling us to compete successfully on a global scale.
The achievements I am most proud of today are not isolated milestones, but the synthesis of years of discipline, shared vision, and perseverance. From international business awards to entry into the WOMA Hall of Fame, from leadership recognitions to global expansion, each result represents the collective effort of an organization built on excellence. These achievements are not trophies on a wall, but evidence of a growing community united by values of discipline, respect, and resilience.
Perseverance and motivation have always been guiding principles for me. Martial arts training played a fundamental role in shaping this mind set, teaching discipline, self-control, and the courage to face difficulty with clarity. Combined with the philosophy of Bushido, these principles have deeply influenced my approach to life and leadership. Success, in my view, is not talent or luck—it is the ability to transform obstacles into opportunities through vision, cold blood, and endurance.
My greatest influence has not been a single mentor, but a shared journey particularly with Elodie Vegliante and Angelo Vegliante. Together, we built YOKAI Academy and developed a methodology rooted in discipline, respect, and long-term vision. This collaboration taught me that leadership is service, responsibility, and credibility earned over time. Titles mean little without integrity.
Today, my daily routine reflects these values: continuous learning, physical and mental training, strategic work, and teaching. Each element contributes to a balanced ecosystem of growth. Looking ahead, my goals remain centered on continuous development personal, organizational, and international. Projects like Horizon and the global expansion of YOKAI Academy represent structured visions aimed at building sustainable excellence.
Ultimately, success, as I define it, belongs to those who dare to move when others hesitate. It requires strategy, emotional control, and resistance. It is not a destination, but a conscious process of action, reflection, and contribution. Being featured on the cover of Enterprise Global Magazine is an honour I deeply appreciate not as an endpoint, but as another opportunity to share a vision rooted in courage, discipline, and responsibility. If my story can inspire others to dare, adapt, and believe in their ideas, then it has fulfilled its purpose.
