For our series of interviews with inspiring leaders, we are proud to present to you, Andrea Bariselli, Founder, Chief Scientist and Premium Member at Leaders First.

A psychologist, neuroscientist, and TEDx conference speaker, Andrea launched his first company, Thimus, after years of working in the clinical research environment.

At the age of 25, Andrea was the youngest ever director of a Clinical Psychology center in Italy. 12 years ago, he met one of the first EEG devices at a conference in Canada, and the story began: Andrea dreamed of taking neuroscience out of clinical labs for the first time.

In 2018 Thimus landed in the US, and for three years he worked in Silicon Valley. Neuroscience brought Andrea closer to the central theme of the relationship between man and Nature.

Today he approached this new journey with Strobilo, using technology to bring back humans to their ancient roots and make a difference by saving the planet.

It was an enormous pleasure for us having the chance to interact with Andrea and get inspiration from his impressive story.

Andrea, please briefly describe your company:

Strobilo is a Health & Climate tech company that uses the most advanced neurosciences’ techniques in combination with AI to study the relationship between Human Beings and the Planet Earth. By using a multilayer analysis’ approach, we can collect, study and predict an unprecedented amount of data.

Tell us the story of how you built your company

I have been working in the field of applied neuroscience for 15 years. I have gained important international experience, not least in California, where my company was based in San Francisco. But at a certain point, I realized that our work could be important not only for a multinational company, but also for the future of the planet. There is no more time for hesitation; everyone is called upon to do their job for future generations.

Why did you choose to co-found your business in this sector?

Think about this: over 1 million people call in sick every day due to work-related stress. Pandemic and massive lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 have brought wellbeing to the forefront of consumer lifestyles. The connection between spending time in nature and physical and mental wellbeing has become more urgent and evident. The urgency to recover this ancient link between humans and nature could be achieved through neuroscientific techniques. This, alongside robust media coverage on the cultural and ethical interest, will allow for an in-depth understanding of this paradigm. Strobilo’s approach, coupled with that of our partners, is intended to represent a milestone and avant-garde method of how science can favor humans and their wellbeing.

If you could do something differently about learning skills in your earlier career what would it be?

Probably to work less and give more room to my spare time…

Where do you see yourself and your company in 10 years’ time?

I hope to see Strobilo as one of the most significant research institutions that can help governments and policymakers make better decisions.

What does success look like to you?

My definition of success is to be so good that you become useless.

How important it is for you to have a trusted business network and access to continuous learning?

Contamination and sharing ideas is fundamental if you want to grow. I’m a big fan of the Spiral learning process: a technique often used in education where the initial focus of instruction is the basic facts of a subject, with further details being introduced as learning progresses. Throughout instruction both the initial basic facts and the relationships to later details are repeatedly emphasized to help enter into long-term memory.

Why did you decide to join Leaders First?

A friend of mine, Massimo De Zordo, tells me about Leaders first

What advice do you have for any young entrepreneur looking to start their own business?

My advice is to always look beyond the appearance and keep in mind that you need to go far, not just fast.

We can always take an example from nature: the best fruits are those that ripen slowly.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

I’m an avid sportsman, I do trail running and gravel-biking in my spare time. But in general, I love to spend my time outdoors with my family.