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Roots and Mystery

I was born in Alessandria on 27 October 1961, into a family steeped in discipline, tradition and that quiet pursuit of excellence capable of shaping an entire life. My mother was a woman of extraordinary strength, forged in the matriarchal mould so characteristic of her generation — women who held the world together single-handedly, who made decisions, organised and built things, often without anyone openly acknowledging it. She began as a teacher, but her entrepreneurial restlessness eventually took over: she went into business, with the practical determination of someone who does not wait for things to happen but sets out to make them happen. She was not a woman of tender gestures or affectionate words — for her, love found expression in high expectations, strictness and example. As an adult, I learned to recognise in that toughness a form of devotion that was, in its own way, absolute. My father, Vincenzo Rossello, was a professional cyclist of great moral strength. An old-school domestique — from a time when serving the team leader was a choice of dignity, not a second-best option — he rode in twelve editions of the Giro d’Italia and four Tours de France alongside Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi, and wore Italy’s blue jersey at the 1953 Road World Championships in Lugano, the year Coppi triumphed before the eyes of the world. His life, made of endless roads, toil and quiet loyalty, became my first powerful lesson in what it means to persevere and give of oneself without fanfare. My father was Ligurian, and those roots run deep: Liguria became my second homeland — or perhaps, in my heart, my first — with its villages clinging to the rocks and its sea that changes colour three times a day.

Since childhood, I have been accompanied by a lively curiosity and an almost metaphysical restlessness. I served as an altar boy, and during Mass I had the privilege of reading the sacred texts aloud: those ancient words, spoken in the half-light of the church, awakened a profound sense of mystery and contemplation within me. At six, a simple magic set by Silvan ignited my passion for illusion. That little treasure chest of wonders — with its simple tricks, so full of promise — opened a door that would never close again, drawing me towards the blurred boundary between the visible and the invisible, towards symbolism, spirituality and an inner search that would accompany me throughout my life. At twelve, leafing through Fourteen Lessons in Yogi Philosophy by Yogi Ramacharaka, I knew that this was my path.

Invisible Waves and First Stages

Recognising my technical inclinations and my desire to communicate with the wider world, my parents gave me a CB transceiver. It was the beginning of an all-consuming passion. While still very young, I obtained my international amateur radio licence with the call sign IW1BBA. At a time when connecting with the other side of the Earth seemed like a marvel, I spent hours on the roof of our house, surrounded by a forest of antennas, weaving invisible conversations with people on distant continents. By fourteen, I was already on stage, performing paid magic shows in nightclubs and at village festivals, but it was at the Radio Montecarlo Club that I found a role of my own. I became the regular performer at the Miss Radio Montecarlo selection shows: glamorous evenings, spotlights, a discerning audience and that particular alchemy between illusion and the allure of beauty pageants. Every round of applause became the heartbeat of someone who had found his stage. At seventeen, almost naturally, my passions for radio and magic came together. At the pioneering Radio Alessandria International, I hosted a programme called Astrolabio: I selected the music and spoke about magic in its broadest sense, involving listeners directly. It was one of my first experiences of turning curiosity into storytelling and creating, through a voice and a radio frequency, a small community drawn together by mystery.

Symbols, Disciplines and Encounters

Meanwhile, my inner world was enriched by tarot, astrology — particularly through the writings of Sementovsky Kurilo — palmistry, dowsing, numerology and runes. My friends nicknamed me “The Magician”, comparing me to the Magician card in the tarot. Alongside these interests, I practised martial arts: Aikido, Kendo and finally Hapkido at the Kodokan Academy in Alessandria, where I attained Second Dan.

Certain encounters illuminated my path like sudden lights in the fog. On the beach at Albisola Marina, I met Fabio Fazio, with whom I shared numerous performances, particularly on the warm evenings of Ferragosto, Italy’s mid-August holiday. Valerio Fontanella, known professionally as Valey, became a valued mentor, deepening my understanding of the art of illusion. My chance discovery of Father Salvatore Cimò’s complete Enciclopedia della Magia was a treasure that opened unexpected doors in my theoretical education.

In 1976, I joined the Club Magico Italiano, introduced by Alberto Sitta, who had recognised the seriousness of my studies. My first article, La firma sulla carta, appeared in Magia Moderna in 1977 under the pseudonym Magic Nayos, inspired by the Greek μάγος, “wise man”. In those years, the Hotel Crest in Bologna became our secular temple, an informal meeting place for internationally renowned magicians: there, I learned that true magic grows out of the exchange of ideas and a shared passion.

Engineering, Science and Professional Life

Alongside this passionate calling, I pursued a rigorous academic path. After completing a science-focused secondary education, I graduated in Electronic Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Turin and completed postgraduate studies in Marketing Management with Philip Kotler. That fusion of engineering precision and strategic vision nurtured a deep interest in quantum mechanics and in the ongoing dialogue between science, philosophy and faith. Today, as an electronic engineer, I devote myself to artificial intelligence, not only in its practical and industrial applications but, above all, in its social, cultural and ethical implications: the delicate balance between leadership, responsibility, human creativity and the future relationship between people and machines.

Although social and family pressures encouraged more conventional choices, I never turned my back on my artistic calling. For more than ten years, I worked as an independent professional illusionist and entertainer, collaborating with Club Med and Valtur and opening shows for some of the best-known comedians from Drive In.

Water, Sky and Speed

In the 1980s, my horizons expanded towards new elements: water and sky. I entered the world of scuba diving, becoming a PADI instructor with numerous specialities extending well beyond EFR (Emergency First Response): Dive Against Debris Instructor, AWARE Coral Reef Conservation Specialist Instructor, AWARE Instructor and Peak Performance Buoyancy Instructor. During the same period, I developed my passion for aviation. At the Aero Club of Alessandria, where I served as Vice President for many years, I worked as a Ground Instructor, guiding generations of pilots through their first steps. I obtained EASA and FAA private pilot licences and bought a small aircraft of my own. I also became a TEA Examiner, assessing hundreds of airline pilots in aviation English: a role that required not only technical expertise but, above all, the ability to recognise the composure and clarity of mind of those preparing to entrust their lives to the sky. Sports cars brought their own intense emotions: third place in the historic Milano–Sanremo rally at the wheel of a Ferrari California, and victory in the Ferrari Grand Tour in 2011.

Returning to Magic

In recent years, I have returned to magic with renewed intensity. I have served as Managing Director of ItaTeam, the Italian National Magic Team, and as Vice President of the Circolo Amici della Magia in Turin. I am a qualified FISM judge and had the honour of judging the Street Magic category at the World Championships of Magic in Turin. I coordinate the FISM International Consultancy Group, which is working towards recognition of magic as an art form within UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage framework.

One of my proudest chapters remains the 2025 FISM World Championships in Turin: as Managing Director of ItaTeam, I led and coordinated the Italian national team’s entire preparation, culminating in an extraordinary collective achievement — eight international awards, including the Grand Prix World Champion title. Every trophy bears the signature of individual talent, yet I treasure the memory of the teamwork, shared vision and discipline that allowed each performer to shine.

Another undertaking particularly close to my heart was the acquisition of Silvan’s Magic Library: that extraordinary treasure of books, documents and memories — the very magic that had first sparked my imagination with a magic set at the age of six — had come full circle and found its way into my hands. Preserving it and passing it on to future generations of artists has been an act of love and responsibility towards magic itself.

Business and Institutions

Alongside my life on stage, I built a solid management career in industry. I have served as Chief Executive Officer of Paglieri S.p.A., Selectiva S.p.A., Agopag S.p.A. and Schiapparelli S.p.A. Within the cosmetics industry, I have held prominent positions: Vice President of Cosmetica Italia, Chair of its Mass Market Committee, former President of Cosmetica Italia and former President of Cosmetica Italia Servizi Srl. I am a member of Federchimica’s General Council.

In academic and institutional life, I have served on the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Master’s programme in Corporate Finance and Banking at SAA – School of Management, University of Turin. I am a member of the European Academy for Economic and Cultural Relations (AEREC) and a former member of the Aspen Institute.

Rotary and Service

A bright thread has run through my life and continues to do so: my commitment to Rotary International. Since joining the Rotary Club of Valenza in December 1999, I have devoted more than twenty-five years of uninterrupted service to this extraordinary school of leadership, ethics and civic responsibility. I have taken on increasingly significant roles, particularly in youth development and international exchanges. In 2005, on the occasion of Rotary International’s centenary, I had the honour of being among those who conceived the Centennial Bell: a symbol cast to celebrate a hundred years of service around the world. Together with fellow members of the Valenza club, I took that bell to Anaheim, California, where, on 23 February 2005, Governors-elect from every corner of the globe gathered for the centennial International Assembly. It was a moment of rare emotion — hearing that bell ring out before hundreds of Rotary leaders from around the world felt like giving Rotary back a fragment of its deepest soul. That journey, that bell crossing the ocean, remain among the memories I hold closest to my heart and recall with the greatest pride. Returning to Italy with renewed energy, I continued my Rotary journey, eventually becoming Governor of District 2032 in 2013–2014. I chaired the Rotary Institute in Rome in 2023 and now chair District 2032’s Leadership and Excellence Committee. I am a Benefactor and Level 3 Major Donor of The Rotary Foundation, a Paul Harris Fellow +8, and a committed supporter of the Every Rotarian, Every Year programme.

I have received the Gagliaudo d’Oro, the City of Alessandria’s highest civic honour. Volunteering — particularly alongside AISM, the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Association — and supporting humanitarian causes remain active and enduring commitments in my life.

Writing and Reflection

I have had the privilege of lecturing at numerous Italian universities and continue to speak at international conferences on ethics, leadership, the relationship between science and faith, and the social impact of technological innovation. I am currently writing a book entitled The Illusion of Reality.

My publications include Dalla pubblicità alla comunicazione (Franco Angeli), Giovani e Futuro, Leadership Futura and Leadership e Consapevolezza (2013), an exploration of the concept of ideal leadership through history, philosophy and post-normal thought.

On a personal note, I have a daughter, Ginevra, and a partner, Lorena.

The Sea, the Eye and the Journey

The sea is perhaps my most visceral and mysterious passion, the one I cannot fully explain. I sometimes wonder whether an ancestor — someone of whom I have no record, yet whose presence I occasionally sense — sailed these waters before me, leaving