Industry Ignited Podcast
Industry Ignited is a platform for bold conversations with leaders who are transforming the way business gets done. Each episode spotlights breakthrough stories from the industrial, manufacturing, biotech, chemical, and B2B sectors, giving you an inside look at how top executives, innovators, and changemakers tackle real-world challenges and drive meaningful growth.
Hosted by Dr. Leeanne Aguilar—entrepreneur, executive coach, and marketing strategist—Industry Ignited goes beyond surface-level discussions to uncover the strategies, mindsets, and lessons that fuel leadership at the highest level. From navigating complex operations and scaling companies to rethinking culture and preparing for the future of work, every conversation is designed to inspire, challenge, and equip you with fresh perspectives.
Whether you’re an executive, entrepreneur, or emerging leader, this podcast will spark ideas, expand your vision, and ignite the drive to lead with confidence in today’s evolving business landscape.
Industry Ignited Podcast
The Physicist Who Challenged Aviation: Inside the Future of VTOL | EP.61
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What if the future of flight didn’t come from aerospace giants—but from a physicist who once broke world speed records on a human-powered bicycle?
In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Damjan Zabovnik, CEO of EV Corporation, to explore how radical efficiency, unconventional thinking, and persistence are reshaping aviation.
Damjan shares his journey from designing the world’s most aerodynamic human-powered vehicles to developing next-generation electric VTOL aircraft and heavy-lift autonomous drones. The conversation dives into circular wing design, hybrid lift systems, edge AI autonomy, and why simplicity often beats complexity in aerospace engineering.
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0:00 intro
0:06 The Journey of a Physicist: From Bicycles to Aviation
5:40 Innovative Design: The Circular Wing VTOL Concept
9:51 Learning From Failures: Iterations in Design
13:11 Hybrid Approach: Combining Helicopter Lift with Fixed Wing Efficiency
16:33 Targeting Emergency Response: The Right Market Entry
18:20 The Importance of Autonomy in Remote Operations
20:16 Validation and Credibility: NASA SBIR Award
21:20 Leadership in Complex Industry
23:41 Balancing Passion with Family Life
25:06 Advice for Innovators Taking Risks and Staying Persistent
#PODCAST #AVIATION #AEROSPACE