Complex CEO: Aaron Levant – Street Culture, the Convergence of URL and IRL, & Why Curation Is the Highest Form of Innovation
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The Gstaad Guy sits down with Aaron Levant, CEO of Complex and one of the most conviction-driven figures in modern media and culture, to explore what it truly means to build something at the intersection of taste, access, and community. From the early days of street culture to architecting ComplexCon into one of the most distinctive live experiences in the world, Aaron reflects on a career built not on following trends but on understanding them before anyone else does.
The conversation gets into the art of thinking laterally, why being a generalist in a world of specialists is an underrated advantage, and what it really takes to democratise cultural experiences without diluting what makes them matter. Aaron speaks candidly about the stigma of trying and failing, the discipline of having strong conviction when the room disagrees, and why the future of retail belongs to those who can make people feel something. Restless, sharp, and deeply knowledgeable about how culture actually moves, it is a conversation about hustle, belonging, and what happens when good taste meets genuine dedication.
Filmed at The Maybourne Beverly Hills Garden Suite.
(00:00) Intro ✨🎙️
(01:06) Backstory 📖🌱
(03:28) Thinking Laterally 🧠🔀
(06:04) Wearing The Same Outfit 👔🔄
(09:14) What is Complex? 🤔💡
(11:37) ComplexCon 🎪🌍
(14:04) A Sense Of Belonging 🤝🏻❤️
(15:08) Typical Complex Consumer 👥🎯
(21:30) Taking A Bet 🎲💪🏻
(28:05) Democratising Experiences 🌍✨
(31:35) Art 🎨🖼️
(33:38) A Generalist In This Day & Age 🧠🌍
(36:16) Cultural Meshes 🌍🔀
(39:09) Street Culture 🏙️👟
(40:36) The Business Of Complex 💼📈
(45:10) Curation As A Form Of Innovation 🎯💡
(49:02) Creating Partnerships 🤝🏻🤝🌟
(51:27) Collectibles 🏆✨
(53:59) Headlines vs. Real Depth 📰🔍
(58:33) Sneaker Culture 👟🔥
(1:02:01) Design & Function 🎨⚙️
(1:06:19) The Future Of Retail 🛍️🔮
(1:10:05) Streamers & Live Shopping 📱🛍️
(1:13:10) Next Generation Of Hires 👶🏻💼
(1:17:45) Being A First Mover 🚀🌟
(1:19:01) À La Poubelle vs. Fantastique 🗑️✨
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