Meet Benjamin Leibham | Industrial Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Benjamin Leibham and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Benjamin, what’s the most important lesson your business/career has taught you?
The most valuable lesson my business has taught me is the importance of having a career in a field that you are passionate about. This is essential in having the drive and perseverance to continue, even when faced with challenges. I feel very fortunate to have discovered my passion for design and the outdoors at such a young age. I thoroughly enjoy designing and creating products that can be used for outdoor activity, and am always eager to get out and test them.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have always been interested in starting my own business, even from a very young age. I discovered my love for mountains and the outdoors in college when I had the opportunity to travel and explore several different mountain ranges, including the Tetons, the Wind River Range, and Pico de Orizaba in Mexico. While finishing up my senior year in design school, I was determined to find a career that would allow me to pursue my passion for the outdoors, design, and business. After graduating from college, I moved to Colorado and began working as a freelance designer specializing in the design and prototyping of soft goods. Developing products for other businesses and professionals in the outdoor industry helped me see the need for more sustainable products, so I reached out to professional ice-climbing photographer, Tim Banfield. Tim confirmed the need for more sustainable ice climbing accessories. We collaborated to develop, test, and launch a set of ice climbing accessories, all made from repurposed and recycled materials.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If a friend is visiting me in Boulder, we are definitely going to be doing some hiking or climbing. After a hike through Boulder’s flatirons, a beer from Rayback Collective is a perfect reward. For dinner, we would head over to Pearl Street to check out the shops and have dinner at Next Door. If the weather is nice, a rooftop margarita at Rio Grande is always a favorite place to bring friends or family too.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First off, I have to thank my fiancée Lindsey. Without all of her support, there’s no way I could be doing what I’m doing today. I also would like to thank my parents for instilling an entrepreneurial spirit in me. I also want to shoutout a few of my mentors, Bill McKeone and Jim Theodoroff, who have helped me as a designer and business owner. I have had so much support from friends and family along my journey and they give me confidence to keep going.

Website: https://altogear.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benjaminleibham/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminleibham/