Purpose Before Profit: Aldo Macchiavello of Delfin Amazon Cruises On The Benefits Of Running A Purpose-Driven Business

Aldo Macchiavello is the co-founder and CEO of Delfin Amazon Cruises, the first Relais & Châteaux cruise company in the world. With a background in investment banking, Aldo pioneered luxury river expeditions in the Upper Peruvian Amazon back in 2006, blending refined hospitality with deep respect for nature and local communities. Today, he leads Delfin alongside his wife and partner, Lissy Urteaga, ensuring the company remains family-owned, purpose-driven, and a benchmark for sustainable travel in Peru.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us your “Origin Story”? Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

I was born and raised in Lima, Peru, in a family with strong Italian roots but a very Peruvian upbringing. My brother and I grew up sailing together, which instilled in me both a love of the water and an appreciation for discipline and teamwork. I later went to West Lafayette, Indiana to study at Purdue University, while my wife, Lissy, was living in Miami with her parents. Right after graduation we got married, a couple of years later, moved back to Lima, and started our life together. We raised two daughters, and today I’m blessed with three grandsons — all boys. My oldest is 13 and already a Pro Race Kart driver, so you can imagine how much joy I get from supporting him and traveling with the family to his competitions. Family has always been at the heart of everything I do, and it’s also been the foundation for how I built my business.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?

One of the most challenging moments came during a refurbishment in dry dock. A third-party contractor accidentally caused a fire on board that in a matter of minutes damaged our dining area and lounge. It could have been a tragedy, but thanks to strict safety protocols and training to our crew, everyone was safe and the fire was put out quite quickly. What followed was extraordinary: our crew worked day and night for a full month, and we managed to relaunch the vessel in time for our next departure. That experience reinforced something I deeply believe in — challenges will come, but what matters is how you prepare for them and how you handle them together as a team.

We often learn the most from our mistakes. Can you share one that you made that turned out to be one of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned?

Early on, I underestimated just how difficult it would be to operate in such a remote location. I knew it was going to be challenging, I still believed that with processes and timelines in place the construction would run somewhat similar as it would do in a city, but the jungle has its own rhythm. Supply chains are unpredictable, the river & weather changes constantly, and sometimes you just have to adapt your plan. I learned that flexibility and resilience are as important as strategy and vision. That was humbling, but it taught me to build a company culture where both adaptability & planning are important strengths.

As a successful leader, it’s clear that you uphold strong core values. I’m curious what are the most important principles you firmly stand by and refuse to compromise on. Can you share a few of them and explain why they hold such significance for you in your work and life?

Three principles guide me, always:

Integrity: Trust is everything in business, especially when you’re welcoming people into such a remote and delicate environment, and when I can’t be everywhere at all times.

Excellence: I demand that we go above industry standards in every detail, from safety to hospitality, because our guests deserve nothing less.

Respect: For the Amazon, for the communities we work with, and for our team. Without respect, no achievement would feel meaningful.

What inspired you to start a purpose-driven business rather than a traditional for-profit enterprise? Can you share a personal story or experience that led you to prioritize social impact in your business?

When I first envisioned Delfin, I wasn’t only thinking about luxury. I was thinking about how to build something that gave back to the place that was giving so much to me. Lissy, my wife, was instrumental in this. While I was building our first vessel, she was in the jungle connecting with local women and helping them develop sustainable handcrafts. That taught me early on that this couldn’t just be about us — it had to be about uplifting the people and protecting the environment of the Amazon.

Can you help articulate a few of the benefits of leading a purpose-driven business rather than a standard “plain vanilla” business?

Purpose gives meaning to the work, and meaning motivates people. Our team doesn’t just see themselves as employees — they see themselves equally as entrepreneurs and as protectors of the Amazon and ambassadors of their culture. That’s powerful. It creates loyalty, pride, and a sense of shared accomplishment that you can’t buy with money alone.

How has your company’s mission or purpose affected its overall success? Can you explain the methods or metrics you use to evaluate the impact of this purpose-driven strategy on your organization?

While our KPI’s, and shareholders satisfaction are the first to stand out, our mission is woven into every aspect of our operation. From sustainability projects like reforestation and wildlife conservation, to supporting schools and healthcare in local communities, we measure success not only in guest satisfaction and revenue but also in the tangible benefits we bring to people’s lives. One metric I look at with pride is how many communities we’ve partnered with over the years — more than a dozen within the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, we are speaking of thousands of people. Seeing their livelihoods improve alongside our own growth is proof that the model works.

Same goes for our 200 employees, many of them that have been with us since the very beginning, I’ve seen their families grow. It is fulfilling to know that we’ve had an impact on their wellbeing.

Can you share a pivotal moment when you realized that leading your purpose-driven company was actually making a significant impact? Can you share a specific example or story that deeply resonated with you personally?

A couple years ago, post pandemic, a Farm to table project finally came to realization, I had approved it thinking of quality control & sustainability at top of mind, but one moment that touched me deeply was seeing children from local schools starting their own small gardens at home after being inspired by our farm-to-table initiative.

These are children in very remote villages, used to eating staple items like rice, yucca, plantain and fish, and by growing their own fruits & veggies they are improving their diets and sharing healthier habits with their families.

It reminded me that our impact extends far beyond our guests — it’s impacting the future of these communities.

Have you ever faced a situation where your commitment to your purpose and creating a positive social impact clashed with the profitability in your business?

Absolutely. Supporting local artisans, for example, has always been more expensive than sourcing mass-produced goods. But to Lissy and I, there was never really a choice — working with artisans was fundamental to our identity and mission. We accepted the short-term financial tradeoff because I believed in the long-term value it would bring, both to the communities and to our guests who seek authentic experiences. And we were right. Today, those artisan partnerships are one of the things our guests value most. What started with 6 ladies in the Puerto Miguel village has now expanded to hundreds of empowered women, and their families, in the Amazon.

What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs who wish to start a purpose-driven business?

Don’t treat purpose as an afterthought or a marketing slogan. Purpose has to be part of the DNA of your business from day one. If it’s not authentic, people will see through it. Build your model around it, and the rewards — financial and personal — will come.

What are your “5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Purpose-Driven Business.”

1. Authenticity — If your purpose isn’t real to you, it won’t be real to anyone else.
2. Resilience — Challenges will come, like the fire we experienced, and you must stay committed.
3. Community Engagement — Your business should lift others up, not just yourself.
4. Excellence — Purpose doesn’t excuse mediocrity; in fact, it demands higher standards.
5. Long-Term Vision — Profit comes and goes, but impact lasts. Build for the next generation, not just the next quarter.

I’m interested in how you instill a strong sense of connection with your team. How do you nurture a culture where everyone feels connected to your mission?

We lead by example. Lissy and I are hands-on, present in the jungle, working side by side with our staff and the communities. Our crew sees that we are fully invested, and it motivates them to give the same level of dedication.

We recently relaunched our Delfin I. As renovations go, we were racing against the clock, just like in TV shows, Lissy was fluffing pillows while guests were arriving at the embarkation port. I’ll never forget how our crew members worked extra hours to finish on time. That’s when you know your purpose has become theirs too.

Imagine we’re sitting down together two years from now, looking back at your company’s last 24 months. What specific accomplishments would have to happen for you to be happy with your progress?

We’ve all been through a world economic crisis, a pandemic and more. I’m very proud of how we have kept our growth even with those setbacks. I trust that with our efforts -recent renovation of the fleet and launch of brand evolution- we will keep on growing in the next 2 years and increase our revenue in a significant percentage. And I would also love to see Delfin continue expanding its positive footprint — more communities supported, more conservation initiatives, and a stronger presence as the only Peruvian family-owned cruise company in the luxury Amazon market. And personally, I’d love to have shared even more of those journeys with my grandchildren, because seeing the Amazon through their eyes is one of the greatest joys of my life.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I would inspire a movement for regenerative travel. Travel that doesn’t just “do less harm,” but actively restores and improves the places it touches. Imagine if every traveler left destinations better than they found them — socially, culturally, and environmentally. That’s the future I want to see.

How can our readers further follow your work or your company online?

You can find us at www.delfinamazoncruises.com and on Linkedin, Instagram and Facebook.

Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!