How and why did you decide go into communications?

I got into communications following some introspection after completing my Bachelor’s degree at the University of Westminster. I graduated in business and financial management, but I fell somewhat out of love with the prospects of a traditional “corporate” career towards the end of my academic journey.

I have always been rather creative and curious, with an awareness for global current affairs, so I started looking for alternative professional paths where my academic background and personal interests would combine well, and this was in corporate and financial communications!

How have you found working in lockdown over the last year? 

Working in lockdown has been really tough, particularly at the beginning, as everyone was having to adjust to this “new normal” in their lives, made of multiple Zoom calls and emails replacing spontaneous conversations about work stuff and whatnot, while navigating disruptions to groceries and household goods supply.

That said, I was lucky to share this experience with a great flatmate, who also is a good friend of mine, so we managed to get on rather stoically in the face of adversities.

Eventually, I settled in and embraced this new lifestyle. Being able to work remotely from my home country of Italy during the summer months once the first lockdown was eased had been particularly nice, as I finally got to spend time with my family and oldest friends after several months apart.

I look forward to repeating this soon, once I have had my vaccine, as at this stage I would have been missing from Italy for almost 10 months, the longest hiatus ever since I moved to the UK in 2007.

What areas or trends interests you the most at this time?

I am fond of entrepreneurship, so I really like reading about new companies coming to life or emerging business trends. Therefore, I am enjoying these recent years where we have assisted to a sizeable increase in regional venture capital activity and the minting of several unicorns from Europe across several sectors, as well as the pipeline of IPOs they generate.

Italy is the cradle of automotive royalty like Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati, so I have been closely following the transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles, as well as the changes to the underlying infrastructures and environments supporting the move towards a more sustainable future.

What do you do in your spare time?

I like sports, so I regularly play football with friends both physically as well as virtually. Otherwise, I can be found taking boxing classes or exercising in the parks, when I am not taking marathon-long strolls. I also read a lot, normally rotating across biographies, crime and non-fiction books.

Socially, I like discovering new restaurants or visiting exhibitions with friends.

I don’t have a favourite restaurant in particular because London has so many of them! It is almost impossible to elect one because they are likely one-upped by a new one, however Foley’s in Fitzrovia is the one I recommend to friends most often. Its ever-changing menu of East-meet-West fusion cuisine never fails to surprise.

Museum-wise, in terms of preference I am constantly conflicted between the Royal Academy of Arts and the National Gallery: the former organises the best temporary exhibitions, while the latter has the best permanent collection and is a frequent destination of my long walks!

Tell us about the last book you read or the last podcast you listened to?

The last book I read was “American Kingpin” by Nick Bilton, which chronicles the birth and death of drugs ecommerce platform Silk Road and the prosecution of its founder Ross Ulbricht. I enjoy reading biographies, crime and business non-fiction, so Nick Bilton’s book hits a personal literary trifecta.

Podcasts were a favourite habit of my commute to and from work, but now their consumption has obviously decreased. I still listen to some of my favourites every now and then, including “The Tim Ferris Podcast” with its interviews to larger-than-life characters and football show “Set Piece Menu”.

Name one goal, professional or personal, you have set yourself for the rest of the year

Because of the pandemic, I just carried forward my failed 2020 resolutions of being more active and getting back to a decent physical shape – and I am relatively happy with my progress so far (finally!).  I look forward to resuming travelling and seeing more of the world once restrictions will be eased for good.

Professionally, I strive to bring fresh, exciting ideas to the table and to share new opportunities with my colleagues, with the end goal of advancing our clients’ best interests.