the Head of Disney Italia
What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
I think about that now every now and again. At 57, the one thing I still tell myself is never give up. You also have to be willing to roll up your sleeves and learn. Even to this day, as a country manager, I still roll up my sleeves but I never give up. Also, try to reach out and meet as many people as you can and ask them questions in order to learn what you like and don't like. So my main advice is learn, work, grow and during this do not give up.
"You have to be willing to roll your sleeves up and learn [...] learn, work, grow and don't give up"
So why Milan? Why would you recommend it to a student?
The film business is what drew me to Los Angeles but Milan is equally as interesting, a small metropolis within itself and completely different from many parts of Italy. I think I could take you and any one of your readers, place you in Milan and you would thrive. Because even Milan is turning into such a dynamic, international city. I’ve been there for the past 8 years and I’m really enjoying seeing that illusion. It’s a fantastic city where they have really invested in the infrastructure. There’s now Microsoft, Google and Facebook. I feel like Milan, over the next 10 years could really become one of the new highlights for your generation. Cattolica, Bocconi as universities are really catering now for international students so I would encourage students to look at those. It’s a great quality of life: in an hour you’re either skiing or on the beach, similar to California. Milan is a relatively small city, but I’m watching it evolve in many ways.
5. And lastly, because I have to, who is your favourite Disney character?
It’s funny I find this a very tough question to answer. I think because of my role as a leader I really feel the presence of Mickey in many ways, il Pollino as we call him, the heart and soul of Disney. I know it sounds corny, but the values that Mickey and Minnie have represent something that I really appreciate and reflect on all the time. Trying to be the best leader that I can be, I try to emulate Mickey as much as I can because he is respected and is just a good person.
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Image: Pixabay
ARTE E CULTURA
ARTE E CULTURA
"It’s a great quality of life: in an hour you’re either skiing or on the beach, similar to California."
Lauren Keller