About me

Who I AM

A creative-minded entrepreneur with over 35 years’ experience building and growing international businesses in manufacturing, hospitality and music theater

Growing up in Italy in the sixties, I spent my childhood playing in courtyards where we made the most of what we had. From a young age I was eager to look and explore further afield; a curiosity that has stayed with me throughout my life. After traveling, working and studying in the USA, at 24, I started a company from my home garage in Italy. The business grew until we were employing 120 people and operating from 3 factories selling Italian-made products all over the world. This was the first of many entrepreneurial projects in which I’ve brought together a sensitive understanding of people, and the ability to make an idea a reality.

My work has taken me all over the world, and I have always enjoyed exploring beyond borders, to find new and wonderful experiences. I have embarked on countless journeys, traversing the globe and immersing myself in diverse cultures. From each voyage, I have gleaned not only inspiration but also profound awareness. These experiences have become the bedrock of my existence, shaping my character, influencing my decisions, and enriching my endeavors in both personal and professional spheres. The lessons learned from navigating unfamiliar territories and encountering different perspectives have bestowed upon me a wellspring of wisdom that continues to guide me towards success.

Snapshots of experiences and emotions

01

A Dream of Stars and Stripes

The American dream has always been my dream too. From games of cowboys and Indians as a child, to John Wayne films as I grew up. Then I studied, worked, and traveled. I quickly grasped the power of ideas. And to this day, I am grateful to the Di Ganci brothers and my American family, the Nelsons, who played a part in this experience.

02

Facing the Dragon

I never wanted to outsource labor to China; my aim, instead, was to sell Italian-made products there. But in that dimly-lit ebony office, facing the then Chinese secretary in charge of Italy-China trade affairs in Rome, I emerged as a loser, defeated in my intentions. It was 1984, and that was an important lesson for me, in understanding negotiations between different cultures.

03

A World, or Rather, a Universe

I wanted to explore everything around Lake Kissimmee in Orlando, practically a region in itself. Here, Disney has designed and created incredible infrastructure: roads, transportation systems, green habitats, signage, marketplaces, hotels, marinas, research centers, and futuristic botany. Here, you quickly learn the power of positive thinking because you live it. All that remains is to “just do it!”

04

Impeccable? Yes, Perhaps Too Much

Munich, Dusseldorf, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Frankfurt. Participations in over 45 trade shows. I worked in environments where everything is precise and organized, where you keenly feel the strength of the national system. I think of absolute excellence characterized by rigor and discipline, despite their losses marked in history. And I continue to learn.

05

Italian Pride

I’m not sure why, but Russia, where sunflowers paint the countryside beyond the Don and street numbers are enormous, has always fascinated me. It was there that I encountered strong men and hardworking women who were willing to trust me because I offered products and work that meant hope to them. It was there too that my Italian pride grew strong.

06

Between History, Art, and Style

Not a word of French, just an ambition for revenue. I saw the Eiffel Tower and touched its iron for the first time. Then Paris revealed itself to me with the golden dome of Les Invalides and the neoclassical spirituality of La Madeleine. Art, color, and style born from history and apparent nothingness have permeated my creative cells.

07

The Faith of Alibaba

I have never had difficulty crossing borders, always integrating quickly. Even the scorching 50 degrees of Jeddah and Riyadh, which burn the skin and test one’s willpower, couldn’t hinder my business enthusiasm. There, I met people rich in intelligence and faith, rushing to the nearby mosque for prayer while I, with my seatbelt fastened and the car engine running, remained alone like a fool waiting for that moment of religious intimacy to pass. In those ten minutes, everything stops. Only faith remains. Perhaps everything begins from there.

08

The Exact Timepiece

A beautiful land, and even more beautiful are the Japanese people. Politeness and respect are evident from the start, but their true depth is understood only when you already possess the seed that sprouts within you. For the first time, and many times thereafter, my sense of punctuality faltered against the public clock at the station. A perfect metaphor to constantly aim for personal improvement.

09

Tulips and Ducks

Amidst business and hours of waiting at Schiphol Airport, I vividly remember that small hotel on the outskirts of the Dutch countryside, where yellow ducks floated in the little stream beneath azure windows, almost beckoning to be caressed. All around, an endless expanse of red tulips, and for me, a lasting lesson: the absolute balance of nature and the intelligence of humans in respecting it.

10

Iamme Iamme Ia

Even though I don’t own a Rolex by choice, I admit that the first time I worked in Naples, I took off my watch and slipped it into my pocket, the seemingly safer place. Slowly, I gained confidence and discovered the benevolence of the Neapolitans and their eagerness to enjoy the pleasures of life. That’s when the city became dangerous because it opened its heart and the more I got to know it, the more it seduced me with its unique spirit… and then you realize that you can never forget it.

11

The Power of Emotions

That evening at the Garden Theatre on Broadway, the thirty cats of “Cats” held me spellbound in my seat while my heart raced. After the show, an idea emerged, and a year and a half later, I was ready to debut my first original Italian musical in Bologna. It doesn’t matter if it wasn’t a success. It was still a success for all those people, about eighty of them, who wholeheartedly believed in my innovation and cried, cried long after the final performance, unable to live inside that dream anymore. Onwards to the next experience…to living that dream once again.

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“Christmas the Musical”
1989 Lauro Notari production – Choreographer Gianin Loringett