CEO of Naturalia Tantum Group, an Italian hub for natural cosmetics and sustainable wellbeing. Volcanic, concrete, empathetic, she loves action and never gives up.

Describe yourself in one adjective.

Volcanic. My Sicilian roots come through strongly in everything I do.

What’s your favorite word?

Doing. I’m a pragmatic woman. Real change is born from action.

What values guide your choices every day?

Ethics, empathy, and respect. They’re principles that shape the way I work and the way I relate to people, especially in the most complex decision-making moments.

What job did you dream of doing as a child?

Travel agent — probably influenced by my family’s business. Travel has remained my passion into adulthood as well.

What’s the achievement you’re most proud of as a manager?

Having been able to adapt my leadership style to very different business contexts and very different people, building solid and deeply engaged teams over time.

Where have you failed in your career, and what did you learn from that experience?

At one point in my career, I made the mistake of not recognizing an ambiguous situation in time: certain internal dynamics had influenced my judgment, and this had an impact on business results. From that, I learned the importance of trusting your own instinct and making fast decisions, even when they’re difficult or require replacing key people.

What’s the hardest challenge you’ve faced and overcome?

Moving from marketing to general management was a real shift in perspective, one that took me outside my comfort zone. I tackled it with determination and humility, drawing on the experience I’d built over the years.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received, and who gave it to you?

The best advice I’ve received came from Duccio Vitali, who gave me the courage to test myself on new projects, stepping out of purely managerial logics to embrace a more entrepreneurial mindset. He encouraged me to put myself out there more, moving from coordinating processes to directly creating value. From him I learned to seek out contexts where leadership means decision-making speed, freedom to experiment, and concrete impact on the business.

What quality do you value most in people?

Transparency and straightforwardness.

Name a manager or entrepreneur you admire.

Monica Poggio, former CEO of Bayer. Hers is a solid, conscious style of leadership, able to combine strategic vision, attention to people, and the governance of complex organizations.

Who do you consider your mentor — the person you’ve learned the most from professionally?

Jens-Martin Schwärzler at Henkel is the person who has shaped my professional growth the most: he always tested me with great severity, but also allowed me to develop strong skills and self-awareness. We grew together.

Name three brands you love.

Prada, Diptyque, Lefay. They represent an idea of excellence built on strong identity, attention to detail, and a vision that brings together aesthetics, experience, and care for time as a value.

What song do you never get tired of listening to?

Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day.

What film do you never get tired of watching?

Three: La Boum, Pretty Woman, and, above all, An Officer and a Gentleman.

What book has taught you the most?

Start with Why by Simon Sinek.

What sport has taught you the most?

Synchronized swimming at a competitive level: it taught me tenacity, focus, and coordination, both individually and as a team.

What do you follow regularly to stay informed, inspired, and keep growing?

I enjoy reading Il Post, and I often listen to the Wilson podcast by Francesco Costa. I also find daily exchange with other managers very stimulating.

Which app do you use the most?

LinkedIn, for networking and professional updates, and Spotify, to recharge and unwind.

What are you most passionate about outside of work?

Traveling, without a doubt — but I also love movement in all its forms: pilates, brisk walking, and outdoor training.

What’s the greatest invention of all time?

The smartphone — it has revolutionized the way we communicate and work every single day.

Which historical figure do you feel closest to?

Leonardo da Vinci, for his curiosity, his innovative thinking, and his ability to turn ideas into reality.

What change would you like to see in the world?

A turning point in how we deal with anger: less repressed anger, more emotional awareness.

What habit has improved your life most in recent years?

Putting family first.

What’s your motto?

Never Give Up. It guides every decision I make and pushes me to find solutions even in the most complex situations.