Basilar

People

Davide Dattoli

it

Founder and Executive Chairman of Talent Garden, Europe’s largest platform for coworking, education, and innovation. A pioneer who builds ecosystems.

Describe yourself in one adjective.

Visionary.

What's your favorite word?

Building.

What values guide your choices every day?

Responsibility, ambition, freedom. Building things that have real impact, creating opportunities for others, not settling for mediocrity.

What job did you dream of doing as a child?

An entrepreneur. I didn’t know exactly in what field, but I knew I wanted to create something of my own.

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

Having built teams that surpassed me in specific skills. Creating organizations that keep moving even when I’m not in the room.

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

I scaled too fast at certain moments, getting ahead of the market. I learned that vision and timing have to be aligned: being right too early is indistinguishable from being wrong.

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

Restructuring an organization while preserving trust and direction. Cutting without losing the soul.

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

“Don’t build to sell. Build something worth owning.” From an entrepreneur who had already exited and regretted selling too soon.

What quality do you value most in people?

Integrity combined with ambition. Being good isn’t enough. You have to want to grow without shortcuts.

Name a manager or entrepreneur you admire.

Elon Musk, for his ability to expand the boundaries of what’s possible, even when everyone says it can’t be done.

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

The entrepreneurs I’ve worked alongside. Direct exchange with people who actually build has been my MBA.

Name three brands you love.

Loro Piana, Moncler, and Ferrari. Elegance, performance, obsession with detail.

What song do you never get tired of listening to?

Viva la Vida by Coldplay. It has an inexhaustible energy.

What film do you never get tired of watching?

I really enjoy series about international politics.

What book has taught you the most?

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. It taught me to look at systems, not just individuals.

What sport has taught you the most?

Skiing. It teaches you control, calculated risk, elegance under pressure.

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

Venture capital reports, geopolitical analysis, deep dives on deep tech and AI, podcasts from international entrepreneurs and investors.

Which app do you use the most?

LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and Google Calendar. Relationships and time are the real levers.

What are you most passionate about outside of work?

My wife and my children. And designing the future, even when there’s no need to.

What's the greatest invention of all time?

The internet. It transformed knowledge, power, and opportunity. Today, perhaps AI?

Which historical figure do you feel closest to?

Leonardo da Vinci. Multidisciplinary vision and boundless curiosity.

What change would you like to see in the world?

More people building instead of commenting. More responsible entrepreneurs.

What habit has improved your life most in recent years?

Writing and reflecting on strategic decisions, instead of reacting impulsively.

What's your motto?

Build something that outlives you.

People