‘When doing business with Italians, you first talk about their day.’
Giada Bellini has a cold. It’s one of the perks of living in what is mostly a wet and cold country like the Netherlands. Especially on days like the day of our interview – a wall of rain from morning till midnight – she misses where she grew up, on the Italian coast, pretty much next to the beach. Then again, always cheerful, Giada says that staying there was not really an option for a 22-year-old with a fresh degree in Political Science. ‘I had a job, but it wasn’t what I was looking for, and I wanted to explore other possibilities. Maybe even look abroad. So, I thought it was time to change everything and send resumes to other European countries. The problem was that I hardly spoke any English. Luckily, I was able to get a job in a clothing store in the Netherlands where that was not a problem – I could learn it while doing the job.’
And then COVID happened.
‘Exactly. Two weeks after I started my new job. It was quite traumatic because here I was, starting a new life, and suddenly, everything was put on hold. It was sad, but at least I could continue working, which allowed me to learn and grow – I became the shop manager. Still, I wanted more.’
That’s when an acquaintance told Giada ynvolve was looking for a sales rep for the Italian market. Might that be something for her? ‘I sent my resume, got the first and second interviews, and I really enjoyed those talks. I also loved the environment. The international vibe was very appealing – speaking Dutch was not even a mandatory requirement, which is amazing considering it’s a Dutch company. Ynvolve is so international; so many people from so many backgrounds here, different cultures, and literally, everybody has a different story. During brainstorms, that’s really refreshing: everybody comes up with different approaches. I truly enjoy that.’
Be that as it may, you do not have a background in IT.
‘Fair enough, but I have a proactive approach to acquiring the necessary knowledge to contribute effectively to my clients’ business goals. I plan to immerse myself in continuous learning and seek guidance from industry experts. I inform my clients about my learning process and reassure them of my commitment to delivering valuable outcomes. My dedication to transparency extends to this aspect as well. I’ve consistently found that it is key to building and maintaining client trust. I truly believe in open communication, being upfront about challenges, sharing successes, and ensuring that clients are well informed at every stage of our collaboration.’
Still, how can you explain a young woman with a degree in Political Science ended up selling refurbished servers?
‘Well, during my studies, I specialized in sociology, which is handy for this job. I enjoy doing research, trying different approaches with different people, and finding the right person within the company you’re dealing with. You need to know more than just a name; just giving them a call or sending an email is not enough.’
That personal approach is key, as 26-year-old Giada emphasizes, especially when you’ve only been working in the business for only a year and a half. ‘You have to be friendly. Not only when everything runs smoothly but when things go wrong too. So, they know they can trust me if I say I will solve a problem and come up with a solution as soon as possible.
Also, you have to take into account the cultural differences between these countries. You have to know what to say – and what not to say. For instance, when doing business with Italians, you first talk about their day. And not only about today but how was yesterday? What was their dinner like? How good was the wine? That might go on for about half an hour, after which the actual business part of the meeting only takes five minutes. Or maybe I will just end up emailing them the business stuff because we were running out of time while chatting.’
So, Giada, what was for dinner last night?
‘Pasta! I might have been living here for four years, but I’m still Italian.’
