I usually don't post on Saturdays -- today is an exception. I did a Google search and saw this image for Festa della Repubblica so I took a few moments to reflect upon what made in Italy means to me.
I'm proud to be Italian. Maybe patriotism is something the world only sees when the soccer team (oops, I should say football) wins the World Cup and the flags come out. Yes, many of them are still made of wool and get washed an ironed by the wonderful mothers of a country used to be seen as the underdog.
Creativity and verve are the every day staple of the Italian business diet. Having lived and worked in Philadelphia for so many years, sometimes I forget that I have colleagues who are doing great work in my native land. We all know and love Gianandrea Facchini who has participated in our conversations with enthusiasm and heart.
I've mentioned Maurizio Goetz of Marketing Usabile as well. Maurizio is a marketing consultant who works and lives in Milan, the city seen more as the business and fashion center of Italy. Gianandrea is based in Rome, where the world used to be run at one point -- caput mundi, they called it.
Alessandro Bevacqua also works in Rome and blogs at WebA-Ziende, where he shares very interesting views on corporate and official blogging.
Dr. Who, whose real name I promised to keep a secret (I always keep my promises), blogs at Unconventional Marketing with Leonardo de Nardis. He is experienced in the dynamics of mature markets and consumer products. They are based in Rome.
Luca Oliverio is brand manager at Comunitazione, a portal for all communications theories, tactics and best practices. He is also involved in an initiative to showcase the ads that did not make the cut, which will be running from July 26-30 in Salerno. See more information at Creatives are Bad.
I would be remiss if I did not mention Bruno Giussani. He lives in Switzerland, yet I'm pretty sure he has a lot more Italian than just the language in him. He has quickly become my source of all news and opinions European, and for good reason. See his amazing list of accomplishments here.
Buona Festa della Repubblica to all Italian bloggers. If I haven't discovered you yet, drop by and leave a note in your comment here so I can add you to my growing Italian blogroll. I'm loving this Italian connection!
Nice post.
Being Italian and all, are you sad that the "Sopranos" is coming end next week?
Posted by: Roger von Oech | June 02, 2007 at 06:45 PM
Roger, I don't watch TV, ever. Don't even have cable -- that will need to change as I need a high speed line for publishing. I'm sure it will be an adventure as we're kind of 'captive' to Comcast in our area. And being Italian and all, I tend to get feisty on folks when the service is not done properly.
Posted by: Valeria Maltoni | June 02, 2007 at 10:30 PM
Well I know I'm not 100% Italian, but does that 6-week stay we talked about at the meetup that I spent there help fill in the other 50% of my genes? LOL
I miss Italy very much... maybe someday my company will grow large enough that I can go back there to LIVE and let all other operations remain here in the states... I'm convinced I'll find the love of my life in Ancona if I go back! LOL
Posted by: Lara | June 03, 2007 at 12:58 AM
Thanks Valeria for your post. I'm looking forward to see you here in Italy.
Posted by: Maurizio Goetz | June 03, 2007 at 01:20 AM
Thanks Valeria, i'm proud to be italian too! And you are a worthy representative!
Posted by: alessandro | June 03, 2007 at 06:21 AM
Lara -- absolutely. I think anyone who wants to be Italian should be. I've often used the made in Italy signature to indicate a state of mind and attitude.
Maurizio -- always a pleasure visiting with you. I'll make sure I'll let you all know when I'm in the country. For years now they ask me where I learned to speak Italian so well... I lost my regional accent and do not sound native anymore.
Alessandro -- you have some very interesting discussions on unintended consequences of Web 2.0 information sharing. Anyone who can read Italian should visit your blog.
Posted by: Valeria Maltoni | June 03, 2007 at 09:35 AM
Valeria, thanks for the post.
I'm 100% sure that as soon as you get home in Italy for a couple of days, your accent will be back.
and I'm pleased to be mentioned with these other respectful bloggers.
Take care.g.
Posted by: gianandrea facchini | June 03, 2007 at 02:57 PM
Grazie Valeria. Troppo generosa. Ero in Italia in effetti il giorno della Festa. B.
Posted by: BrunoG | June 10, 2007 at 06:25 AM