We recently connected with Donatella Beneventi and have shared our conversation below.
Donatella, thank you so much for joining us today and appreciate you talking about a sensitive topic. It’s unfortunately relevant to so many in the community as layoffs have been on the rise recently, and so we’d appreciate hearing your story and how you overcame being let go?
About 30 years ago, I became suddenly unemployed , this was a terribile Moment for me , I was depressed because I couldn’t find a job.
My passions saved me : I like art , history and I was keeping on training my skills in english and german languages ,so one day ,I read on the newspaper that the regional government opened a call tò find local tourist guides to be included in the marketplace.
This was a wonderful opportunity and, after about 6 months of hard work, I passed the exams to get the licence. Sometimes I felt I could never make It, because I had tò study a lot and I was worried not to work quickly..but the job arrived few months after the licence ,and here I am! Never give up!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a licenced tourist guide since 1994: the job started in Genoa, in the beautiful Liguria region..
I love deeply my job and I feel very lucky because It’s not only a job, but first of all , a great passion.
I meet people from all over the world , travelers and tourists that ask to be guided by me, to discover beautiful destinations like Portofino, the Cinque Terre , the Ligurian Coast and of course my native city ,Genova.
In a matter of few hours I try tò let them feel like locals, visiting the territory after many points of view: artistical, historical and also daily life, traditions and good cooking.
I love watching them surprised and in the meanwhile , involved in the atmosphere of the places.
The best moment of the tour, is the final one ,when they tell me that they spent the best day of their journey. With some of them , sometimes, I keep in contact, that’s wonderful!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Positive approach tò other people
Updating in my skills , for example the fluency in foreign languages
The flexibility , adapting my speech to the target of customers.
Confidence is basic ,of course: this includes a self training and It takes time.
Start with something you like a lot, take care of your passions and share them with others closed to your interests.
It’s important to test yourself ,avoiding the over use of social networks , but by a “live action” that can be a small group of Friends or coworkers
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
I grew up in a poor family , so everything was a sacrifice. I’m so grateful that my parents supported me in my first passions,the foreign languages and paid a lot of money tò offer me the opportunity to study in good schools.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donybeneventi/profilecard/?igsh=OHV6cXZ0dmQ0ZHk1
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dony.beneventi
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donatella-beneventi-62234546
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