What is the best thing that I love about my work?
What I love mostly about my work is the creativity that surrounds it. This keeps me alive, young and relevant. I also love that my days and activities are always different and diverse. Everyday can bring a surprise.
What is my idea of happiness?
friends, love, family, health, a functioning brain, independence, the privilege of a full life and most of all, rifing a horse in Southern Arizona.
What is my greatest fear?
To be abandoned by everyone I love, to lose my mind or my ability to take care of myself. to die before having accomplished another million things I want to do.
What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?
I am not always humble enough to ask for something I want and accept rejection. I wish I were able to go for it no matter what. I also sometimes talk before pausing, and get in trouble for it.
Which living persons in my profession do I most admire?
I admire all the young creatives (designers, film makers, entrepreneurs) who are venturing into a crowded world fearlessly for their ideas and their beliefs. I admire everyone who is trying to find solutions for a healthier planet and better treatment of workers.
What is my greatest extravagance?
Travel and white shirts. I can’t get enough of either….
On what occasion would I lie?
When the truth might be uselessly offensive. When I am shy about the truth. When my lie might help someone I am working for or mentoring.
What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?
I really don’t like it when clients hire me and then proceed to dictate what I need to do, or explain the right strategy. I don’t like disrespectful people, people unable to listen or admit errors. I also don’t want to be hired for my network, to open doors. I usually tell potential clients this ahead of a contract, but often they still reveal themselves early on, and ask exactly for that.
When and where was I the happiest, in my work?
When I was managing a big international team and felt a strong sense of belonging by everyone. I believe in building teams with people you believe in but who also believe in you. I am convinced it goes both ways: they might need you and the job, but you definitely need them as much.
If I could, what would I change about myself?
People who like working with me, they appreciate my being outspoken and honest in every occasion, but many people would never want to work with me, exactly for that reason. So I wish I were more balanced, more diplomatic and able to understand when I am missing opportunities just by being who I am.
What is my greatest achievement in work?
Being surrounded by young creatives who want to be mentored by me. Having the love of a new generation. At the end of the day I am grateful for being still standing and having work everyday. I have built my career with nobody’s help, no nepotism, no previous connections; I have moved jobs and countries mostly on my own. That is something I am proud of.
Where would I most like to live?
I am happy in London, where I am. If I wanted to live somewhere else, I would go there. I am free.
What is my most treasured possession?
I love some material things I own, but my attachment to them is never as strong as the one I have for my friends, my family and functioning brain and body.
What is my most marked characteristic?
I am independent and outspoken. I am loyal and reliable. I am also annoyingly opinionated and stubborn.
What is my most inspirational location, in my city?
Daunt bookstore, Sadler’s Wells, Holland Park in spring, and …my bed.
What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city?
I am a good cook, so my kitchen is my favourite place to eat, with many friends around me. But I do like The Wolseley on Piccadilly, The Rose Bakery at Dover Street Market, The Conduit Club in Covent Garden and Cher Thai Eatery in Clapham who have the best Masamai Curry in town.
What books influenced my life and how?
I am an avid reader, I only read literature and important authors. I actually have a master degree in modern and comparative literature.Books influence me every day, but if I had to bring only a few to a desert island I would definitely take Marguerite Yourcenar, Mémoires d’Hadrien, Mikhail Bulgakov The Master and Marguerite, Barbara Kingsolver, Damon Copperhead and Paul Auster 4.3.2.1. But I would be very sad to leave behind many others….
You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day?
Mozart Requiem directed by Christopher Hogwood, but also some Crosby Stills Nash and Billie Eilish
Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?
Eva Kant from an Italian comic series called Diabolik. She is his beautiful, brave, clever and , even if a thief, very human and emphatic. And for a while I was obsessed with the fictional protagonist of the TV series Scandal, Olivia Pope, by actor Kerry Washington.
Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?
I don’t have heroes, but I greatly admire all the female war journalists like Christiane Amanpour or Clarissa Ward, and Captain Pia Klemp who risked jail to rescue refugees, and the great talented writers, actors, directors. They are the people who inspire me greatly.
Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime?
Too many to choose from, but if it had to be a classic and one only, that would be Death in Venice by Luchino Visconti, for the great story by Thomas Mann, the amazing music by Gustav Malher and of course the direction by Visconti.
What role play stories in my life and work?
EVERYTHING. I feed from books and films and TV and Theatre, culture is my life. I would not be inspired or have any ideas if it weren’t for all I read and watch every day.
What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ to me?
There is nothing I believe more. We have agency and we are the architects of our happiness and, often, our unhappiness. We will only know exactly how our story sounds and what it looks like when we will have written the end. I hope we will be able to read our own book once on the other side.
Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?
All the young designers and creatives I work with.
Which people or companies would I like to work with ?
Atelier Jolie, Gabriela Hearst, Vanessa Friedman, Alessandro Michele, any producers for a fashion documentary series…
What project am I looking forward to work on?
Anything that is innovative, creatively intriguing, that stands for something important.
Where can you see me or my work?
What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?
If you know passion, you will always be passionate about everything and everyone.
Passion Never Retires 