About Me

Communication, empathy and leadership.

These three values define my professional approach. Working with them in harmony has guided my evolution from a passionate teacher to a successful manager. My career has been shaped by a deep belief in the power of communication and language, which continues to influence every aspect of my work. This commitment has supported my efforts to build strong teams, stay ahead of technological trends, and consistently deliver outstanding results. I have led the transformation of our business from traditional, classroom-based language learning to a modern, hybrid model—integrating new technologies and market trends to provide a more personalized, client-focused experience.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this profession is the constant exposure to new challenges. From navigating the complexities of student-teacher relationships to designing bespoke courses for high-profile companies, I gained the experience necessary to lead this business. As manager, I have successfully navigated the challenges of the pandemic as well as the rapid rise of technology. Rather than shying away from perceived threats to traditional classroom teaching, I embraced the opportunity to innovate—ensuring the school remained current by leveraging social media, developing a new teacher-student portal, and most recently, integrating AI into our multimedia resources. This forward-thinking approach has helped us maintain a strong, relevant market presence.

My mission is to use my leadership skills to ensure this business remains relevant in a rapidly changing world. I channel my passion for language and communication to empower both the administrative team behind the scenes as well as the teachers on the frontline engaging with our students. Nobody ever made any progress by sticking to the same tried and tested way of doing things, nor by closing themselves off for fear of confrontation. Real progress stems from interaction, openness and a willingness to evolve. When rooted in empathy, communication becomes the foundation for both personal and professional growth. This approach guarantees professionalism, client satisfaction and outstanding results.

My professional successes

My most valuable achievement is the evolution of my career to where I am today. For the past 6 years, I have been working as the General Manager of ILS International Language School in Milan. I began as a Business English teacher and just over 5 years later, I was promoted to Director of Studies. Having seen the business from multiple perspectives, my move into the General Manager role felt like a natural evolution. This journey has shaped me into a confident, well-rounded leader with a strong sense of strategy, adaptability and purpose. I am extremely proud of the many positive changes I have brought to the business as General Manager.

Supported by a strong admin team and professional, mother-tongue experts, I have helped position ILS as an important reference point for language training and services. While staying in tune with the evolving landscape, we continue to offer traditional in-person courses as well as developing a significant online presence through innovative Web Learning platforms. Recently, we have also integrated AI with the launch of a state-of-the-art app, providing students with a modern, interactive learning experience.

The evolution of my career at ILS and the experience gained first through teaching, then organising and planning courses and finally over the past 6 years, managing this evolving business, has taught me the importance of building a strong team, shaping workplace culture and most importantly, delivering results to keep the business relevant in these changing times.

I’m very proud that HR managers from prominent companies regularly approach me for support and advice on their training needs. It’s incredibly rewarding to be seen as a trusted point of reference for these companies when planning employee development.

Education

1990-1994

University of Florida

Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology specialising in Spanish Language and Latin American literature

1997-1998

New World Teachers, San Francisco

TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language)

2003-2004

Bocconi University

Post Graduate Diploma in Online Education and Training (OET)

2004-2006

Institute of Education, Londra

Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at University of London

Achievements

1996-1998

Bar Association of San Francisco, California

Bilingual Legal Interviewer (English – Spanish)

1998-1999

Torre de Babel Idiomas Language School, San Paolo, Brasile

English teacher at Multinational companies including NEC Brasil and Price Waterhouse

1999-2019

International Language School, Milan, Italy

Business English teacher for high profile Italian companies including Corriere della Sera and Esso.

2019-Oggi

International Language School, Milan, Italy

General Manager: My responsibilities include organising courses, training staff and business reporting activities