The Italian Chamber of Commerce for Hungary is ever more structured: let us introduce you the Secretary General!
President Francesco Mari is glad to introduce Mrs. Stefania Speziani, nominated Secretary-General from the Board of Directors on May 29th 2019: let’s get to know her!
What has been your professional and academic background before becoming Secretary-General at the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Hungary?
I got a Bachelor Degree in Foreign Languages for International Relations in English and Chinese language at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan; then, I completed my university course by graduating as a political expert for the International Relations in English and Spanish.
As many new graduates, the need of practicing the language and the will of entering the labour market brought me to London, where I had been Personnel Director and Administrative Director in a commercial business in central London. After three years of work and sacrifices, I decided to return to Italy to attend preparation courses to the diplomatic career at the LUMSA University in Rome. This experience gave me the opportunity to apprehend the organization of Italian institutions abroad. Later on, I developed the ambition of being part of the Chambers of Commerce world and, following a long selection process, I have been hired from the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Hungary in September 2016. I moved to Budapest, where I started my personal growth at the Chamber of Commerce: first, I was administrative officer; then, I was promoted Deputy Secretary-General while supervising the Administration office, C.R.M. and the Human Resources department. Now that I have assumed the role of Secretary-General and I am certain that it will bring me great satisfaction and always new stimuli, given the ambitious goals we achieved lately. I can certainly consider myself very satisfied by the increasing valorisation that I have been receiving during the last three years at the Chamber of Commerce.
Professional and private Life: how do you manage to reconcile them?
Reconciling private and professional life is never easy for a woman and a mother. But I can count on my husband and my family, who are always supporting me in my choices. Applying also in my family the Italian Chamber of Commerce motto: “Growing together!”.
Being mother, wife and Secretary-General gives me even more strength and incentives, particularly in the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Hungary environment, where the focus towards the achievement of goals prevails on the external form.
How will you play your new role inside the Chamber of Commerce?
I am aware that I have still got a long way to go, with chances of ups and downs.
I will put all my heart in this journey, even my knowledge and experiences, so that my contribution could always bring to concrete and tangible results.
I am optimistic because I work with colleagues that are very close-knit and professional, who already proved, already in these first days, how important team work is.
The Italian Chamber of Commerce for Hungary must continue to be the core and reference point in business relations between Italy and Hungary and my main goal will be to pursue every action intended to ensure that this would last, for the Chamber and its partners’ good.
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