Valentina Maggi
January 22, 2010
Yesterday we sat down and had a look at the names of the jurors who have attended ITS. The list is quite impressive actually! It might be difficult not to sound cocky, but there is no doubt that in eight years we have had special people answer our call to come and join us in evaluating the over 300 young talents we selected along the way.
We then thought that it might be interesting for all of you talented people out there to read about them through short interviews (remember these are very busy people and we don't want to make it complicated by asking too many questions) focusing on arguments like creativity and their career. The first name that came to mind is someone who is now a very close friend of ours (we could say she is an honorary member of our staff): Valentina Maggi.
A brief biography is certainly necessary. Valentina is Director of Design Practice at renowned Paris headhunting agency Floriane de St. Pierre. She graduated with a degree in Architecture from the Politecnico in Milan and began her professional career in the Conservation and History of Architecture Department of the Politecnico. With her passion for Design in the broader sense, Valentina Maggi joined Floriane de Saint-Pierre & Associés in 1999 and has headed up Design Practice since 2000. What her official biography does not say is that though she works in the luxury goods field she has nothing of the snobby attitude you would expect from people working in that field.
We have a true and strong friendship with her. She will hang out in the cheapest bar you could imagine, so as long as she is surrounded by friends. That's what happens most of the times with us when she is in Trieste for ITS. She has the spirit of a young girl who just wants to hang out with friend and the expertise of a professional who selects talents for key positions in the most important brands you can imagine. Now, that's luxury. And that's also elegance, in its highest expression.
Now that we have introduced her you can read our interview:
EVE: What is Creativity in your opinion? What does it mean in your life?
VALENTINA: As usual, I find myself applying my personal interpretation of "creativity" to answer the existential and philosophical questions of my "buddies" at ITS...I must admit that I am really lucky, since my job allows me to face creativity daily. It's the creativity of designers, but also of presidents, founders or owners of companies who need creativity to fuel their vision for a brand. When one of said presidents/founders/owners gets in touch with us for a search, the first thing we bear in mind is that every job we undertake is different from the one before and - in one way or the other - unique. It needs to be planned and analysed in depth so we can focus in on and narrow our search. And the fundamental element of what we are looking for is the ability to innovate, that is one of the definitions of creativity.
We call it a "soul match". It's when we are able to transmit the value that our client was looking for, and we are gratified by our contribution to the success of a brand.
EVE: Can you tell us about your experience at ITS?
VALENTINA: If I'm not mistaken it all started out in 2002. I received a phone call from "someone" called Barbara Franchin, organizer of a "so called" competition interested in discovering and supporting young talents in fashion....Today, after 7 years, it has become an essential appointment with Creativity...From every single point of view!
EVE: Looking back at your personal career and seeing the young talents of today, what is the best advice you feel you can give them, apart from believing in what they do?
VALENTINA: Giving advice is always such a difficult and delicate thing...Anyway, I will never stop believing that creativity and talent definitely are essential qualities. But they are not enough if you are aiming high. The patience and humbleness of learning from others, together with a huge perseverance are, in my opinion, equally fundamental ingredients.
EVE: Thanks so much for your time, Valentina.
VALENTINA: My pleasure!
