The Virgilian setting of Ortigia Island, in the Sicilian province of Syracuse, was the location for the eighth edition of the 'Mediterranean Leadership Journey', promoted by the Leonardo Group and organised by Ortygia Business School. Every year, this training course welcomes 20 managers from Italian and international companies, with the goal of advancing transferable, multicultural skills as the necessary tools for developing successful business initiatives in countries with political, economic and social complexities.
This year's participants included the engineer Caterina Dominijanni, protagonist of the hybrid training course from July to October, with a half-day virtual kickoff and two in-person modules, 'The Leadership Core' and 'Management in a Challenging Reality', comprising a total of six teaching days.
The course was created with the aim of analysing the challenges that managers face each day on various levels: individual, corporate and macroeconomic. A program of continuous training that not only reinforces vertical skills but also integrates and improves cross-functional ones, such as leadership, strategy and negotiation skills. It does so through the contributions of CEOs and chairmen of entrepreneurial and financial groups, alongside highly qualified lecturers from the best business schools. From the very first meeting, Caterina Dominijanni was involved in group work, in person or in breakout rooms, live questions, surveys, simulations and practical exercises on the main topics of the course: from the ability to make decisions in continually evolving circumstances, to the awareness of negotiation skills for dealing with risk and crisis zones and thus preventing them. Without neglecting the importance of the communication skills of one's own company and the added value of projects involving entire teams of people every day; as well as sensitivity in reading current geopolitical and economic dynamics so as to be able to guide business decisions.
· Two modules, two lecturers, two important and complex topics concerning tools and skills to possess and use. How did this "journey" unfold, and what is the added value of this experience?
The journey was physical, mental and emotional, intense and satisfying. There are various aspects that gave it added value, in no particular order of importance because they are part and parcel of the journey I experienced: the high-level lectures with experts who enthusiastically shared their direct knowledge of teaching and life. At the same time, sharing your own experiences, and meeting a group of managers with different roles and professional skills that, through listening and dialogue, helped develop your awareness of yourself and others. And finally the setting of Ortigia, which takes you into a dimension far from everyday life, one that facilitates reflection and creativity.
· In recent years we have faced various global challenges. These have increasingly necessitated the development and, more importantly, the transformation of leadership, negotiation and communication skills. How do you think management skills have evolved and what developments can we expect in the future? What skills should companies focus on?
The ability to innovate and manage change are essential in a world that continues to present new challenges. So is negotiation, a transferable skill that is also worth developing in everyday life in order to manage and maintain positive and preferably lasting relationships, which first and foremost requires the ability to listen. I believe that inclusivity is the area to focus on in the near future, because it enables a path of innovation and continuous improvement focused on empowering everyone to express their full potential by exploiting their differences and thus maximising collective growth and people's wellbeing, which should be the basis of every social and individual choice.
· Leadership skills or negotiating skills?
The ability to relate to others with a clear awareness of oneself, the goals to be achieved and the commitment that every relationship requires in order to be a source of satisfaction, opportunity and growth for both parties.