Today marks 16 years since I founded Di-Vinum, Marketing e Comunicazione. I remember that morning of January 10, 2010... I walked into the Revenue Agency to register for a VAT number, with the accountant's instructions and an energy inside me that made me feel like I was flying.

I started out with a clear idea: I wanted to work in the wine world as a marketing and communication professional. I had had some good managerial experience, a few setbacks, and it was time for a change. I liked wine, from a historical, technical, poetic, and social perspective. So I said: I'll open an agency, I want to work for the agri-food sector and for wine. There was a lot of criticism, but I handled it as I always do. I listen, I feel a bit bad, I reflect, I see if the criticism is constructive, and in any case, I go my own way, keeping what I think is valid and noteworthy.

Then my skills expanded, collaborations arrived, some were lost over the years. But one fundamental thing remained: the passion for this work. Over the years, you change, you find a few wrinkles on your face, you recognize scams and people to avoid sooner, both professionally and personally, but there are some aspects of ourselves that we can't change, like honesty, the desire to do well, curiosity, and even the willingness to embark on a new adventure every now and then. You either have these from the start or you don't.

As a professional, I've experienced ups and downs, like everyone, but I can say that after 16 years, I still enjoy this job. And that's not something to underestimate!

Silvia Rama