Entrepreneurship can take you on a journey filled with challenges and opportunities. One such individual, who has navigated through her share of these, is a young woman named Giorgia Cattaneo. In this blog post, we will explore her experience, insights and the lessons she learned while working for a startup fighting food waste in Italy.
Giorgia's journey began in Bologna, where she worked as an intern at a future food institute. The company focused on organizing sustainable events and invited many startups to participate in them. Giorgia came into contact with many young entrepreneurs and their projects during this internship. While some were established startups, others were in the early stages of development. This internship sparked her interest in entrepreneurship, and she found it very fulfilling. Although the internship was unpaid and she didn't get a job offer from the company, Giorgia made valuable connections during this time.
She went on to apply for a job with another startup called Too Good to Go, which focused on fighting food waste. This was her first job after completing her internship. She was impressed by the company's success and the impact they were making, which made her excited to join the team. When she started, she was the fifth employee, and her primary responsibility was handling outbound and inbound sales calls. Her role involved traveling to different cities, where she would stay for a month and prepare the city for launch. During this time, she would help onboard the first stores to join the app, assist in the first partnerships with different supermarkets and restaurants, and prepare for the city's official launch.
Although she enjoyed her job, she found that her role became more of a call center job rather than the exciting traveling and business development role she started with. Giorgia has learned that the work you do at a startup can change quickly, and you need to adapt to these changes. She advises entrepreneurs to be ready for such changes and to enjoy the journey rather than focus on the destination. "It's not just about where you get to, but it's about how you get there," she says.
During her time at Too Good to Go, Giorgia learned many valuable lessons about entrepreneurship. One of the most important is the need to network and build connections. As an entrepreneur, you will meet many people along the way who can help you achieve your goals. You need to be open and willing to connect with others and seek out mentors who can guide you through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.
Another important lesson Giorgia learned is the need to be patient and persistent. Starting a business is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time, effort, and persistence to see the results. She advises entrepreneurs not to give up at the first sign of trouble and to keep pushing forward. It's also essential to be patient and understand that results may take time to materialize.
Finally, Giorgia emphasizes the importance of being passionate about what you do. Starting a business is challenging, and it requires a lot of hard work and dedication. You need to be passionate about your business and the impact it can make to keep going through the tough times. If you're not passionate about what you're doing, it will be hard to keep going when the going gets tough.
In conclusion, Giorgia Cattaneo's journey into entrepreneurship has taught her many valuable lessons. From networking and building connections to being patient and persistent, she has learned what it takes to succeed in the world of startups. As an entrepreneur, you will face many challenges and opportunities, and it's up to you to embrace them and enjoy the journey. Remember that starting a business is a marathon, not a sprint, and that the results may take time to materialize. Finally, be passionate about what you're doing, and you'll be much more likely to succeed.
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