Who was/is your Role Model and why?

Giuseppina Bardella and Emma Maria Barbero, my grandmother and my mother, Italian women of their time and ahead of their time. They worked relentlessly to shape their identity in a society that was unequal along both gender and socio-economic class lines. Although they experienced a different reality, they raised me to think that I could become whomever I wanted. Thanks to them I did.

What advice would you give your 17-year-old self, reflecting on your personal or professional  challenges, experiences or successes?

Being liked, loved, successful, understood or being true to your authentic self: always choose the latter. Then be ready to pull out the huge amount of courage that it takes and, although it will be so tempting to doubt it, be certain that you have it, you have all the courage that you need, and then some! Also: friendship, humor, levity, music, cinema and nature make life spectacular. Enjoy! (Also: buy a house, now!).