‘Follow your aptitudes and inclinations sincerely and genuinely. Regardless of the grades you achieve in each exam and your degree, they will chart a unique and unrepeatable path towards your fulfilment as both a professional and a person.’

1) FULL NAME

Emanuele Cristelli

2) CURRENT COMPANY, ROLE AND LOCATION

I) Consultant as communications manager for Edil Group and Edilimpianti Trieste, in Trieste

II) Public Affairs Manager at Vonde d.o.o., based in Koper, Slovenia

3) EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TRIESTE: BACHELOR'S/MASTER'S/DOCTORATE

2017-2021 / Master's degree in Diplomacy and International Cooperation

2014-2017 / Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Administration

4) FURTHER EDUCATION

EIDOS COMMUNICATION / 2022-2023 / Executive Master in Political Consulting & Electoral Marketing

5) HOW HAS YOUR EDUCATION INFLUENCED YOUR CAREER CHOICES?

My studies have not so much influenced as confirmed what I already felt: the desire to engage in some way with the public sphere. It gave me all the tools I needed to read and decode the social, political and international reality in which we live, providing me with a privileged perspective on the world and the things that happen and enabling me to read the deeper meanings between the lines. Over the years, this has led me to choose the right path for me: that of public relations, institutional relations and public communication, combining my passion for communication and for political and social phenomena.

6) WHAT DOES YOUR WORK INVOLVE?

I manage relations with the media, the press and key stakeholders, and I oversee institutional relations. I am the manager of the Edil Group press office. Together with the marketing and communications team, I define the editorial communications strategy for the holding company and its subsidiaries, I determine the storytelling linked to communications releases and I coordinate all activities at an operational level, acting as an intermediary between management and external companies that provide communications services.

For Vonde d.o.o., I similarly oversee and coordinate communications, as well as assisting in the preparation of position papers, presentations and articles for the entities for which the company is a consultant and/or partner. In addition, I oversee European affairs, particularly those related to cross-border economic cooperation.

7) WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO APPLY FOR THE COMPANY/ORGANISATION YOU WORK FOR?

I consider myself lucky in this regard because, although in different ways, I have almost always been “sought out” and have never applied to any of the companies or clients I have ended up working for.

In this sense, I believe that good old ‘word of mouth’, including on social media, has helped me in my career. A rich network of relationships consistent with my values has helped me to present a useful and interesting profile to companies and clients compared to the profiles they were looking for at the time.

8) DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE GROWN PROFESSIONALLY? WHAT SKILLS HAVE YOU ACQUIRED?

Absolutely yes. First in my experience at Vonde d.o.o., then in my political and communications consulting experience for election campaigns or individual public figures, and finally in my important experience with Edil Group and Edilimpianti, I acquired technique, organisational skills, leadership, a sense of decisiveness, the ability to set clear goals and constantly measure progress. Above all, however, I believe that after many years and experiences, I have learned to accept that not everything can be under our control. Accepting this human limitation is the first step in being able to seriously imagine one's professional projection, the real means at one's disposal, and room for manoeuvre to influence the challenges we face.

9) WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO A NEW GRADUATE?

I would advise a recent graduate to put all their energy into integrating into the social context in which they live: the third sector, the political and civic arena, cultivating their passions and joining associations and networking, because nothing is more convincing than a handshake or finding understanding and empathy through a real human exchange. From there, a job opportunity, a chance to collaborate or an opportunity to get involved may arise. In essence, it is working on one's social, human and professional awareness. Combining this with the most innovative techniques for finding work through LinkedIn and other platforms for applying and submitting applications is, in my opinion, the right mix to avoid coming across as just a recent graduate looking for a job, but rather as an aspiring professional with a vision in mind of the impact they want to make and leave with their work. 

10) LINK TO LINKEDIN PROFILE