Name: Giosuè
Surname: Prezioso
Subject and Courses: The Business and Law of Cultural Industries
BIO
Giosuè has international experience as an art curator, art and business instructor, and advisor – working for companies in Austria, France, Italy, Poland, US, and Spain. He is a PhD Candidate from the University of Reading and holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Art, Law and Business from Christie’s Education London – the world’s leading art business. Giosuè is Professor and Academic Affairs Coordinator at the Florence University of Arts – The American University of Florence (FUA-AUF). He taught for international (post)graduate programs at John Cabot University, Roma Film Academy (Cinecittà), Camera dei Deputati, Rome Business School, and Banca d’Italia – among others. Giosuè is a nominated examiner from the University of Cambridge (ESOL), a Business and Management examiner for the International Baccalaureate (IB) and is currently completing an advanced program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
When did you find out you that you wanted to be a teacher? I have been playing – and I still do, somehow – to be a teacher forever. It all started when I was 17, when I transformed a game into an experiment. At that time, I was living in a small town in Italy, where I was the only English speaker. I was studying Arabic and Russian in a free course held by a priest – who had learnt the languages from the immigrants in the convent he supervised. One day I had a eureka moment: why don’t I teach English? I went to the priest and a week after I was teaching in front of 7-10 people, who later became 30, 50, 70, and eventually 180. First day of class? As if I had been teaching forever, so to me teaching was a realization rather than a discovery.
What teaching strategies or techniques do you usually use? As I said in the previous answer, I play. I like thinking of classes as ping-pong matches, where both instructors and students reciprocate contents, knowledges, experiences, as well as fears, frustrations, and failures. If the narration is ‘we’re playing here’ – and when I say ‘playing’ I mean both fun and rules – lectures become less challenging for both students and instructors – because even though it doesn’t seem so, we’re as stressed as the students, but maybe only more experienced to manage (and hide?) it better. So play, play, play and then silence. When I say ‘silence’ I mean the ability to disappear as an Instructor and let the students discover, experiment, realize, and make mistakes alone, individually or as a group. I am a truly believer of empirical learning, so I sometimes become a ghost and students surprise me with amazing ideas that I couldn’t think of myself. I’ll sum up: fun and transparency.
What are the 3 fundamental competences that a worker needs to have in order to succeed in his/her future career?
What suggestion would you like to give to your students about how to get the most out of their educational experience? Have fun. Be critical. Ask questions (never be shy). Make international friends/colleague and start projects – even simple, funny, and small. Make mistakes.
According to you, what are the 3 main characteristics that a successful manager should have? Be curious. Be mindful. Be Empathic.
Do you have a mentor? If yes, who? I have had many throughout my life. My current one is neither famous nor popular – I’m somehow against big publicized mentors from TV/media, I’m more into ‘everyday life heroes,’ and my mentor is now Gianna. She’s a common professional, a mother, an ex-wife, and a great friend who knows how to listen, whisper, be silent, and talk to me. She’s definitely my mentor and muse.
The most important lesson that you learned during your career path. Surely about humility – at times I’m not very so. At times with dedication, at times with no touch, but overall humility has been the hardest lesson I had to learn – and I’m still learning.
How would you have your students find out their talent? Usually talents are quite objective, or if they hide (because of the student’s personality) they still have an aura I can see – or at least I should, as this is part of my job.
How do you motivate yourself to take action? I am hyper-active by nature, so it doesn’t take much, really J I often start from things I don’t like, so I get motivated to get done to then enjoy the bright side – of the action.
What would you like to change about yourself? Maybe less activities – I’m really hyper-active; less impulsivity; let others do.
What are you doing to change the world? I’m honest. And I really do the only 2 things I think I can do: teaching (or more broadly education) and art. If I try to be a chef, I may make people sick; if I try to be an engineer, I may cause explosions; if I try to be a gardener, I may kill all the plants. Avoiding what you can’t do already causes no harm; cultivate and share your gifts/talents is a must and a step to improve your system and the world’s.
Top 3 cities to visit Matera for the past; Hong Kong for the present; Amsterdam for the future.
What do you like best of Rome? Wao. I shall skip this – can I? Does she like me?
3 books to read… Medicus to dream; The Clash of Gods to grow; an old person to talk to and become wiser.
What is your favourite Italian food? I spent the ‘skip’ bonus on question 13; so, pizza!
Do you have a Nick name? Josh, Giosy, Jo, J, bu, bubu – to be honest, I turn at any person who addresses me with a ‘G/J’ sound.
What are your interests and hobbies? Art and teaching.
What are your weaknesses? Overthinker.
The craziest thing you have ever done…Pretended a friend of mine was a major expert in a field to let her in a very prestigious university I was studying at. We made it!
The happiest day of your life…I don’t want to be a self-spoiler, I’m still waiting for it – despite this, I had many.
What makes you feel angry? Lies. Non-flexibility. Negativity. Ignorance.
What embarrasses you? Those words in question 23.Define Happiness! Know what you like; do it. Know what you don’t like; you don’t do it
