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Insight interview with the Lecturer

Ema Di Petrillo

Name: Ema 

Surname: Di Petrillo 

Subject and Courses

  • Soft Skills Program: Public Speaking for Business; Time, Stress and Self-Management 
  • Master in Human Resources Management: Influence and Persuasion 
  • Master in Political Marketing & Communication: Influence and Persuasion 

Short BIO

Ema, BBA, MBA is an education professional and lecturer with 10 years of working experience in education within an international environment. She carries passion, enthusiasm and drive to empower others, through education and teaching. During her professional career, she won several awards for Public Speaking, and a winner award ‘’Young Leaders’’ in 2011 for best oratory speech at a National Contest of young leaders. She is also an actor with a valuable acting experience, which gives her an opportunity to understand better the essence of public speaking, audience rapport building and engagement, body language, stage presence, storytelling and self-confidence, and apply it to her teaching methods and interactive lecturing. 

1. Question: When did you find out you that you wanted to be a teacher?

Since I was a child. When I was 10, I used to play being a teacher wearing my mother’s high heels. 

2. Question: Which teaching strategies or techniques do you usually use? 

In line with the Rome Business School action-learning methodology, when I am teaching, my focus and energy is 100% on the students, on building relation, engagement and participative learning environment. When students are active, they explore, generate ideas, use their creativity and actively build their progress. Therefore, my teaching strategy is always based on the student’s needs, mainly, very small percent of verbal lecturing, large percent of hands on learning experience, role plays, pitching, self-assessment tests and class or case study discussion.

3. Question: Which are the 3 fundamental competences that a worker need to have in order to succeed in his/her future career? 

  1. Passion and drive for learning, progress and growth 
  2. Strong Communication Skills 
  3. Relevant and up to date technical and professional expertise 

4. Question: Which suggestion would you like to give to your students about how to get the most out of their educational experience?

The key is the speed of implementation. To practice and implement everything they learn on daily basis. No one ever mastered a skill on the first try. To participate in each and every class, get involved in stimulating discussions with their pears and professors, complete regularly all the assessments given to be able to track and evaluate their progress, to feed their mind with valuable readings and to build a strong network of contacts which very often, lasts a lifetime. 

5. Question: According to you, which are the 3 main characteristics that a successful manager should have? 

  1. Empowering Leadership
  2. Experience 
  3. Clear Thought & Communication 

6. Question: Do you have a mentor? If yes, Who?

I am constantly inspired to learn and grow by the Rome Business School family, its empowering managers, lovely colleagues, professors, students…I’ve been always having different valuable mentors in my life, helping me develop my skills and grow in my career. 

7. Question: The most important lesson that you learned during your career path.

I am learning many lessons each and every day, trying to be a better person and professional than I was yesterday. One of them: Never stop learning, stay out of your comfort zone. When in your comfort zone, your brain doesn’t want anything to change … Getting out of your comfort zone creates transformation and progress. Be courageous and definitely, dreams become reality when hard work, passion and persistence meet. 

8. Question: How would you help students to find their own talent?

I always encourage them to do a Personal SWOT analysis and self-talks. By identifying their strengths and what they are good at, they are more likely to discover their talents. 

9. Question: How do you motivate yourself to take action?

I remind myself on the purpose, break the goal into small attainable steps, take away my distractions and I get to work. 

10. Question: Which things about you would you like to improve?

I would like to improve my Spanish language fluency. 

11. Question: How do you act to improve the world?

By making contribution in the development of value based training programs at the Rome Business School with the mission students to become, better managers for a better world.

12. Question: Top 3 cities to visit:

Rome, Barcelona & Ohrid 

13. Question: What is your favorite thing about Rome?  

Ahhh, tough question. Rome is fascinating city that immediately captured my heart. Probably, the fact that it is really ancient city with such a rich history. 

14. Question: 3 books to read…

  1. Pablo Picasso: Life & Work (Art in Focus) by Elke Linda Buchholz
  2. Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins 
  3. Emotional Intelligence – Why it can matter more than IQ by Daniel Goleman

15. Question: Favorite Italian food?

Pizza Margherita, Spaghetti alla Bolognese, gelato and many, many more 

16. Question: Do you have a nick name?

No 

17. Question: Which is your passion?

Teaching at Rome Business School

18. Question: Your defect?

Eating too much italian gelato 

19. Question: The craziest things that you have ever done…

Roller coaster ride, ride a camel in the desert with my father, watching 3 movies in a row.

20. Question: The happiest day of your life… 

Life is so beautiful because is full of happy moments, amazing people and stories, unforgettable experiences, emotions, travels… It is difficult to choose 1 special day. 

21. Question: What makes you feel angry?

Unethical behavior. 

22: Question: What embarrasses you?

Getting really excited about something and not realizing my voice has gotten overly loud ?

22: Question: Define Happiness 

The feeling of fulfillment within you.