Filippo Poletti: Five Things You Need To Thrive & Succeed As A Journalist

…Last but not least, “Adopt the pace of nature: Her secret is patience”, wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson. Aristotle was right. Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Filippo Poletti, he is both an Italian professional journalist and communications manager, with more than 20 years’ experience, working both as a journalist for some of Italy’s most important newspapers, and as a digital specialist for different high-level institutions e companies. He now works as a manager in charge of internal and external digital corporate communication, whilst pursuing an Executive MBA at MIP Politecnico di Milano.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. What led you to this particular career path?

Through digital marketing I have come to learn that it is important both to do and to have what you do be known. Through music composition I have found that you must discard when choosing. Through my family I have discovered that the universe is as boundless as living. Through my daughters I have seen that greatness can never be found where simplicity is not present. I am a passionate journalist. I am an enthusiastic communication manager. Following my passions, my winding road continues to this day. It is in my DNA. Just as my parents once told me: “Do what you wish, but always do it with passion.” They didn’t have to tell me twice.

Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”?

I chose a job I love. I am both an Italian professional journalist and communications manager, working both as a journalist for Italy’s most important newspapers (e.g. Corriere della Sera), and as a digital specialist for different high-level institutions e companies. Now I work as a manager in charge of internal and external communication. My responsibilities include drafting the communication budget, coordinating the product communication office, planning and managing communication and promotional activities, planning online advertising campaigns and developing contacts with digital communications channels and influencers. I wouldn’t have become the professional I am today without meeting and working alongside many other professionals towards a common goal.

Can you share the most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your career?

I could tell you many stories. I held a variety of positions in my career, each one connected by the fact that there is no single pathway only the act of travelling itself (and also a better journey when one is in good company). Or so it is written upon a thirteenth century Spanish wall in a Toledo cloister. Forward we go! Never apart and never alone from the very beginning and into forever. This has been my way since November the 26th, 1970. Step by step by step and once you start this journey there is no turning back.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

I’m a communications manager ready to reach a target audience and boost business to success. I focus on three areas to make an impact in:

✔ DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT: I create website, app and campaigns that greatly increase messaging reach and engagement power across all media platforms

✔ JOURNALISM: I have more than 20 years of experience working both as a multimedia journalist for Italy’s most important newspapers and online news publications
✔ PR AND INFLUENCER: I help you establish and maintain cooperative relationships with the news media, consumers, government agencies, local communities and other public-interest groups.

Why did you decide to do an EMBA at MIP?

“Learning never exhausts the mind,” wrote Leonardo da Vinci. That’s why I decided to attend the MIP EMBA at the Politecnico di Milano. I wanted to work with one of the best ranked Graduate Business Schools in Europe, which focused on the quality and innovation of its teaching and research, developing a top-notch relationship with the world of business and production. Studying at MIP EMBA means upskilling your ability to design your business, regardless of which sector you work in. Steve Jobs liked to say, “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” Everything is designed. Communications is designed as well. Thanks to the MIP EMBA, my mission is to fully master this concept.

Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?

I would say Federico Frattini. After already spending 15 years at MIP, Federico was appointed Dean of MIP Politecnico di Milano Business School in Milanin order to take the business school in a new direction. He is facing many challenges. Milan-based university has just concluded the purchase of new premises for its Graduate School of Business. The 2,000 sq.m facility will welcome students from all over the world. This is a historic and decisive step for the Italian business school. With its expansion, its students will soon be able to experience teaching of excellence while being fully immersed in life at the heart of Milan, steps away from the design district and others of Milan’s symbolic places.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in communications and journalism?

When I started working I realized that I couldn’t do everything myself, but I could do something by joining hands with other professionals. No one can play Joaquín Rodrigo’s famous Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar and orchestra alone. It takes a whole orchestra to play it. When I say the whole orchestra I mean all the professionals that look after the products and services in each and every company. The quality of communication is the quality of products and services. That is the daily challenge I relish along with other colleagues and partners. If you work in the communications area, everyday presents a new opportunity to grow, make your company grow and a new freedom to finish something.

What advice would you give to your colleagues in the industry, to thrive and not “burnout”?

“No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main,” wrote John Donne many centuries ago. Networking is an investment in our career.

I know this is not an easy job. What drives you?

When it comes to the economy of knowledge, sharing is as important as possessing. Every day I get up early in the morning and listen to my favorite radio station, the BBC World Service, and surf the net as well. I always pick up a news article about the way companies improve. It’s my daily continuous-learning review. It’s my way to share what I find out. Last but not least every Thursday I host the “New Normal Live” talk, fueled by my interest in all things on the move. It is indeed a great honor and privilege to be an official LinkedIn top voice, but also a big responsibility, because I have to do my best to serve this extensive professional community.

Do you have a favorite book that made a deep impact on your life? Can you share a story?

“Blue Ocean Shift” written by Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne. It is the best guide to help you move beyond competing, inspire your people’s confidence, and seize new growth. Gaetano Lapenta is a really inspiring professional. He is the CEO of Fybra, an Italian company that improves indoor air quality through natural ventilation. By combining sensors and artificial Intelligence they guarantee healthiness, comfort and energy efficiency. Fybra has been supported by a group of companies which are both equity investor and technological partner.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.

✔ The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary. If we want to build strong relationships, we need to feed our network.

✔ The first rule of management is delegation. Don’t try and do everything yourself because you can’t. Do what you can do at you best.

✔ Management is doing things right, leadership is doing the right things. Right things are always possible. We can always say, “Yes, we can”.

✔ “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower,” said Steve Jobs. He is widely considered to be a genius.

✔ Last but not least, “Adopt the pace of nature: Her secret is patience”, wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson. Aristotle was right. Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.

What are your hopes for the future?

Good design is good business. Good communication is good business. I will try to help my colleagues and partners to go full speed ahead in this direction. After the media success of my book “Tempo di IoP: Intranet of People” focusing on the internal communications best practices (it stands for “It’s IoP time: Intranet of People”), I am poised to go online and into bookshops with “Grammatica del nuovo mondo” (it stands for “Grammar of the new world”.) I will share the new language we created because of Coronavirus. Communication is about human connections. It happened yesterday, it happens today, it will happen tomorrow.

Thank you so much for your time! We wish you continued success!