Gianluca Ferruggia Of DesignRush On How To Use Digital Transformation To Take Your Company To The Next Level
An Interview With Cynthia Corsetti
Market saturation plays a significant role in determining a state’s business potential. States like California and New York, despite their high competition, also offer significant opportunities due to their large economies and demand. Companies can adapt their digital strategies to these conditions by focusing on differentiation and offering specialized services that meet local needs.
Digital transformation has become a crucial component for businesses striving to stay competitive and relevant in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. As technology continues to shape industries and redefine business models, companies must adapt and leverage digital tools and strategies to unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation. In this interview series, we aim to explore various aspects of digital transformation, including best practices, challenges, success stories, and expert insights. We are talking to thought leaders, industry experts, entrepreneurs, technology innovators, and executives who have firsthand experience in driving digital transformation initiatives within their organizations. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Gianluca Ferruggia.
Gianluca is a seasoned digital agency expert and the General Manager of DesignRush, a B2B marketplace connecting brands with digital agencies which started in 2017 and transformed into a global network with over 40,000 listed agencies. Under his leadership, DesignRush’s website value surged three times to $3 million over the past year, with a domain ranking of 90, and top rankings for over 300,000 competitive keywords. With 10 years of experience in leadership roles, Gianluca is recognized for his strong commercial skills, strategic partnerships, and effective team management.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started?
My career started with SEO and PPC, but I quickly expanded into other areas of digital marketing, sales, and business development. By identifying gaps in the market for digital marketing and SEO services, I was able to turn these insights into opportunities and launch DesignRush. What began as a small initiative has since evolved into a global company with over 130 employees.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘takeaways’ you learned from that?
Any junior professional wanting to succeed thinks they can speed up the learning process and grow as quickly as possible. At least, that was my case. I would put myself in situations that were bigger than me. It was good to push myself. In hindsight, it is funny I went for it, but I also struggled a lot because of that.
Takeaways:
- Be curious and try your best to be helpful.
- Repetition and the right advice will help you gain experience.
- Try to be patient through the process of growth and learning.
None of us can achieve success without help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
My friend Lourival, whom I met in the UK, was pivotal to my growth. We met when I was 17 and enrolled in a language exchange program for a year. As my student coordinator, he made me understand the opportunities waiting for me. He encouraged me to enroll in higher education courses in the UK, told me to listen to people, be more tolerant of people’s differences, learn a lot from my experience living abroad, learn English well, and finish my course. He said my life would be better and more meaningful, and he was right.
Is there a particular book, podcast, or film that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
“The Pursuit of Happyness,” directed by Gabriele Muccino. It’s the story of the American dream, which I resonate with. As a single dad, I must be willing to do what no one else would to succeed. But I also need to realize that family and life’s simple things are the most important. I shouldn’t lose sight of what I live for.
Are you working on any new, exciting projects now? How do you think that might help people?
We’ve got some exciting projects in the pipeline, especially for our B2B audience. We’re developing studies to help digital marketers, businesses, and brands make better-informed decisions. Right now, our focus is on creating exclusive content around digital transformation, marketing services, advertising, and the business environment for digital marketers. I’m excited because these projects will help businesses connect with their audiences on a much deeper level, offering content that feels truly tailored to each reader.
Thank you for all that. Let’s now turn to the main focus of our discussion about Digital Transformation. Digital transformation can mean many things to many people. From your perspective, how do you define digital transformation in your industry?
Digital transformation in our industry means leveraging technology and data to drive growth and innovation. It’s about using digital tools to optimize business processes, enhance customer experiences, and make data-driven decisions that lead to measurable improvements.
Which companies can most benefit from Digital Transformation?
For agencies today, whether small or large, digital transformation isn’t just a trend — it’s a necessity.
At DesignRush, we’ve seen how integrating technology, data, and people can transform agencies, making everything faster, smarter, and more effective. With U.S. businesses expected to spend $2.8 trillion on digital transformation by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 26.3%, the message is clear: agencies need to adapt. Embracing digital transformation can help you cut costs, improve operations, and deliver more personalized, client-focused services.
Since our start in 2017, DesignRush has grown into a global network of over 40,000 agencies, and we’ve seen how those who embrace digital transformation thrive. It’s not just about keeping up — it’s about stepping up and leading in a digital world.
Has integrating Digital Transformation been a challenging process for some companies? What are the challenges? How do you help resolve them?
Yes, integrating digital transformation can be challenging, especially in states with high market saturation or less supportive business environments. Challenges include adapting to new technologies, managing costs, and staying competitive. We help resolve these by providing tailored strategies based on our study’s insights, focusing on areas with high growth potential and favorable conditions.
Based on your experience and success, what are “Five Ways a Company Can Use Digital Transformation To Take It To the Next Level”?
Before I jump into the many ways a company can use digital transformation, I’d like to share how one of our latest studies on digital business growth in America helped us determine the importance of assessing business environments. Very recently, we released a list of the best states for digital businesses, highlighting how easily companies can scale across the U.S.
We evaluated each state based on three key metrics:
- Business Opportunity,
- Tax Efficiency, and
- GDP (Economic Strength).
These metrics were used to create a comprehensive Business Potential Index, which ranks the best states for digital business growth. The study highlights the critical factors that influence a state’s ability to support and sustain digital marketing agencies, from favorable tax environments to the overall economic health of the region. Here are 5 key points from our analysis:
- Leverage Data for Strategic Decisions
By using data from our study, companies can identify states with the highest Business Potential Scores. For example, states like West Virginia and Kansas offer a winning combination of low competition, high demand, and favorable tax environments. This allows businesses to make informed decisions about where to expand or relocate, ensuring they maximize growth opportunities.
2. Optimize Tax Efficiency
One of the key metrics we examined was Tax Efficiency. States with lower tax burdens, such as Mississippi and West Virginia, allow businesses to reinvest savings into digital tools, marketing strategies, and overall growth. Digital transformation in these states can be particularly effective, as companies can allocate more resources toward innovative technologies and processes.
3. Target High-Demand Markets
Our study also looked at search demand for digital marketing services per capita, revealing states where market opportunities are ripe. For instance, states like West Virginia have shown high search demand, indicating a strong market for digital services. Companies can use this insight to target their digital transformation efforts in regions where there’s already a robust appetite for their services.
4. Adapt to Market Conditions
Market saturation plays a significant role in determining a state’s business potential. States like California and New York, despite their high competition, also offer significant opportunities due to their large economies and demand. Companies can adapt their digital strategies to these conditions by focusing on differentiation and offering specialized services that meet local needs.
5. Invest in Technology
Finally, our study highlights the importance of economic strength, as measured by GDP. States with higher GDPs, like California, provide a strong economic environment that supports business activities. Investing in digital transformation in these states can help companies tap into the economic momentum, using advanced technologies like AI and automation to enhance customer engagement and streamline operations
In your opinion, how can companies best create a “culture of innovation” to create new competitive advantages?
A culture of innovation is more important than ever in 2024 — it’s what keeps companies agile, competitive, and ahead of the curve. I’d like to share how we do it at DesignRush, an ideal example of a culture of innovation.
Since 2017, this mindset of “being open to new ideas” has driven us to surpass most industry competitors in just a couple of years. Our team regularly pitches ideas, and we refine them together, turning good concepts into great ones with the help of data and collaborative feedback.
It’s not just about ideas, though — we dig deep into data, craft compelling stories, and build strong relationships with media outlets to ensure our content hits the mark. This personal and organic approach keeps us ahead in the industry and allows us to consistently deliver top-notch content that resonates with our audience.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“This, too, shall pass.” Life is a daily struggle but also very rewarding. It’s a matter of having the right approach and mindset. Positive reinforcements also go a long way. What’s important is to move forward in life. It could be by exploring things and places, finding what you’re best at, and focusing on that. You can always change your mind about what you want from your life — that’s called growing up. But always take care of yourself and your family along the way.
How can our readers further follow your work?
- Follow DesignRush General Manager Gianluca Ferruggia on LinkedIn.
- For more information about DesignRush, visit our website.
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
About the Interviewer: Cynthia Corsetti is an esteemed executive coach with over two decades in corporate leadership and 11 years in executive coaching. Author of the upcoming book, “Dark Drivers,” she guides high-performing professionals and Fortune 500 firms to recognize and manage underlying influences affecting their leadership. Beyond individual coaching, Cynthia offers a 6-month executive transition program and partners with organizations to nurture the next wave of leadership excellence.
