Matteo Merletti’s Post

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Entrepreneur & Consultant | Ex Country Manager

𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗢 Vinokilo 🥲 As of 1st April 2024, I handed over my position as Country Manager Italy to Nikas Bergaglio, marking my last days in the organization that has been my everything for the past 6 years. I joined as a hyper-active 22-year-old and have since traveled across Europe to promote a 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆. In 2019, we started testing our product in Italy, and after initial success, we planned to roll out full power - only to be delayed by COVID. Fast forward, in 2020 we formally established Vinokilo s.r.l. and built a team that now counts over 40 members. Since 2019: ‣ We organized 237 events in 61 Italian cities. ‣ We hosted over 600,000 unique visitors. ‣ We gave new life to more than 250 TONs of second-hand sustainable clothes. These last six years, which I often refer to as a "𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗠𝗕𝗔," have been filled with dense lessons from mistakes, challenges, successes, and failures—fueling my passion for entrepreneurship, business impact, and innovation. Here are some 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 I will take with me on my future journey: ① 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳: The effectiveness and culture of your team directly reflect your leadership. You reap what you sow - leading by example is not just a saying but a practical approach to inspiring excellence and integrity. ② 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 - 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀' 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝘂𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: Keep your eyes open, engage, and empathize with your community. Things move faster than ever now, and if you stop addressing your customers' needs - or those cease to exist - you better realize it ASAP. ③ 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 - 𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: It is easy to be cohesive when things go well, another thing entirely when everything is falling apart. This is the main indicator of team cohesion and leadership effectiveness ④ 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗽: Investing in quality - whether in people, materials, or processes - is the best way to save in the long run, avoiding larger expenses related to errors, turnover, and reputational damage, ultimately securing a stronger, more sustainable future. ⑤ 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺: Thanks, Plato... but perfection is unattainable in the real world. This means two things: 1) anything can be improved, even the most perfect-looking process or product. Keep a critical eye and allow space for challenging what seems obvious. 2) In fast-moving sectors like tech and fashion, speed is more important than perfection. Don't lose momentum or testing opportunities because of a craving for perfection. Photo: This is me and Nikas enjoying a pleasant sunset aperitivo on Lake Maggiore

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Gilbert Corrales

CEO @ Leaf: Performance Solutions for ambitious D2C brands

6mo

Best of lucks on whatever comes next Matteo, it was a pleasure seeing first hand your energy and positive impact on Vinokilo and its mission

Ma come??? In bocca al lupo e rimaniamo in contatto

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