What is something people usually don’t know about you but has influenced you in who you are?
Gaetano – “I have been a good baseball player and for a while I have coached teams of 11-13 year old kids. It has been an incredibly valuable experience that helped me a lot in becoming a manager first and a coach later.
I am also a piano player and having played in fusion/jazz bands has also been a huge learning experience in terms of teamwork.”
If you would not have been in your current industry / role, what would have become of you?
Gaetano – “A professional musician or, more likely, a music producer. I have always loved electronic music and I have a small music studio at home where I enjoy recording and re-mixing songs.
btw I earned my first money as a teen by writing music programs for Yamaha Music Italy (for the Amiga and the Mac SE).”
What is your biggest challenge and why is it a good thing for you?
Gaetano – “The biggest challenge is to keep challenging myself.
It’s a matter of practicing what I preach. After all isn’t that what you are supposed to do if you have an agile/lean mindset? But it’s not easy at all.”
What drives you?
Gaetano – “When I became a coach 7 years ago my key motivation was to help people and organisations to change the way they work (hopefully for the better :)). This stemmed from the too many years I spent working or interacting with hierarchical, rigidly structured companies. I saw so many people humiliated and so much potential wasted that I could not stand it anymore.
This still keeps driving me today.”
What is your biggest achievement?
Gaetano – “After spending more than 20 years in organisations I started from scratch and I reinvented myself as a coach.
It’s working, I am having fun and I am helping many people to make their lives more joyful and rewarding. I hope I can keep doing this for a long time.
Another thing I started from scratch 3 years ago is running. I have run a number of marathons now, with a decent finishing time for my age. I am really proud of this :)”
What is the last book you have read?
Gaetano – ” “L’Uomo Verticale”. I am an avid reader btw. Paper books only!”
What question do you think I should also ask and what is the answer?
Gaetano -” “Where do you spend most of your time?”
Unfortunately I spend most of my time abroad and this is very sad.
It looks Italy is not ready for some real changes yet (and soon it could be too late).
The biggest problem are managers. In general we have a kind of shorter sighted management here. And while there are a lot of good people in our companies, they too often just tend to complain but they keep accepting the status quo.”
Who do you think I should ask next?
Gaetano – Taz and Nusco aka Roberto Bettazzoni and Paolo Perrotta.