IWD 2024 - Elena Cattani

A little about your career journey leading to where you are now.

I started as engineer and architect in Germany. I travelled to Africa, the Netherlands, Australia and back to Italy working in many construction sites and gaining my PhD Degree. After working in academia and research for several years I was recruited from The Social Hub to lead one of their main developments in Italy and there my journey in the Real Estate sector started as development manager. I shifted from consulting to client role, and it was a big shift, looking at the biggest developments in hospitality in Italy. After several years with TSH I became Head of Development for the Italian region and I currently leading my team of developers and looking at our expansion pipeline with more and more enthusiasm

What inspired you to pursue a leadership role? 

My current Leader who believed in me and my skills before I even knew myself, I could turn into a good leader.

What is or are your biggest career achievements? 

Gaining the trust of my peers who became my team, that I could really be their leader.

How did you develop your leadership skills? 

By making mistakes, having constructive conflicts, and looking closely to my mentor.

How do you define your leadership style? 

Humble and gentle. But firm.

What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned? 

Listen always and understand what my team members are saying or believing. When there is disagreement or a direction that needs to be imposed and meets disagreements, the most important thing is to make sure the team understands the reasons behind those choices. Most of the time issues arise because there is either a lack of listening or a lack of explanations.

Have you achieved everything you wanted in your career so far? 

Not at all, a lot has still to come.

How important is personal development to your success, and how do you approach it? 

Crucial, I just became mother for the second time. And all what I am learning in my personal development especially as a mother is crucial to be a good leader and successful director at work.

How do you prioritise tasks when everything feels like a priority?

I start Monday early morning and I make my priority list. Even if it feels everything has the same importance it is never the case. There is always something that needs to happen first and has the priority over the rest, you just need to stay focus on the bigger picture.

What was the hardest decision you have taken as a leader? 

To not engage in a fight. I would always fight and stand up for my thoughts, as a leader I had to learn not to do so.

What steps do you take to measure your own performance? 

I always refer to those who have more experience and stand above me in the organisation.

What does success mean for you as a business leader? 

My team being successful.

What advice would you give to someone starting off their career as a future business leader?

Be humble and do not act as a leader but as a team member.