Virginia Zavoianni

LinkedIn does a great job of summarizing careers and achievements. Still, I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself beyond job titles and academic milestones.

My name is Virginia. I’m from Southern Italy. After living in more than five countries, I’m clear about where I want to return — Puglia or Lisbon — and intentionally open about when. Until then, I enjoy continuing to move.

I hold myself to intention and direction. While I’m curious about many paths, I deliberately choose what I add to my skillset and personal experience. Each year, I set one clear personal and one professional milestone. This year, that means becoming fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and strengthening my foundations in marketing.

My interests are as diverse as my experiences, ranging from books, films, and history to AI, digital transformation, and open innovation. Every day, I look for ways to create meaningful impact, challenge myself, expand my knowledge, and grow through the connections I build.

People are my greatest source of energy. In recent years, mentoring — both giving and receiving — has become a meaningful way for me to keep learning and give back.

I hold a Master’s in International Management from Nova School of Business and Economics, and I began my career at Hilti through a Graduate Program. I was later promoted to Regional Sales Manager, where I led a team of seven, built strong client relationships, and drove impactful projects. One of the most meaningful focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion — an experience that deeply reshaped my perspective on leadership, responsibility, and teamwork.

Today, I live in Panama and work as Regional Trade Marketing Manager for Latin America. What excites me most about this role is adapting the strategic framework across very different markets, each with their own characteristics, cultures, and conditions. It continually challenges me to understand markets quickly, compare thoughtfully, and adapt execution to drive consistent and sustainable results.

It’s a demanding and dynamic role, but identifying what fuels growth across such diverse environments is what makes it truly exciting.

I’m deeply committed to personal development and self-awareness. I’m demanding with myself, but I don’t take myself too seriously. I like building with intention and occasionally leaping into the unknown, trusting that each choice helps me grow — even when the destination isn’t fully defined.