DATTER-Change Agent. A Journey Through Books and Tips for Change | Stefania Nervi
The Journey of the “DATTER.”
This is what I want to explore in the second column I’m contributing to Digital Attitude. While in “Surfer People” I engage with those within companies who are riding the waves of organizational change, here I want to discover and share what lies in the dreams, studies, experiences, and—more generally— the “mindset” of those who—in this period marked by the “Great Resignation” or “major life choices,” as Cristina Casadei recently renamed it in an article published in *Il Sole 24 Ore*—are investing themselves, working day and night, driven by a strong conviction.
I'll start with the name, which isn't obvious to me.
Dàt·ter, those who believe in Digital Attitude.
But that's not all: anyone who works to turn a shared dream into reality
Synonyms: Nerd, dreamer, explorer of new worlds.
People united by their focus on listening: to guide and embrace the true needs of those embarking on the extraordinary journey of change. People who believe that the best way to grow is through action and the ability to take care of ourselves, others, and the world around us.
People who know what it means to take on responsibility and love that feeling. That’s right, because the Datters have—and will always have—a startup mindset: speed, agility, initiative, and a willingness to take risks are at the heart of their approach to a changing world.
This brief description is what I read in their manifesto—which they give to anyone who joins the team—and it’s what convinced me that each of them had an interesting story to tell that could inspire us. So I decided to highlight their perspectives and experiences.
Following Luca Argenton—CEO, Davide Pellegatta —Strategy & Governance Officer, and Francesco Pozzobon —Chief Sales & Marketing Officer—today we introduce Stefania Nervi, Head of Change at Digital Attitude.
1) Hi Stefania, a photo of you as a child, the job you dreamed of having when you were little, and how that connects to what you do today at Digital Attitude
Hi, Valentina! What did I dream of doing as a child… does it count if I say I just liked “doing” things? I’ve always loved trying things out for myself—making things and taking them apart—and figuring out why things work the way they do.
I was very practical but also very thoughtful and independent, and fortunately, I was always given more responsibility than it seemed my classmates were. Perhaps that combination is why I grew up to be determined and stubborn.
As a child, even though I’d always been shy, I was curious and eager to meet new people to find answers to my questions, and I remember those summers at summer camp as wonderful and deeply fulfilling—there were so many new things to discover! Since I was perhaps the only one among my peers who had taken an interest in learning English, it was also my chance to meet new people, and I acted as a bridge between the Italian kids at our camp and the visiting foreign children.
As this interest grew, it shifted toward understanding people—an aspect I’ve always explored in depth through my studies in graphic design and intercultural marketing, which I pursued precisely to understand how to communicate effectively across different contexts and cultures.
Appreciating how people are different and how they live and react to what happens to them in different ways helps me not only to take nothing for granted, but also to be more understanding and empathetic toward those who are going through change.
2) Change: Can you recommend a book, a movie, and a song that can help us deal with it in the best way possible, explaining the reasoning behind each choice?
Book: *The Five People You Meet in Heaven* by Mitch Albom. It helps you understand that everything changes—and that’s the one true constant in life—and often, thankfully! What’s important is to make the most of every day and build our own personal meaning of a life well-lived. There’s no set formula, and what we expect when we’re 20 will be different in the future—but we should always ask ourselves if what we’re doing brings us joy today… and on the day we look back on our lives.
Song: “You’re the Best” by Joe “Bean” Esposito. From the very first few minutes of listening, it’s clear why this song provides a unique boost of energy to help you face even the darkest of days.
Movie: *About Time* by Richard Curtis. I went to see it reluctantly, thinking it would be another *Love Actually*, but instead I found myself immersed in a very profound story about second chances and living the present to the fullest, with all the opportunities and changes it brings. If we could go back in time, would we relive the moment with the benefit of hindsight, or would we enjoy the moment, the journey, the changes, and the discoveries that make our lives interesting?
3) Each of us has at least one project close to our hearts because it has led to significant and tangible professional growth. What was your first one?
When I was a little girl and spent my afternoons at my mom’s store, I would often draw a new bedroom, thanks to the IKEA catalog that was always within reach.
My room has never changed, but on the other hand, I’ve become really close to IKEA! So ever since I was studying to become a graphic designer as a young woman, I’d wanted to work on the IKEA catalog—the world’s most widely distributed form of media (wait, not anymore since it’s no longer printed). As I continued my studies in marketing, I still had that same dream. Once I started working at IKEA in London, that goal was a step closer, but I never imagined I’d soon become responsible for the catalog’s content and strategy! Here, I had the additional opportunity to explore and put my studies in intercultural marketing into practice, gaining an even deeper understanding of how people live differently around the world. I visited many places and had the chance to fully and thoroughly discover what daily life was like there, which answered so many of the questions that had always been on my mind.
From all of this, however, I've realized that we're much more alike than we think we are different, but it's fascinating to discover and experience firsthand the cultural differences or those stemming from our geographical differences.
4) A mistake on a project that allowed you to improve your skills and/or products
To think that I could have a complete and accurate picture all on my own! I’ve found that colleagues are always more than willing to lend an eye and an ear when you have doubts, and it’s a great way to share what you’re doing and get feedback at the same time. Asking a colleague for five minutes to confirm that a task is being done the best way possible is always a good idea because you can get insights and ideas that may not be relevant to the specific situation but can help you in other contexts.
5) Given the experience you’ve gained over the years through your studies and working with various clients, could you share a short list of habits (up to five) that can help foster change?
- Start with a very small step
- Considering that “perfection is the enemy of progress” (I don’t remember if that’s exactly how the saying goes), let’s just dive in and take our new action, knowing that we probably won’t reach our usual standards of quality—but the mere fact that we did it for the first time is worth celebrating!
- Let’s keep having these little celebrations to keep us motivated to keep investing in this change. We should be the first to pat ourselves on the back and be grateful for everything we’re able to do and experience. Change keeps us young!
- Tell as many people as possible. When I decided to quit smoking, telling all my friends and coworkers was a very effective way to stay motivated… rather than lose face in front of them—since they said I’d never make it—I haven’t touched a cigarette since!
- Having a clear understanding of the benefits and advantages of this change can be helpful when we feel discouraged or when it seems much easier to fall back into our old habits.
6) To wrap up, here’s a disruptive question—just like everything Digital Attitude supports through change. Using an acrostic with your name—that is, using every letter of your name—I’d like you to tell us about the company as you experience it.
Digital Attitude for:
Alwaysavailable. It might sound like a cliché, but I've never heard anyone say no.
Tech-savvy! The concentration of devices, platforms, apps, and digital interactions here makes DA a hub for early adopters. Then again, I couldn’t imagine it any other way!
Enthusiastic. We collaborate, produce, sketch, and design at a very fast pace, and it’s great to be able to count on a team that keeps up with this pace and is enthusiastic about new projects.
Is it okay to say "slackers"? Fortunately, the pursuit of fun and team-building goes hand in hand with the team's hard work.
Young. There are many talented young people at DA, and I’m proud to know that many of those who started as interns or trainees were offered permanent positions and have joined our team. They were welcomed and trained with a genuine interest in supporting their continued growth—and that’s not something you see every day. Way to go, DA!
.svg)
.png)