The “who are you?” question that often appears in biographies and introductions rarely captures the full story. We are expected to answer with job titles, accomplishments, or carefully curated summaries. But people are rarely defined by a single role.

A creative and free spirit, Enza has always been drawn to the spaces between worlds. Throughout a career that has spanned journalism, travel, and media, and through moves across continents, cultures, and disciplines, she has learned firsthand that every journey is often less about destinations than about transformation.

In this conversation, we discuss themes such as entrepreneurship, freedom, ambition, reinvention, the importance of surrounding yourself with the right tribe and paying it forward.

Q. What quote best describes you and your journey?

If there’s a quote that has stayed with me throughout my life, it is a motto my mother used to repeat all the time, that she had from her father. It comes from the Italian poet and playwright Vittorio Alfieri:

 “Volli, e volli sempre, e fortissimamente volli.”

There is no perfect English translation, but its essence is: “I willed it, I always willed it, and I willed it with all my strength.”

Alfieri wrote that to describe his own determination to overcome limitations and shape his destiny through discipline, perseverance, and sheer force of will. That idea became my life philosophy.

Throughout my own journey, whether moving across countries, starting over when I thought I’d finally got there, or navigating unexpected challenges, I have often found that determination matters more than talent, circumstances, or sometimes even luck.  And if there is a thread that connects the different chapters of my journey, it is probably that belief: the refusal to give up on a vision simply because the path is bumpy.

Q. Which brings me to my next question, and something many of our readers would like to know: how do you hold on to a vision?

I think the first step is having a vision that genuinely belongs to you. Many people give up because their vision was never truly theirs to begin with. It was inherited from expectations, circumstances, or the opinions of others. When challenges inevitably arise, there isn't enough conviction to sustain it. Know yourself and what matters to you.

When the purpose remains clear, obstacles become part of the journey rather than reasons to stop. Many times things do not go as planned. In those moments, it is important to remind yourself why you started in the first place. Adaptability is just as important as determination. You may need to adjust the route along the way, but do not lose sight of where you are going. And if you can, surround yourself with people who genuinely want the best for you.

If you don't jump across the fence, you will never know what's beyond it. – Roberta

When we're young, we often believe success is an individual pursuit. Experience teaches us otherwise. Everyone needs someone. Behind every achievement, there are people who encouraged us, challenged us, opened a door, shared their wisdom, or simply believed in us when we struggled to believe in ourselves. That is why I believe so strongly in paying it forward. None of us gets very far alone. Anything we can do, whether big or small, has the potential to make a difference in someone else's life.

Sometimes it is something as small as an introduction, a word of encouragement, a piece of advice, or taking the time to listen. We often underestimate the impact of small gestures because we only see them from our perspective. To me, paying it forward is not about obligation. It is about gratitude. It is recognizing that whatever success we achieve is rarely ours alone and doing our part to create opportunities for others along the way.

Q. You mentioned the importance of surrounding yourself with the right tribe. What have you learned about friendship and relationships over the years?

I learned that trust is earned over time and through consistency, but can be lost in a blink of an eye. That the people to treasure are the ones who show up when you need them, not when it works out for them.

Life has a way of testing relationships. Success, failure, distance, change, uncertainty—these experiences have taught me a great deal about human nature and about the people I choose to keep close. As we grow older, I think our definition of friendship changes. I learned that relationships, like anything meaningful, require reciprocity, and a willingness from both sides to invest, support, and care without judging or keeping score.  It becomes less about how often we see each other and more about trust, and knowing that someone genuinely wants the best for you.

Q. Freedom seems to be a recurring theme throughout your life. What does freedom mean to you?

Freedom is a feeling and, to me, it means having the ability to choose. Not necessarily having no responsibilities or obligations, but having the possibility to make choices and build a life that feels aligned with who you are and what matters to you.

Moreover, I think freedom and creativity are closely connected. When we feel trapped—whether by circumstances, expectations, or fear—it becomes much harder to imagine new possibilities. Freedom creates space. It allows us to be curious, to experiment, and to roam. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why I have always felt at home in planes and airports. They give me a sense of freedom and infinite possibilities.

Q. You are Italian and have lived in different countries. Do you have a favourite country or city?

Boy, that is like asking a parent to choose a favourite child. Different places have meant different things at different stages of my life.

London was like the gateway to a future full of excitement and possibilities. I lived, studied, and worked there after college. I still remember the taxi ride from Victoria Station to Earl's Court when I first arrived. I was in awe, looking left and right, unable to take it all in.

Then came Amsterdam. It arrived at a time when I needed to decompress after a painful breakup and find my bearings again. The countryside, the greenery, the flowers, the biking, and slower pace of life—they gave me the sense of peace that I desperately needed.

Mallorca gave me something completely different. It was like a return to my roots. They say you can take the girl out of the Mediterranean, but you can't take the Mediterranean out of the girl. Mallorca was like coming home.

And then New York. I still think this is where my heart truly is. It makes me emotional every time even just to look at a photo. There is an energy there that is difficult to describe unless you have experienced it. It is also the only place where I can simply walk for hours and be perfectly happy.

And then Dubai, my place of reinvention, and a chapter I have yet to write. If I have learned anything from travel, it is that we do not simply choose places. Sometimes places choose us.

If you could leave tomorrow where would you go?

If If I had to choose today, the first place that comes to mind is The Datai on Langkawi Island in Malaysia. Perhaps because I love the setting completely immersed in nature. That combination of rainforest, sea, and space has something very powerful and special about it. It has everything I need. After all these years, it still is one of my favorite places,

Q. You have extensive experience as a travel advisor, dating back to a time when information was not as readily available as it is today. With so much information online, does it still make sense to use a travel advisor?

That is a fair question, and one I am asked quite often. Information and expertise are not the same thing. If anything, the challenge today is not finding options; it is knowing which options are right for you.

A good travel advisor brings perspective, experience, and context. We spend years building relationships, visiting properties, speaking with hoteliers, destination experts, guides, and local insiders. We learn what photographs do not show, what websites do not mention, and what makes one experience more suitable than another.

Travel is also deeply personal. Two couples visiting the same destination may have completely different expectations and come back with completely different experiences. Understanding those nuances is where the real value lies.

This becomes even more important when planning milestone journeys such as a honeymoon, anniversary, family celebration, or special occasion. These are moments people often remember for the rest of their lives. When something is that important, having someone in your corner who understands the destination, has trusted relationships on the ground, and can anticipate potential issues before they arise can make all the difference.

Ultimately, a travel advisor is not there simply to book a hotel. They are there to help transform a trip into a meaningful experience. In a world increasingly driven by algorithms, I still believe there is tremendous value in human insight, trusted relationships, and personal recommendations.

Q. What is the best advice you have ever received and would like to pass on?

The same advice my late best friend Roberta gave me when we were in our early twenties and standing at a crossroads in our lives.

I can still picture us sitting by the sea, taking stock of our lives and planning our next steps. At the time, neither of us knew exactly what the future held, but her words stayed with me.

“If you don't jump across the fence, you will never know what's beyond it.”

They resurfaced every time I found myself at a crossroads and faced with an important decision. It is never easy to leave your comfort zone or take what feels like a leap in the dark. There are always reasons to stay where you are, to postpone, to wait for certainty. But certainty rarely comes.

Not every leap may work out exactly as planned, but what I am sure of is that fear is often a poor advisor, while regret can be a very high price to pay. And that sometimes the life you are meant to live is waiting on the other side of that fence.