In these interviews we can meet more deeply the members of the recently established YEBN Board for the period 2020-2021. The next member to be introduced is Valentina Zinna, YEBN’s Events Officer.
This is what Valentina wants to tell us about herself.
My name is Valentina and I come from the South of Italy: The charming Sicily! Over the last 11 years, I have lived in many places, got to learn different cultures, and have constantly thrown myself into new adventures. YEBN represents the newest exciting challenge to me!
What, in your opinion, makes YEBN special?
YEBN is a great platform that connects young people across borders and cultural differences. It provides not only a powerful network for students and young professionals, but also a safe place of inclusion and support. I believe these are unique features that are definitely contributing to improve Europe as we know it today.
How do you think YEBN can help you develop a successful career?
I believe YEBN is a wonderful organisation that will make me grow by increasing the awareness of my potential and capabilities, while supporting the next steps in my career. Thanks to all the activities that we organise, I am able to witness different work realities and to get in contact with many professionals. I am definitely boosting my soft skills, but I am also expanding my own network with invaluable connections for future job options.
“ YEBN is a great platform that connects young people across borders and cultural differences.”
What are your goals for YEBN in 2020-2021 as the Event’s Officer?
As a Member of the Executive Board, my main goals are to make the YEBN Network grow and expand, to increase the visibility about the aims and efforts of our fantastic organisation, and to implement new activities of training and mentoring based on the current and future work-related challenges.
How do you try to make a change for the better?
I will try to give my very best during this YEBN experience as Executive Board Member. My aim is to give my contribution in the realisation of all the innovative projects and plans that we, as a team, have set, and to turn them into a series of successes. I hope that my actions within YEBN will contribute to help young talents in their personal and professional development.
In what point are you in your career?
Final year of PhD.
“ My aim is to give my contribution in the realisation of all the innovative projects and plans.”
What’s your dream professional career?
My dream job relates to anything that will be useful for the others and the society.
What do you like/dislike most about your job or what you study?
What I like the most about research is the fabulous feeling of discovery that you own when an experiment led you to a surprising result that no one has ever shown before. What I dislike the most is that you might get to that fabulous feeling of discovery only once or twice in a (researcher) life-time haha!
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Dancing (mostly flamenco), yoga, diving, concerts (mostly rock), wine, and travelling, travelling, travelling!
Important advice for others, what have you learned.
Do not ever fear changes, because (no matter what happens) changes will always lead you to challenge yourself, meet new people and grow as the person you want to be in the future!
” Do not ever fear changes, because (no matter what happens) changes will always lead you to challenge yourself, meet new people and grow as the person you want to be in the future! ”
Many thanks for your interview and for sharing your great experiences!