Develop a Global Mindset - Viviana Premazzi

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Viviana Premazzi, Founder of Global Mindset Development GMD Training and Consultancy Services, located in Valletta, Malta.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

GMD is a company offering training, team building, and consultancy in intercultural management and cultural diversity & inclusion. Our mission is to guide and offer effective tools to help individuals and organizations to develop a global mindset and create culturally intelligent workplaces for employees, clients, and suppliers.

Our clients are companies with an international workforce or working internationally with teams and offices located in different countries. We also offer services for individuals especially related to relocation support and cultural adaptation, to mitigate the culture shock when moving abroad.

Tell us about yourself

I created GMD after an emergency surgery when I discovered to have endometriosis - and since then, I am also a strong advocate for endometriosis awareness. After the doctors saved me, GMD was my way to give back to the community for everything I have received in life. Also, with GMD, I want to help people to enjoy the diversity around them and not fear it. People are afraid of diversity because they are afraid that this can force a change in their values, attitude, and behaviours, and they don’t want to leave their comfort zone. This is natural and totally understandable.

Through our training and consultancy, we help them to understand their fears, biases, and prejudices, and we promote cultural intelligence, awareness, and knowledge so that they can manage and enjoy the diversity around them and create more inclusive workplaces. I love what I do, and I love meeting people and helping them to overcome their fears, and building meaningful relationships and organizations.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I am an Italian woman, and I set up my own company in a foreign country, Malta. This is already one big accomplishment. You can think that that was actually easy because both countries are in the European Union and they are also geographically close, but unfortunately, being a woman in Southern Europe is still challenging, and there are a lot of barriers and social pressure we have to face. Moreover, I was a foreigner and didn’t have the same social support the locals have.

The biggest accomplishment is now to see my company growing and working internationally, with new trainers that are joining our network of professionals. The interest our work is receiving shows that the idea was right, and there was a big need for our services and the impact that we could bring to organizations and society.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Finding the right people. You will always be alone as a business owner, but finding people, employees, team members, and partners that you can rely on, delegate, and trust is key. My company scaled up, and we are now working globally, and the big challenge is developing strategic partnerships with trustworthy partners around the world. But networking organizations and our intercultural communication skills have already helped us in many markets, and we hope we can keep growing and expanding in other parts of the world.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

If you have an idea go for it, but also be humble and look for advice. If people do not get your idea, maybe you have a problem with the way you communicate it, or maybe it is not the great idea you thought. Find the right people that can help, guide, and support you.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://gmdmalta.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GMDMalta
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gmd_malta/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vivianapremazzi
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3zEsk2J

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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