A Brand-New Beginning
Three years ago, I was pushed out of a long, successful corporate run. I’d worked with some of the world’s most loved entertainment brands. I felt like a rockstar.
In the early 2000s at FOX, a small band of pirates and misfits helped reinvent television in Italy. We changed the language of content and advertising before “branded content” was even a term. TV series became the engine of what is now one of the richest media models on the planet: streaming. For me, FOX was the last big cultural wave after the MTV era of the late ’90s and early 2000s.
After many years at the top—and three at Disney—my journey ended abruptly in late 2022. From hero to zero. I tried to carry on as before, but something fundamental had shifted. The doors I knocked on no longer felt like mine. I felt like a stranger in my own house. It wasn’t just the loss of a dream job; it was stepping into a new dimension I never expected.
Why this, why now
It took me three years to find my “why.” Stepping back from what I thought was my dream career wasn’t an ending—it was a blessing. It marked the beginning of a path toward what I’ve always wanted to do: entertain, inspire, and share knowledge.
I’d done parts of this for years—on stages, in roadshows, through presentations. Every day felt like a theater tour, a new performance. I loved it, even if I didn’t fully realize it.
Last May, after two years of fear, research, and mistakes, I finally had the courage to ask myself what I truly wanted—scary as that was. My wife—my CEO and the force behind me—agreed and backed me. So I picked up a mic and started a podcast. It wasn’t perfect, but within months I had remarkable guests. Some I invited; others asked to join. I launched a column on an advertising magazine. Ideas kept pouring out, so I opened a Substack.
And then something wild happened: I hosted Evan Shapiro, one of the most influential voices in global media. From that, I’ll moderate in Milan at Intersections 2025—the leading Italian event on marketing and media—on an international panel with top voices in digital and AI. If you’d told me this six months ago, I wouldn’t have believed you.
I’m at the beginning again. Whatever comes next, I feel back on the right stage. I’m scared—but happy.
The community I want to build
This space is for people who care about media and advertising—and for anyone feeling stuck in a role that no longer fits, looking for the spark to start a new chapter.
What you’ll get
For now, this channel is free. I may introduce a light paywall later: I produce a lot of content, and it requires real work. In return, you’ll get:
A weekly column and podcast
Behind-the-scenes insights from my moderations and business-school teaching
Practical lessons from a career spent bridging brands, content, and audiences
Life has highs and lows. What’s changing me most isn’t the highs—it’s what I’m learning from the lows. When we feel lost, we’re forced to look inward, drop the alibis, and turn the lights back on.
If this resonates, subscribe and share.
There’s no guaranteed recipe here—no playbook, no fluffy framework. You’ll find curiosity, honesty, and a spark of refreshing madness. Welcome to Content with a View
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