We are happy to welcome Monica Solano Leon, Office and Members Manager and Martina Calò, EU Project Manager to EUBP. Get to know the two new team members with a self-portrait:
Martina Calò on the left and Monica Solano on the right
Martina
Tea or coffee? I’m Italian: I can’t survive without coffee. I even take coffee after dinner sometimes (and then complain that I don’t sleep). I need coffee during the working day and normally go out just to enjoy a good coffee sitting on the bar’s stool. If you think American coffee is coffee, we might have a problem.
Your favourite saying? It’s not really a saying but a modern motivational proverb from business and self-help circles: “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” I believe it perfectly captures my belief that you can learn something valuable from every person you meet and every situation you encounter, surrounding yourself with diverse, challenging perspectives is the real key to growth.
A life lesson you will never forget? One of the most valuable life lessons I’ve learned is that it’s never worth raising your voice or arguing in anger. I’ve realized that heated confrontations destroy relationships and close doors, while staying calm allows you to truly listen, resolve conflicts, and grow together.
What makes you proud to do your job? I’m proud of my job because I feel like I’m making a real contribution to helping businesses transition to a sustainable economy focused on progress.
A fun fact about you that few people know? I’m born in ’97, but my friends call me a boomer because I just don’t get Gen Z humor or TikTok references (I don’t even have an account) and I stretch and groan like I’m 80yo every morning. Who needs viral trends when you’ve got senior citizen vibes at 29?!
Monica
Tea or coffee? I absolutely love coffee. I love both the smell and the taste, but I don’t drink it just to wake up – I save it for moments to enjoy, especially when I’m with friends. For my mornings, I usually go for lemon and ginger tea to boost my immune system. It never fails.
Your favourite saying? My mum has always said: “Be kind to everyone, even if they’re not kind to you – you never know what they’re going through, and it costs nothing to be a better person.” It’s something I truly try to apply both in my personal life and at work.
A life lesson you will never forget? Most important life lessons come from difficult experiences. One thing I’ve learned is that people come and go, and in the end, you need to invest in yourself: keep learning, work hard, stay curious, build meaningful connections, develop hobbies, adopt that dog – and, above all, keep a positive mindset. You can only rely on yourself.
What makes you proud to do your job? I’m proud of working with a purpose. I always try to approach my work with empathy and perspective, understanding different points of view and looking for ways to bring people together. In my professional life, especially when applying my role, I like to think outside the box and explore better, more effective ways to create positive change and improvement.
A fun fact about you that few people know? I work mostly in admin and management (behind the scenes, one could say). However, when I was a teenager, I did journalism for a small YouTube news channel, and there are still a few videos of me online. I also worked at fashion shows couple of times, in front of the camera. Somehow, I felt and feel quite comfortable speaking and being around cameras.