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Woman of the Week - Valeria dello Russo

Featured image blog Paynovate ValeriaRead the story of Valeria dello Russo (Technical Support Agent, Giftify). Read on to learn about her decision to work 100% remotely, her desire to help people around her, and the importance of being courageous.

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Valeria dello Russo

Introduce yourself! Who are you, and what's your role at the Loyaltek Group?


"My name is Valeria and I work for Giftify, I’m in the Technical Support team and I’m doing some Customer Service. I am also working as a professional translator for the localisation of our web content and the company’s website in multiple languages."


How did you end up at Loyaltek?


After a long period of forced distance from my country and my family due to COVID, I decided to leave my whole life in London and look for a new job opportunity that would allow me to travel more and move all of my activities online so that I would be free to go anywhere, enjoy my life, and see my family much more. My sister had started working for this company a few months earlier and she knew that they were looking for someone for the French market. Because I speak a few languages, I asked for the chance to apply for the French market position even though I’m Italian, so I challenged myself. I met Pierre (Pierre Sengier, Head of Project, Operation & Support) and had an interview with him. It went well and I got the job! I miss London so much and I love that city, but I decided to take a break and try something new. If I want to go back there, I still have a permit to live in the UK for a few years, so I have the time to decide.


What do you want to achieve in your career?


“Ideally I would like to  help people around me. I don’t know what or who I will become in the future, but I do know that I want my life and my professional experience to be of help for those who have similar experiences and might need my support. It’s a mission for me, that’s what I know for sure.”


If you could have dinner with 3 inspiring women, dead or alive: who would they be and why?


"The first one is Rosa Parks, she’s an activist in the American civil rights movement. She’s known for her role in the Montgomery bus boycott (Montgomery, Alabama USA ). I’d love to meet her because I read her story when I was a teenager and she inspired me to be courageous and to fight for my rights and the rights of others. She also taught me to respect every single human being in their rights. 

The next one would be Brené Brown, she’s a professor and a lecturer and also one of my favourite authors. Her area of expertise is shame and vulnerability, and I’ve read a lot of her books. She speaks about personal growth. Her books helped me to become a better person, and to know myself better. She inspired me and gave me hope.

The third one is my mom. She’s the first woman I’ve ever looked at thinking “She’s beautiful, intelligent, independent, witty, proactive.” She’s taught me to love. She knows how to forgive people, and I have so much to learn from her."


Tell us about a professional experience that made you who you are today.


"I’ve had a lot of work experiences and they all have made me who I am today. But my last working experience in London is the one I carry in my heart. I was working in a highly stimulating, frenetic, competitive environment. It taught me so much: from dealing with difficult moments to working in a team and helping my colleagues. Above all, I felt respected and appreciated as a professional and as a human being. I’m still in touch with my ex-colleagues and my ex-boss, so this experience has changed me a lot."


If you could share just one piece of career advice with women in our community, what would it be?


Whatever you do, stay courageous. What I learnt throughout my personal and professional journeys is that courage is not an absence of fear but acknowledging the fear, and doing what scares you anyway. It takes a lot of courage to live a full and rewarding life, so be courageous. The first time I heard this was from my boss in London. He offered me a position of a manager and I wasn’t sure if I was ready, so I told him that I was scared. And the advice he gave me, the one I shared with you, impressed and inspired me."

Thanks for sharing your story with us, Valeria!



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