The culture of Italy looks different compared to the culture of the U.S. in many ways. After visiting four different companies in the Florence area, our group was exposed to a wide variety of business cultures and how Italians run their companies. Lorenzo, from the St. Regis, dressed professionally, acted in a punctual manner, and answered questions with precise information and multiple examples. On the other hand, Antonio from Circular Farm fostered a more laid-back environment at his farm with his attire and letting his dog, Nina, run around and hang out with us during his presentation. Regardless of these differences, because we are in the northern region of Italy, businesses run in a formal manner, similar to the U.S. Companies in the U.S. run like well-oiled machines with clearly defined roles and responsibilities, rigid organizational structure, and clear business objectives. Scheduled meetings will start on time, and it is expected to be punctual and dressed professionally. A major difference I noticed between U.S. and Italian business strategy is the desire to connect on a personal level. In America, business meetings are strictly for numbers and contracts. In Italy, on the other hand, each party is interested in getting to know each other well. When interacting with Lorenzo, he asked each of us questions about our past and the area of study we each chose to pursue. While we walked from the classroom to the hotel, he kept talking to the group and getting to know us. He truly cared about giving us a unique experience and tour at his hotels, showing us a suite and the newly renovated rooftop restaurant with an amazing view.
I also noticed some differences between casual, day-to-day activities on Italian streets. Locals are very patient with the tourists walking on the sidewalks and even in the middle of the road. It is safe to cross at a crosswalk with oncoming traffic because they will stop and let you walk on. In America, pedestrians are not as protected on the streets and it is not safe to walk in the middle of the road.
