“I hope Barcelona will work on keeping young talent», by Giulia Palma

Giulia Palma, Italian, 23 years old, single and with no chils. She has lived in Rome and Cologne before moving to Barcelona 12 years ago. She is Communication & Public Relations Executive at SNGULAR, a digital transformation company founded in 2014 and listed on BME Growth, with global success, establishing 20 offices and collaborating with more than 500 clients in various sectors. Giulia identifies herself as an intra-entrepreneur as she has developed an attitude of constant search towards new challenges and opportunities to innovate and improve in her professional field.

Why did you choose Barcelona?

My arrival in Barcelona at the age of 12 was due to my father’s work. However, having lived here for half my life, Barcelona has taken on a much deeper meaning for me: it has become my home. Here I have found the perfect setting for training and personal growth. I have cultivated relationships with diverse, inspiring and kind-hearted people, and I have taken the first steps in my professional career in an innovative and stimulating environment.

What aspects of the city would you highlight as being positive?

I believe that Barcelona offers a very wide range of opportunities in all areas, both for its local residents and for those who come from abroad. Its flexible environment and openness encourages innovation and creativity in the ecosystem. In this city, there is no profession, hobby or interest that cannot be pursued; the endless cultural and social stimuli make it impossible to be bored.

What aspects of the city must be improved? How?

For young people like me, starting a new business can be challenging, due to financial and bureaucratic barriers. In addition, it is rare to find professional environments that combine youthful energy with the experience of older professionals. This generation gap limits knowledge sharing, and is possibly one of the reasons why companies face difficulties in retaining young talent.

What do you expect from Barcelona in the coming years?

Having explored cities such as Berlin, San Francisco and Seoul professionally, I have found that the quality of life in Barcelona is unmatched. However, in comparison, opportunities for young entrepreneurs are more limited. I hope that Barcelona will work on retaining young talent, supporting entrepreneurs more and encouraging generational exchange, fostering initiatives that facilitate access to resources and support networks, and promoting a dynamic and collaborative ecosystem.

Which city do you feel as «your city»? What do you miss the most?

When I’m asked where I’m from, I always say that I’m from Rome, but in reality my city is Barcelona. It’s the place I know best and where I really feel at home. As for what I miss, sometimes, naturally, we hear more complaints than words of appreciation for what surrounds us, so I would encourage readers to reflect on how lucky they are to live in a rich, diverse and exciting city, and hold on to that for a few moments.