From a passion for art to digital training: a degree as an act of freedom
We meet Edoardo Mancini, a young trainer and collaborator of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, who has just achieved an important milestone: a degree in Economics and Business Management. A personal goal, certainly, but also a starting point to continue growing and contributing, with competence and passion, to the world of culture and education.
His career path is a mix of work experience, artistic interests and the desire to make digital transformation an opportunity accessible to everyone. In this interview, Edoardo tells us what it means to put yourself out there again, with courage and awareness, and how the Foundation's community has become a source of ideas, discussion and new horizons for him.
‘I graduated to make myself happy, and no one else’: it is with this awareness that Edoardo Mancini, 27, from Rome, recounts the path that led him to graduate with a degree in Economics and Business Management. His thesis analyses new digital ecosystems, such as the metaverse, blockchain and artificial intelligence, applied to the world of art and entertainment.
After an initial attempt at law school, which he interrupted to work and move away, Edoardo decided to resume his studies after the pandemic, choosing a field closer to his passions and professional goals.
"I worked with companies of different sizes, but at a certain point I realised that a degree would be essential to find a role that satisfied me personally. Among other things, I organise cultural events in my life, but I have often been denied opportunities because I did not “belong” to the sector. In some contexts, a degree becomes a necessary passport. Returning to my studies was a way to pursue my passion in a technical way." For Edoardo, it was not enough to participate: he wanted to contribute, build, leave a mark. That is why he decided to continue his education, with the aim of enrolling in a Master's degree in Cultural Heritage.
‘I would like to be able to actively enter the Roman art and museum system. I am from Rome, I am Roman, and I feel a strong responsibility to promote the heritage that I have always had before my eyes.’
The encounter with the Foundation: ‘A catalyst for ideas and tools’
Edoardo is one of our trainers and has been working with the Fondazione Mondo Digitale since July 2022, when he seized the opportunity to combine two of his great passions: visual arts and digital transition.
He learned about the Fondazione Mondo Digitale through its activities in Ostia. He was already active in the world of associations and cultural planning, but joining our community was a turning point. ‘The Foundation was also fundamental for my thesis: over the years, it allowed me to learn everything about the digital transition. My thesis focuses on drivers of innovation - new digital ecosystems, the metaverse, blockchain - applied to the world of art and entertainment.’
His work as a trainer has also taken him outside Rome, for example with activities for the Basilicata Chamber of Commerce and projects related to Industry 5.0. On every occasion, Edoardo has taken on a new challenge: that of knowing how to speak to different audiences, understanding their needs, curiosities and resistances.
‘The greatest asset I bring with me is the ability to interface with different categories of users. Everyone reacts differently, but they are inevitably interested in what is happening around them. Educating people about digital citizenship is a daily and concrete challenge.’
Art as a compass and innovation as a lever
Edoardo has always been guided by his passion for art. As a boy, he collected visits to museums and exhibitions. Later, he became fascinated by anything that could connect the visual arts with emerging technologies. The turning point? An event he organised in 2021 on the theme of artificial intelligence and art, with professors, cartoonists and artists.
‘The artists were afraid that the digital transformation would overwhelm them. I am not an artist, but an enthusiast, and I realised that my path would be to help manage this change. Also for the challenges that will arise in ten, twenty, thirty years' time.’
Since then, Edoardo has found a valuable ally in the Foundation. ‘Fondazione Mondo Digitale has quality, but above all, it has a genuine interest in education. This is fundamental because educating people about technology means creating more aware citizens and stronger communities.’
A milestone that is only the beginning
Today, as we congratulate Edoardo on his recent graduation, we also celebrate his journey of growth and commitment. It is concrete proof of how education can become an act of freedom and self-determination, and of how our trainers are active protagonists of the change we want to promote.
Thank you, Edoardo, for your contribution, your passion and your vision.
Good luck with the next step of your journey!
Interview by Alberta Testa, social media manager
