It all started in a rural village in Italy, on the outskirts of Venice.
I grew up as the youngest and most rebel child in a family of four. My father was known as “Mr. No,” while my mother assumed the unofficial title of “CFO of the Menin Family.”
My first job was in finance, working for a risk system management company as a Business Analyst.
After five years, I felt that I needed a new challenge, so I moved to real estate, representing both buyers and sellers in one of the most exciting housing markets in the entire world.
But the fashion industry was beckoning my return,
so when the opportunity to re-join Valentino presented itself, I answered the call with renewed motivation. Meanwhile, I continued to write for magazines and focused on specializing in branding and communication.
And then, almost by fate, I met my now-business partner, Maurizio Marchiori.
The dots are finally connecting.
Together we founded Octonano, a fluid, creative marketing and branding agency located in the heart of SoHo with offices in Florence and Milan, where I could put everything I learned in my diverse background into practice.
My first chance to see and experience the world was through an exchange program in Chile at age 16.
A life-changing opportunity that truly expanded my horizons and allowed me to see how others live outside of the safe, secluded, and small world that was all I knew at the time.
Little did I know that one day, I would call a very different place my home - the city that never sleeps.
My New York City experience began in 2006 at one of the most prestigious fashion companies in the world, Valentino, with an internship that started my professional career.
The Corcoran Real Estate Group provided a fantastic opportunity
to learn about the real estate sector and to live and breathe New York City like a local. In the meantime, social media was becoming increasingly more important in both my business and personal life, and to bolster my presence I started writing a blog.
As the 10-year anniversary of me being in New York City loomed around the corner,
I started questioning my resolve and asking whether I should stay in the city that never sleeps or leave. Well… long-story-short, I decided to test my ambition and stay, which prompted me to transform my blog into my first novel: My Last Year In New York.
Writing for me is a way to share and embrace personal growth,
so I couldn’t stop at just one book.
I got down and started writing a new story, published by Giunti, titled “Il Traghettatore”.
While it certainly hasn't been a straight path, it has been the perfect path for me.
As I am now in the process of writing my third book while expanding Octonano's business horizons, I keep wondering: “What’s next for Annalisa Menin?”.
Illustrations by Barbara Gaiottino
Life isn't a Straight Line
