The Signs That Led Federica to the Road of Civil Service

It just so happened that two university exams, in particular, led to a gut feeling. This was then confirmed by a volunteer experience in Kenya, nurtured years later by a passion for sports – first on the field as player, then on the sidelines as coach. “These small signs appear in our lives and help each of us discover what it is we really want to do. My advice is to pay attention to these signs, to everything. It is not easy to follow one’s intuition; courage and faith are often needed to navigate the uncertainty of perception while remaining somewhat realistic,” says Federica Irene Falomi, Business Administration and Management alumna with a specialization in Economic and Social Sciences.

“I did not immediately know what I was going to do in life,” underlines Falomi. “Initially I found that I had an interest more in the public sector than in the private sector. During my exchange in the US – challenging on so many levels, from the new language to the subzero climate – I began to better appreciate economics as a possibility for studying reality. Then my exams in public policy evaluation and development economics definitely sparked my passion for rigorous analysis of interventions for socioeconomic growth and their consequences,” continues Falomi, who currently serves as Head of Programme of the UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries (LDCs). After holding various positions both in Italy and abroad, today she manages the technical necessities of the organization, dealing mainly with developing technology needs analysis for governments of LDCs and implementing projects to facilitate technology skills development, know-how sharing and technology transfer between countries.

Both her educational and professional paths were not linear: “I was not sure how to pursue my interests professionally, and – at times – was met with more closed doors than open ones.” That is why, according to Falomi, you must know how to align the cues and find your bearings. From her reflections on the economy, public sector and socioeconomic growth, she succeeded in becoming an official of the United Nations organization supporting the 45 least developed countries in the world, with a specific mandate to push technology and innovation. “I remember, though, noticing my newfound passion while coaching young volleyball players – cultivating and supporting their talent, understanding what motivates people. This was another sign to look out for to understand what I was ‘called to build’, as my very first manager put it.” 

It is no coincidence that Falomi’s job as international civil servant is literally rooted in being in service to others. In fact, after a life-changing experience in the developing world, the relational aspect for Falomi is more fundamental than ever given that she has to produce concrete results in complex contexts. There are relationships formed with people from different cultures, in which “it is essential to recognize the particularities of each person and respect their human dignity, even if it is a commitment that already starts once in contact with my team, majority of whom are women,” confirms Falomi. “And to say that I have only had managers who were men. I learned a lot from them; I even got emotional in an interview with the man who would become my first manager. The reason? He approached work as a grand relational adventure, comprised – first and foremost – of passion for humanity and efforts to improve corners of the world. This was exactly what I was searching for,” says the professional, who – in light of this approach – claims to not have a specific role model and looks at people in general, rather than as men or women.

“Diversity? It is a value,” repeats Falomi, calling in from Istanbul where she lives. “If women and men complement each other, we learn from each other without one side prevailing over the other. Just always remember what you have to offer and do your job well, consistently and without measuring yourself against others or comparing yourself to them – even when we feel a bit lost. Uncertainty is a motor that gets the ball rolling. You have to be thrown off balance to take a step forward.”