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Desk Details: Michela Marchese Patti, CEO and Co-Owner of Maurizio Distefano Licensing image

Desk Details: Michela Marchese Patti, CEO and Co-Owner of Maurizio Distefano Licensing

The global licensing community is guided by an incredible group of senior executives whose diverse backgrounds and creative energy drive innovation and excellence. Each month, we’re profiling one of these professionals in this ongoing series.

How do you start your day?
My day begins at the gym and then I sip my tasty Italian coffee. I then go to the office every day because it is important to have a daily relationship with my employees and my business partner Maurizio Distefano. After a short meeting with the whole team, I devote myself to answering emails and contacting licensees and prospects for various projects.

What’s one item you always need on your desk?
A pen and a notepad to take notes on the various tasks and projects to be carried out every day.

What unique skill or characteristic do you bring to your team?
I never give up and am always persistent in the path taken.

What is something you learned at a previous job that prepared you for your current role?
For many years I have been the head of multinational manufacturing companies in C-Suite positions (such as GM or Director of Business Units) and, in those positions, I found that sometimes useful information that could help everyone’s work and possibly solve problems before they arose was not shared between colleagues sitting next to each other. This is why I always try to encourage the team to talk often between themselves and continuously exchange information.

What is your favorite aspect of your current role?
Every day is always different, and I get to know new companies that are often excellent in their lines of business. I really like creating tailor-made licensing projects together with them.

If you had an extra hour in your workday, how would you use it?
Usually to close contracts that need to be concluded to allow the licensee to start working on the products and the project in general as soon as possible.

What is one thing you need to do every day to feel accomplished?
Having read all the emails that come to me and possibly having responded to everyone.

Are you a carry-on or checked bag traveler?
I always try to travel with hand luggage only, but a lot depends on how many days I have to stay away.

What do you always have in your suitcase on a work trip?
My laptop and sales folders.

If you weren’t in licensing, what would you be doing?
I would be a General Manager for a manufacturing company.

What advice would you give to yourself 10 years ago?
I would tell myself to be less worried about what could happen outside of my control at work.

What are you most excited about moving forward?
New rep agreements with Giochi Preziosi, Moomin, Fall Guys, Tara Duncan, and Polaretti. I’m also excited about the launch of the Corto Maltese apparel collection by Guess and we recently signed a beautiful deal with a Greek company that build yachts to customize them with Corto Maltese. There are also numerous awards won by the animated series we have in our portfolio. Additionally, Masha and the Bear, Bing, and Bluey are always in the top three positions on Rai Play and Rai YoYo and ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks is always topping the charts on Discovery.

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