BELONG To People

Everything I do is important

• WORK
• PEOPLE

Challenges, true ones, the ones that scare you, are the best occasions to discover yourself and unveil that side of your character, the reaction to the unexpected and difficulties, you do not think even to have. For Gaia Cioffi, Teddy is the “arena” where she has taken on many challenges that allowed her to know herself and do, with a light spirit, things she considered unimaginable years ago, like taking a flight and fly to the other side of the world. Gaia works as a Buyer for Calliope and is far from home for 90 days a year, travelling to Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, Myanmar, Vietnam where the culture is different and any certainty you have is challenged, above all when you are a woman. “My aim is to make feasible and sustainable the item of clothing the researcher wishes to create, finding attractive solutions in terms of sales and business. This means always looking for new suppliers and closing deals that may give a competitive edge to the Company, manufacturing items within the limits of the available budget”.

Born in Naples, graduated in Economics and Management, with two study experiences in France, Gaia was employed at Teddy in 2018 after a recruitment event organized by the University of Bologna. “I was interviewed by Raniero Sambuci, current Calliope Brand Manager. I remember there were many positions available and among those he had pinpointed the one as a buyer as the most suitable to me. I was looking for a dynamic job, where I may use what I had learned from my experiences abroad and fulfil my wish to travel”. The first years could be said to be like a training, as Gaia worked under the supervision of Stefano Rolli, who was the former manager of the single group of buyers managing orders of Terranova and Calliope. She could always discuss with him, find support, a “parachute” to open in case of emergencies. Then in 2021 the breakthrough: she was called to work exclusively for Calliope, where the manager Davide Latini placed great trust and gave her many responsibilities, inviting her to risk without mincing his words. “It was a key moment when, as I had to take important decisions, I got stronger and changed as a person. When today I look at myself at work, facing and solving situations, I amazed at myself because I would have never imagined to reach this point”.

Except for missing her city and family, Gaia thinks to have found the right place to keep on succeeding and fulfilling her own expectations, as at Teddy no day is like the other and small or big scenarios often open up for the future. Everything very topical for Gaia. She eagerly looks forward to a new challenge, leaving for a new country with the aim of checking the opportunity to land new markets and develop new clothing lines. “Every day I feel to give my contribution to an important step in the success of the Company. I am not just a pawn. Everything I do is important and I feel honored of the great trust placed in me. Lastly I hope to stay at Teddy, which is an ever-changing company. My personal goal in life is to be a mother and keep on pursuing my career. I also would like to be the proof that mothers can fill important positions”.