Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rhonda Vilardo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rhonda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard

My company is honestly a boutique business. It is a small and well run business where I host (along with a teammate) each and every week we are operating the program. I consider myself and my co-host, the most important representatives of the company and we will leave no stone unturned in order to assure the best possible vacation for each of our guests. The industry standard is usually a more hands off approach from the owners of the businesses. While there is more profit to be made by being more “corporate”, that is not what my business is focused on. I want to assure that each guest is happy to return and happy to refer. In order for that to happen, I feel it is crucial to be there as boots on the ground.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

In 2000, a couple of friends of mine and my husband founded the original culinary immersion program in Tuscany. We were lucky enough to attend their program on three separate occasions between 2006 and 2014. I fell in love with the concept of a vacation where all you had to do was show up, and the whole week was carefully curated for you. It was a refreshing change from the past when I was the one planning every detail of our vacations.

When the original owners decided to sell their business due to health reasons, I seized the opportunity and bought it with a partner who was a friend of a friend. We got to know each other quickly through the crash course of running that business in Italy for four years. When the pandemic hit, an opportunity arose for us to part ways. In true Italian style, my co-owner made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.

While it was sad to say goodbye to that business, it also gave me the chance to create my own version of a completely custom culinary adventure in another region of Italy. I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve forged with vendors in the Emilia Romagna region, as well as the deep friendships I’ve formed with guests who supported me through the transition by attending Italian Culinary Adventures.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I bought my business with a partner I didn’t know well. After running the business together for several years, I found myself very unhappy due to our deeply different ways of running things. Despite the challenges, I persisted because there seemed to be no viable option other than walking away from a business I truly loved. That business was my baby.

During the pandemic, an incident occurred that allowed me the opportunity to part ways with my partner. While I initially thought I would be buying her out, she made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. When she bought me out, I was completely heartbroken and struggled to see a way forward, having left my baby behind. Saying goodbye to the vendors and friends who had become like family in the little village where the program was located was also devastating.

Fortunately, I was and continue to be surrounded by supportive, positive, and helpful people who gave me guidance and reminded me of the upside of not being in a partnership that wasn’t symbiotic. This challenging period led to my connecting with someone who has elevated the program in remarkable ways. She is a native, speaks the language, and understands the nuances of doing business in Italy. Additionally, she is young, energetic, and beloved by all the people we work with and host. She has become like a daughter to me.

Have you ever had to pivot?

As the saying goes, life is not fair. We all have to pivot to get by, and I am no different. I married a man when I was 23, and while he was a wonderful human being, he found married life to be suffocating. With an 18-month-old baby, I became a single parent—a huge pivot in my life. Despite this, my ex-husband remained a dear friend until his passing.

Career pivots have been a part of my journey too. I worked in the cosmetics business as a director of sales in the private label sector of the company for sixteen years. It was a great experience, but the company was bought out and it was time for me to move on. I believe I have a gift for putting people at ease and establishing true relationships in all facets of life. This ability has made the pivots more tolerable because I understand that there are always two ways of looking at things. I choose to see the positive side whenever possible. It’s in my nature.

The pivot in my culinary immersion business, as detailed above, was another significant change. All change ends up being for the good. It just may take time to see the benefits. Don’t get me wrong; I have a very sarcastic nature and may not always seem like the positive person I believe myself to be. But I am that person at my core.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.italianculinaryadventures.com
• Instagram: italianculinaryadventures
• Facebook: italianculinaryadventures
• Linkedin: Rhonda Vilardo
• Twitter: italianculinaryadventures
• Youtube: italianculinaryadventures