Davide Venturi, Executive Director of BNI Umbria: “Here companies can grow and create economy”

A global organization that is present in 78 countries and has approximately 330,000 members. In Umbria there are 360 members.

BNI is the largest business networking organization in the world. Its goal is to support professionals and entrepreneurs to develop their business thanks to qualified references and the opportunity to build long-term professional relationships that generate business on an ongoing basis. It has approximately 330,000 members worldwide – in 78 different countries and from over 300 different types of professions – who have all benefited from the increase in business through references.
We had a chat with Davide Venturi, Executive Director of BNI Umbria, to better understand how this organization works in our region.

Davide Venturi, Executive Director di BNI Umbria

Let’s clarify right away: what is BNI?

It is the largest referral marketing organization in the world. We are present in 78 countries with 11,000 active groups, made up of approximately 330,000 entrepreneurs and professionals who meet to create collaborative economy. The goal is to support these entities in the development of their business thanks to qualified references and the opportunity to build long-term professional relationships that generate business continuously.

What are the values on which BNI is based?

We have some core values that define our philosophy. The main one is Givers Gain (simply put: helping to be helped): I give you a hand and you will then give it to someone else in the group, thus creating a virtuous circle. We could define BNI as a gym where people learn to be helped. The second value is lifelong learning which means bringing together open-minded people, interested in learning new things and updating themselves; then we find tradition and innovation: starting from our roots made up of a forty-year history, the organization looks to the future and evolves thanks to technological innovation and artificial intelligence. Another very important value is that of a positive attitude, that is, seeing the best side of a person and the light that emanates. Then we enter the fifth which is used to build relationships: people want to do business with those they know and with other people they trust; this is followed by the value of responsibility, the responsibility of guaranteeing the quality that is expected from others. Finally, we find recognition which is not only to celebrate the best of the week or the month, but to recognize those who are contributing more actively with the same commitment. Supervising everything is the fun of putting into practice our vision of changing the way of doing business, that is, improving our way of working through the BNI method, applying it with passion and, indeed, having fun.

Tell us about your journey in BNI: how and when did you meet it?

In 2016, at the suggestion of friends, I attended the first BNI meeting; I admit that I had not found the values that I expected, but you know, the best love stories often do not begin with love at first sight. In fact, starting from what was out of place and taking a path, over time I grew as a person and had the opportunity to enter this organization as an entrepreneur in the construction sector (still my main activity today). This system brought more work to my company, better customers and gave me the opportunity to work differently, thanks also to meeting people who were an example to me.

From Romagna how did you get to Umbria?

I have always had a passion for this region. I discovered it by coming here on vacation: you can feel a particular energy; maybe it’s the green, maybe it’s the history, I don’t know. In 2008 I met Orlando Perini, owner of the Il Cantico di San Francesco farmhouse in Assisi who, with his stories, made me fall in love with Umbria even more; so I decided to come and live there for half of my time. I split my time between Romagna and Umbria. In 2016, they proposed that I bring BNI here: it was a great challenge, both because I knew almost no one, and because it is a distrustful and difficult territory to develop; in May 2017, I began my professional assignment as a consultant entrepreneur to develop BNI in Umbria.

Today, how many companies belong to this network?

There are 13 active chapters with approximately 360 members in the provinces of Terni and Perugia.

Is it aimed only at professionals or also at more structured companies?

BNI is aimed at everyone, entrepreneurs of small-medium sized companies, artisans and professionals, but also at large companies or groups, with the most diverse specializations: from the clothing store to the professional studio, from the restaurant to the structure that organizes events, to the construction and design company, from the financial consultant to the marketing expert. In short, it is multidisciplinary.

What characteristics are needed to join?

You must be a person who wants to grow, who is not afraid of change and who wants to learn or improve teamwork, which is essential for networking. Who wants to aim to perfect the business, which does not only mean earning more but working better with customers. We are not a public relations organization, we are an organization that works as a team through networking, developing solid relationships to better reach our target market, with a referential marketing strategy.

Does this typically American approach work in the Umbrian territory?

BNI is looking for people who believe in the future and in Umbria there are many of them. We have many excellences (I say: “we” because I now feel Umbrian) and there is no need to envy other regions. For me, Umbria is the California of Italy with the sea an hour away, and many talents and excellences that can make this place not only a place to visit as tourists, but also to do business. Experienced companies, which are different, must be an example and inspiration for the younger generations.

Did you find a favorable environment or did you encounter difficulties and reticence?

I can tell you this anecdote. The first person I proposed BNI to in 2017 was a famous law firm from Perugia who did not believe in the project and who, when saying goodbye, said: “You will never make it”. I replied: “In about 10 years in Umbria there will be over 500 registered entrepreneurs”. After six months the first group started in Assisi, today we are at 13 and we plan to open other chapters. I also have many people around me who help me promote this project in the area, but I want to reiterate that BNI is not for everyone. If an entrepreneur or professional is in serious difficulty, they have a priority that cannot be finding the time to help others, because they have to save themselves. We can be an accelerator for young entrepreneurs who want to network, for those who have little experience, for entrepreneurs and professionals who alone cannot have all the resources to grow, but we cannot be an opportunity for those who struggle to make ends meet. BNI would not be the solution.

Isn’t it too easy to interface only with companies that are not in difficulty?

I want to explain better. We help and support by telling success stories and talking to entrepreneurs: I myself had to start from scratch after 2013 and my story, like those of many others, can be an inspiration and an example. In BNI there is the possibility of helping, not with money but with time. Our entrepreneurs are not captains of industry, they do not have capital to finance those in difficulty, but I can share their time by telling their experiences and motivating others with their experience. This is often worth much more.

Are there any projects conceived or promoted that have social, cultural, economic repercussions on the territory?

There is SeiBenefit, a startup founded by me and nine other partners, who met, got to know each other and came together thanks to BNI, with the aim of creating funds with a social impact to support local associations and companies with ethical value, so as to enhance people with a view to common growth. We also have the BNI Foundation, which raises funds and supports solidarity projects, and Business Voices (voice of business). The latter is a movement of giving back to the territory inspired by BNI that starts from the awareness that the local business community can and must play a social role to inspire children and young people who will be the professionals and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Entrepreneurs and professionals make their experience, enthusiasm and time available to children and young people to share experiences and inspire them in their future choices, through support, mentoring and commitment to the territory. Another social aspect is the possibility of hosting a cultural or volunteer association in each group without having them pay the annual fee. Today we have six. Finally, as a BNI region we have created five scholarships to finance a part of the annual membership fee, for young people who have just opened a VAT number.

What are the next goals of the Perugia – Terni Region?

The Perugia-Terni Region is a virtuous Region, both in the Italian and global panorama. In 2019 the founder Ivan Misner came to visit Umbria; we carry out a personalized approach and this year we will be present with a stand (first Italian region) at the conference in Hawaii. We bring Umbria to the world and the world to Umbria. We are also working to set up two more chapters, in Gubbio and Valnerina, so as to cover almost the entire region. The real challenge, in which we believe a lot, is Valnerina, where those with experience will have to interface more with the local young people. In Valnerina we would like to make available a sort of no tax zone for the post-earthquake situation, to ensure that entry has a significant reduction; I will also activate listening centers to be able to understand the real needs of local entrepreneurs.

For you who are not Umbrian, what does Umbria represent?

It is a place where I can express myself, where I have found talents. Umbria has been a gift to me.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of this region?

History. Here you can breathe in success stories, stories that have happened and stories of resilience. I can tell you about the owner of a pastry shop in Perugia who lost her husband a year and a half ago, leaving her alone with a small child. She was a member of BNI for two years: the other day she sent me a message in which she thanked me for the energy that I have often given him, and that I still give him, with my posts and teachings. Well, this for me is a gift, it is the essence of having left a mark; she is an example for all those who had to start from scratch. Umbria is a place where you can start again and create economy.