The People Paving the Why Way
The Why Way is a transformative project that gathers people together who are seekers by nature. Skilled at asking themselves questions, they work in the service of transforming themselves & others by bringing into play their own artistic, cultural, philosophical & organizational passions.
We’re driven by a passion for collaboration that puts the objectives of our clients at the center of our efforts. We concept, plan & implement with joy in a frontier space that encompasses management consultancy & culture, education & social transformation to great effect.
Valeria Cantoni Mamiani
Founder The Why Way
& Leading by Heart
I am a cultural “revitaliser” because I brings culture, art, and critical thinking into business and community organizations, universities, and any of those places where functioning well takes precedence over merely existing. I’m a weaver of the relational fabric between people because I see caring for both the self and others as the basis of leadership in organizational, social, and personal contexts.
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Leadership, for me, is about skilfully navigating one's life and role in both society and work with certain qualities—self-awareness, attention to others, and trust—while confronting one's fears, managing emotions, and valuing the quality of relationships whatever they may be.
Throughout my professional journey, I've always operated on the threshold between philosophical and psychoanalytic studies, bringing into play an inherited knowledge of art, and the practices of mindfulness as a path of continuous exploration and transformation.
Over the years, together with various colleagues, I have initiated exciting cultural and consulting projects that have evolved into entrepreneurial undertakings, such as Trivioquadrivio, ArtsFor, and now The Why Way with Leading by Heart.
My background in humanistic conflict mediation and my training in Philo and Sabof (a school of biographical analysis with a philosophical orientation) led me to establish The Why Way. This allows me to serve not only organizations but also those individuals who seek guidance in reinterpreting their own stories, understanding their existence, and discovering the truth of their relationships.
I have written and published several essays and articles. My latest works are "Lingua, estetica della soglia" (Fefè, 2021) and "Leadership di cura, dal controllo alle relazioni" (Vita e Pensiero).
Nicola Gaiarin
Advisor & senior consultant
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I have always loved the unexpected intersection and blending of various influences and schools of thought. In my work as a consultant and trainer, collaborating with lots organizations and communities that are very different in terms of goals and scale, I strive to keep curiosity alive as well as the desire to understand how people make sense of what they do. And I bring the very same eagerness for generating discussion and dialogue to my work that led me to study philosophy in the first place many years ago.
As editor of the “aut aut” magazine, I continue to delve into philosophy, attempting to exercise a form of critical thinking through constant engagement with art, cinema, literature, and the social dimension.
Among the things I have written, some have become books, such as "The Village," published by Ayros Editore in 2023 (with Alessandro Rinaldi). In 2020, I curated a book-conversation with Pier Aldo Rovatti, who is my mentor, for La Nave di Teseo. The title is "La filosofia è un esercizio" (Philosophy is an Exercise.) I’m a member of the social art collective DMAV and serve on the board of DOF Consulting. I am one of the founders of the "Estate violenta" cinema club and give lectures at the School of Philosophy in Trieste. For me, the "whys," whether they have a question mark at the end or not, are very important.
Alessandro Rinaldi
Advisor & art-based trainer
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My current research is related to the intersection of artistic practice and community facilitation and development processes. I enjoy traversing different worlds, removing overlays, activating the ability to dream of possible futures, and eliciting deep emotions through creativity.
I oscillate in joyful imbalance between the artistic direction of the DMAV collective and my entrepreneurial activities with Dof Consulting. Ultimately, I strive to maintain silence.
Francesca Monti
Trainer & learning designer
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"We bring quality to life," these are the words of an artist I interviewed during my undergraduate thesis. Words that I hold dear and that often resonate.
Since that moment, the pursuit of quality has gone hand in hand with my professional journey, leading me to conceive and create projects and content, weave narratives, and open up new scenarios.
Art always accompanies me in what I do, but above all, that idea of quality is a source of meaning and enthusiasm.
For me, education supports and facilitates personal exploration, especially as its being intertwined with the organizational fabric allows me to observe the world — relationships, nature, film, works of art and infrastructure—while learning to perceive weaknesses as new opportunities in everyday life.
Ludovica Guazzoni
Organization & administration
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I handle organization and administrative management.
For years, I have managed various types of events, from street marketing activities to large conferences.
Since I was young, I have always been an orderly and organized person. Over the years, I have discovered that planning, attention to detail, and effective time management can lead to extraordinary results both in private life and in work. I am someone who can remain calm even in the most stressful situations.
I am always seeking precision with the utmost care. Whether it's a complex project, a company meeting, or a dinner with friends, I am always ready to plan everything as efficiently as possible.
Maia Cornacchia
Trainer, physical self-care practices
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I come from a theater and philosophy background, which has taught me to listen and learn while I teach and live. Listening has restored my confidence in the body and organic knowledge (the knowledge that belongs to all living beings and keeps us connected to life). With confidence came surprise, and those moments of disorientation have become opportunities for new adventure.
In 1985, from my experience, the Practice of Organic Work was born. It a program that trains people to listen which follows the path of various traditions to discover the extraordinary in the ordinary and explore the continually renewed vitality of our responses.
I am a founding member and instructor at Philo, and as a member of Sabof (Society of Biographical Analysts with a Philosophical Orientation), I work in individual and group sessions with a focus on bodily mediation.
Manuel Buda
Musician & art-based trainer
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For several years, alongside my "conventional" career as a musician— which includes concerts, records, musical projects, and teaching—I have been involved in bringing music to educational experiences offered in organizational contexts. Through the practice of this activity, I increasingly discover how music serves as a powerful metaphor for life, the journey, and human beings, and how a musical piece encapsulates our dynamics, choices, fears, and changes. I greatly enjoy the idea of being able to convey these concepts through the analysis of a composition or the story of a musician. I like to think that when narrated in this way, these stories can deeply resonate with the listener, planting small seeds of change.
Stefano Cardini
Facilitator & learning designer
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For 25 years, I have divided my time between project activities and the education of both young and adult learners, using the tools of representation as a bridge between these two disciplines. Representation — whether through hand drawing, collage, physical objects, various digital tools, or movement — serves as a means of dialogue. By avoiding the pitfalls of verbal exchange, it facilitates communication, the creation of new solutions for individuals and communities, and understanding between different people and disciplines.
Adolfo Ceretti
Conflict mediator & educator
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I was born in Milan on the Day of the Dead in 1955. I became a criminologist and conflict mediator, focusing on conflicts that may seem to cause lifelong wounds but can actually be healed by repairing people's souls.
After graduating in Law, over the decades, I have published articles and books on the philosophy of human sciences, deviance, juvenile justice, fear of crime, and especially on violent behavior. Since 1995, I have been actively involved in the field of Offender/Victim Mediation, which I teach alongside my Criminology course at the University of Milano-Bicocca and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro on a national and international level. In the 2000s, I contributed to facilitating meetings between some individuals involved in armed struggle in Italy and certain victims and their families. This experience led to the creation of the book "Il libro dell’Incontro" (The Book of the Encounter, Il Saggiatore, 2015). My latest book is titled "Io volevo ucciderla. Per una criminologia dell’incontro" (I Wanted to Kill Her. Toward a Criminology of the Encounter, Cortina, 2022).
I draw inspiration from essays, cinema, and Inter.
Together with Valeria Cantoni Mamiani, I have brought the spirit of mediation to organizations, promoting a culture of encounter and an approach to conflict mediation that starts with listening and the centrality of people. We conduct seminars, workshops, and talks.
Michelangelo Decorato
Composer, pianist & art-based trainer
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I am a versatile and curious musician. My projects and productions range from classical music to jazz, from electronic music to dance performances.
In addition to music education, I have dedicated a significant amount of time to the creation and artistic direction of a major jazz festival in Puglia and the production of various music events.
My greatest passion, which developed in parallel with my conservatory studies, is the desire for self-knowledge.
Recently, in collaboration with Leading by Heart, I initiated a project on deep listening and the development of sensory perception, aimed at organizations and management. This experience was presented in Milan at the Teatro Arsenale and Teatro Parenti, in Rome at the Teatro delle Basiliche, with the participation of around a hundred managers.
Marilù Martelli
Organization & cultural production
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I have a rich and diverse background in the field of communication and the organization of cultural events. My experience as head of press office for institutions and significant events such as Ferrara Musica, the Ravenna Festival, and the Sagra Malatestiana in Rimini, as well as your involvement in projects like the International Composition Competition 2 August, reflects extensive expertise in the sector.
My participation in cultural initiatives such as curating exhibitions for the Municipality of Ferrara, the inauguration of the Lingotto Auditorium in Turin, and the reopening of the Teatro Massimo in Palermo highlights my ability to manage culturally relevant projects on a national and international scale.
Furthermore, my role as a co-founder of 5x15 Italia and my current position as General Coordinator of LaFil Filarmonica in Milan demonstrate my ongoing commitment to the field of culture and the arts.
My current role at The Why Way, where I coordinate the production of cultural projects that contribute to the community's well-being, shows my interest in integrating various artistic disciplines and knowledge to create meaningful impacts.
DEEP THANKS TO OUR PAST AND PRESENT CORPORATE & COMMUNITY PARTNERS