Francesco Vanni d’Archirafi: I Made It! Your Turn Now

This "I Made It! Your Turn Now" Book Series is dedicated to you, young or adult. The aim of this is to inspire and motivate you for the best life's path ahead of you:"Am I selecting the right job? Am I making the right decision? Are my choices aligned with what I envision my future to be? Am I going to be successful in what I am doing?"
Here is some advice from Francesco Vanni d'Archirafi, “global head” of Citigroup Holdings, with 30+ years dedicated to Finance around the world: "Work hard. Work incredibly hard! You are starting and building your career, and this takes time and effort; strong performance is the building block of your career.
Always strive to be better and stretch yourself as much as possible. Create a brand for yourself of being the one with the impeccable work-ethic that gets the job done. When you see problems, even when not exactly under your responsibility, offer a helping hand. Giving support will show your team members your commitment and your willingness to help and learn. I cannot stress enough how important it is to be diligent about creating and maintaining your reputation.
Always strive for the highest standards of behavior.
Do not lose your curiosity. You are entering an environment with people who have been doing the same duties and tasks for months or years. Your co-workers may not see what you are able to see as an outsider just coming in with fresh eyes. Do not settle for the current way of doing things, but instead let your curiosity guide you and ask questions. If you don’t understand something, ask. If you feel intimidated asking your manager, ask your co-worker. Asking questions is not a sign of weakness.
Learn from all around you. Do not silo yourself in your specific responsibilities. There is always an opportunity to grow and learn, and it is solely your responsibility to take advantage of that. You will learn from your peers and from networking. Surround yourself with people you admire, observing how they react to problems, the questions they ask when facing issues, and how they communicate will teach you so much more than classes or textbooks can. Do your job, but also take the time to seek out mentors and cultivate relationships.
Be willing to take risks. You are starting your career and many doors will be opening for you. Do not close yourself to embarking on new opportunities. Taking new experiences as they come can only broaden and develop you. Do not be afraid to take that job “far away” and be open to take on challenges that come your way. Every step in my career has been a stepping stone to where I am today. Many I originally did not plan for, but looking back each has helped me get to where I am today! I encourage you to always do the same without fear.
Most importantly, the advice I want to leave you with is: do everything with passion. Find what drives you and do not be afraid to go down that path."