Nathalie Podda, who has Italian roots, grew up in Carinthia. Fitness and exercise are important to her, so she trains several times a week. She has been visually impaired for over twenty years.
She studied journalism and communication sciences in Klagenfurt and then worked as an editor in the field of health communication in Cologne. Furthermore, she has lived in Vienna for over 10 years and works in the federal civil service. For several years, she worked at the BMBWF’s ombudsman’s office for students, where she advised students with and without disabilities. She currently works in project management at the BMBWF.
The FemPreneurship Academy program from autumn 2023 immediately appealed to me. At that time, I was still in the orientation phase: I knew I needed a new challenge and was interested in self-employment, but I didn’t yet know where the journey would take me.
During the FemPreneurship Academy, she was not only able to concretize her ideas, but also develop clear concepts. She realized that she wanted to use her expertise in communication and management to support people on their path in life. The exciting workshops and the individual feedback from the experts at the FemPreneurship Academy helped me to build up sufficient knowledge about self-employment and entrepreneurship, as well as to find the necessary courage and motivation to start my own business.
She was able to gain her first experience of success this fall: she acquired her first customers and completed her first orders (workshops and individual training) to the satisfaction of her customers.
My workshops currently focus on strategic communication (e.g. about one’s disability and associated needs) and personal effectiveness management (with a focus on disabilities). In individual training sessions, I prepare people for specific negotiations or important meetings and give tips on verbal and non-verbal communication.
Her current clients are mainly people with disabilities who are looking to become self-employed.
Self-employment is attractive to me because I like to make decisions independently, take the lead in planning and implementing my projects, and also take responsibility for everything. Flexibility in terms of time plays a major role in that I am free to organize my working hours and ensure a work-life balance that meets my needs. A key aspect of my self-employed work is that I don’t mainly work in the office on a PC, but instead spend more time talking to people in person. Online sessions are of course also possible.
When it comes to self-employment, it is important to her that she can realize herself professionally, i.e. do something meaningful, make a lasting change, and, above all, enjoy what she does. Her previous professional and life experience is the basis of her business.
My main areas of expertise are strategic communication and (self-efficacy) management, which I have specialized in not only during my studies but also during my professional career to date. As an expert in these areas, I am particularly keen to support people with disabilities in achieving their personal goals.
