The story of the olive oil producer from Andria as a European example of upskilling and professional autonomy
“In this edition of Forward, you’ll meet pioneers who, like Maria Teresa, have had the courage to challenge themselves, to change their mindset in order to change their future,” writes Melissa Ferretti Peretti, country manager and VP of Google Italy, in her editorial. “It’s a journey that requires courage, but it’s the only one worth undertaking to strive for the fullest expression of who we can be.”
From olive oil production in Andria to the pages of Forward, Google’s magazine dedicated to the future of work in the age of artificial intelligence. The story of Maria Teresa Pellegrino, 61, owner of Pellegrino 1890 srl, is featured in the third issue of the publication as a concrete example of how AI training can strengthen skills, autonomy and professional identity.
Maria Teresa took part in Google AI Essentials, the course promoted with the support of Google.org’s AI Opportunity Fund and delivered in Italy by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale as part of the Women’s Intelligence in AI project. During the course, she discovered how generative AI can become a useful tool even for a small business: from planning corporate events to writing promotional copy that is more consistent with the brand’s values.
As Forward reports, Maria Teresa overcame her initial resistance to the technology and began to regard AI as “a reliable ally”, capable of stimulating creativity, saving time and strengthening her professional identity. A local story that thus becomes part of the European narrative on skills, work and inclusive innovation.
