Following her feature in Forward, Maria Teresa Pellegrino’s story is now featured on Grow with Google
From producing extra virgin olive oil in Andria to a European story of digital innovation. The story of Maria Teresa Pellegrino, 61, an entrepreneur at the helm of Pellegrino 1890 srl, continues to make waves. Having featured in the third issue of Forward, Google’s magazine dedicated to the future of work in the age of artificial intelligence, her story is now also being showcased on Grow with Google, the platform that highlights how digital skills help people and businesses to grow.
This is further recognition for a story that the Fondazione Mondo Digitale had already shared, demonstrating how a desire to learn can open up new career opportunities at any age. Maria Teresa took part in Google AI Essentials, the training programme developed as part of the Women’s Intelligence in AI project, promoted by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale with the support of the AI Opportunity Fund from Google.org.
At first, she viewed artificial intelligence with some scepticism. Then, through training and experimentation, she discovered new opportunities for her business: organising corporate events, improving communication, developing promotional content and enhancing the identity of a brand rooted in the Apulian olive oil tradition.
The results are already tangible. Maria Teresa says that, in recent months, she has acquired at least a dozen new wholesale customers, reaching even distant markets such as the Czech Republic and South Korea. Artificial intelligence, and Gemini in particular, has become part of the day-to-day running of the business, especially in communication and promotional activities. An article for the company blog, which previously took around three hours to produce, can now be prepared in just a few minutes, including drafting the prompts and reviewing the content. The time saved becomes a valuable resource for focusing on the company’s growth and exploring new opportunities.
Among Maria Teresa’s projects is the restoration of a farmhouse dating from 1544, to be transformed into a destination dedicated to olive oil tourism, offering visitors an up-close experience of olive oil culture, the local area and the history of the family business. Her story holds particular significance for the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, which is committed to making the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence accessible to women, small businesses and anyone wishing to update their skills throughout their lives. It is also an example of how training can yield results that go beyond the acquisition of new skills: greater autonomy, a stronger capacity for initiative and new prospects for development.
From the pages of an international magazine to Google’s European platform, Maria Teresa’s story continues to illustrate the value of innovation that starts with people and grows alongside their skills. And which, even at the age of 61, can open up new avenues for a business with over a century of history.
