How do you believe that every “no” gets you closer to your “yes”?For Ana Mazzeo, that belief isn’t just a mindset—it’s her story. Named one of Forbes Italy’s Top 100 Successful Women and Fortune Italy’s Top 50 Most Powerful Women, Ana now serves as Managing Director of Wobi Italia. But her path wasn’t paved with easy yeses—it was shaped by countless no’s.Born in Argentina and raised with little, it was her mother’s bold decision to enroll her in an international school—and her access to an Italian passport—that gave Ana the springboard to chase something bigger. When she was passed over for a leadership title she worked hard for, Ana didn’t wait for recognition—she stepped into the role anyway, leading with clarity, courage, and conviction.In this episode of Navigating No, Ana shares how rejection became her greatest advantage—and how believing in your value, even when others don’t, is where true leadership begins. If you’ve ever been overlooked, underestimated, or told “you’re not ready,” this conversation is for you.00:00 Introduction and Overcoming Obstacles01:04 Ana Mazzeo's Journey: From Argentina to Success01:49 Navigating Rejection and Embracing Leadership03:44 Childhood Struggles and Educational Opportunities04:49 Economic Hardships and Family Support07:07 Balancing School Life and Personal Challenges10:17 Curiosity and Aspiration: Keys to Success11:34 Turning Envy into Motivation14:31 The Importance of Asking Questions21:05 Creative Solutions to Everyday Problems26:22 The Journey to Managing Director27:21 Embracing Rejection and Perseverance28:16 Learning and Leading Without the Title32:16 The Importance of Language Skills38:21 Overcoming Gender Barriers44:39 Final ThoughtsFollow and connect with Ana here on here LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/anamazzeo/Managing Director WOBI Italia, World Business Forum & WOBI Global Management Team | Standout Women International Award 2024| Forbes Italy's Top 100 Successful Women 2024 |Fortune Italy’s 50 Most Powerful Women 2023|Or read more about her story here:https://www.lanacion.com.ar/lifestyle/de-vacaciones-en-carpa-a-ser-una-de-las-50-mujeres-mas-poderosas-de-italia-no-era-la-mas-inteligente-nid06082024/Or about her work at WOBI https://wbf.wobi.com/it/wbf/wbf-milano/https://wbf.wobi.com/ana-mazzeo-on-skytg24-about-gender-equality-for-real-change-to-happen-we-need-to-start-from-the-ground-up/https://www.insidemarketing.it/ana-mazzeo-country-manager-italia-wobi/Or her road to the Italian Business Elite according to Forbes and Fortune:https://forbes.it/2025/07/21/forbes-interview-guidare-il-cambiamento-intervista-ad-ana-mazzeohttps://www.europeanbusinessreview.com/never-give-up-a-mould-breaking-journey-in-business-leadership/https://www.we-wealth.com/news/mazzeo-wobi-il-world-business-forum-per-leader-futuro