Anja Cucinotta was recently interviewed by TheCelebrity.Online Magazine and below is the Q&A session we had with her.

Anja Cucinotta As Cover Story – January 2024 Edition

How do you introduce yourself?

For the past 10+ years, I have been a transformational coach & trainer, working with both individual and corporate clients in English and Italian. My focus is on how to make your brain your ally, because if you run on auto-pilot, it rarely is your friend, am I right? I also work as part-time project manager and am mother to an extraordinary teenager. I am of German/Dutch heritage, left my heart in London, lived in Paris for a summer (the summer to end all summers) and have lived in Milan for the past 22 years. Got my eye on Zurich next… I am passionate about empowering women and mothers to confidently step into their power to be happy. My motto? BE THE KEY. Because you are the key to open the doors to your future.

Childhood to Adulthood – How was your transition from childhood to adulthood and what are the bad and good things you remember?

Without going into detail, I grew up in a home that was not safe. So from infancy I developed high sensitivity (HSP for highly sensitive person or SPS for sensory processing sensitivity), which means your central nervous system doesn’t really have any buffers to physical, environmental, social, emotional stimuli. It is exhausting but also a kind of superpower, because you are so sensitive to dynamics, vibes, energy. Today, I trust that when I know something, I know something.

Struggle – What hardships have you gone through in life?

Apart from my intense childhood, leaving home at 18 and then Germany at 20, I have been divorced twice. The first time doesn’t really count (married at 21, separated at 23, divorced at 25. Divorce, dishmorce…). The second marriage lasted 10 painful years, but gave us the gift of our son. Going through the separation with a one-year-old, followed by two shoulder surgeries, return to work (while breast-feeding), all without a real support network in a country not my own was the toughest time in my life.

What do people usually not know about you?

I haven’t really spoken openly about my high sensitivity.. tadaaa.

What sets you apart from your competitors in the industry and in life?

Ans: With all the studying I have done over the past 13 years (and continue to do every day), I am today the most resilient, resourceful and happy that I have ever been. Doesn’t mean I stumble and fall. I just know how to quickly pick myself up. I study hard and practice hard to learn more about how our brains – and confident happiness – actually work. My purpose in life is to “live to lead”, by which I mean I’ll go first. I’ll do the work, try and test and never ask my clients to go where I haven’t already been.

What are your upcoming major events?

I am just about to roll out the next edition of my FREE masterclass on self-confidence. We will deep-dive into confidence from 360 degrees: body, mind and emotions. The past editions had raving reviews and I can’t wait to add value to more women and mothers especially. This masterclass can be a game-changer for you, too.

What are your food preferences and physical attributes?

Ans: People say I am so lucky to live in Italy with all the great food. Well, yes and no, because most of the time I have to eat my own cooking hahaha. But the ice-cream. Oh, the ice-cream. Italian ice-cream ruined all other ice-creams of the world for me.

Your love life, relationships and family?

Single mother to my 14 year-old (who has an amazingly present and supportive father), I have few but very deep friendships.

What expert advice would you like to give?

As I have heard say “pain is inevitable; suffering is a choice”. How long you stay down is up to you. And the main three reasons you stay down longer than necessary are 1. You feel helpless 2. You feel hopeless or 3. You feel worthless. In my individual coaching programme “Six Weeks To Step Up Happiness”, we work on all three of these.

Your social media handles and website links?

• LinkedIn: Anja J. Cucinotta
• Instagram: anja_bethekey
• Tic Toc: @be.the.key.coach
• YouTube: Anja Cucinotta
• Facebook: Anja Cucinotta
• Website: https://www.bethekey.it (work in progress right now)