From Cisco Certification to AI: Flavio Castania’s first months at Italtel

A young professional passionate about Networking

At just 19 years old, Flavio Castania already has a clear vision for his professional future. After graduating from the Pacinotti Archimede Technical Institute in Rome, he gained early exposure to the world of networking through an initiative introduced by his Systems and Networks teacher: earning the Cisco CCNA certification.

It proved to be a pivotal decision. After successfully passing the certification exams, Flavio found himself with several career opportunities to choose from. Among them, he decided to start his professional journey at Italtel, attracted by the company’s long-standing reputation for innovation and the positive impression he received during his first interviews with future managers and team members.

Joining Italtel and learning from the team

Flavio joined Italtel approximately seven months ago as a Junior Network Engineer. In his role, he supports activities related to the management, operation, and optimization of customer network infrastructures and telecommunications systems, working closely with experienced colleagues.

His integration into the Network Automation team was supported by a structured onboarding process. From day one, he could rely on the guidance of his mentor Gabriella and his manager Valerio, who helped him understand both the team dynamics and operational processes through hands-on training and daily collaboration.

“I felt comfortable right away—much more than I expected,” says Flavio. “I found a collaborative environment where people are approachable, supportive, and open to discussion.”

One of the aspects he appreciates most is Italtel’s hybrid working model, which combines office presence with remote work, promoting flexibility and a healthy work-life balance.

Turning Ideas into Innovation: an AI project developed in his first months

Despite being relatively new to the company, Flavio has already had the opportunity to contribute innovative ideas and take an active role in ongoing projects.

During his first months at Italtel, he proposed an Artificial Intelligence-based initiative aimed at supporting software development activities. The project leveraged Cursor, an AI-powered coding assistant, to enhance programming efficiency and collaboration.

Through discussions and teamwork across different departments, the original concept evolved into a project focused on the large-scale generation of technical documentation for the migration and configuration of network devices—including switches and routers—for a customer deployment.

For Flavio, this was a particularly meaningful experience. It allowed him to collaborate with colleagues from multiple company locations, including Palermo, while experiencing firsthand the value of teamwork and knowledge sharing.

Looking ahead with curiosity and determination

Looking to the future, Flavio is considering pursuing a university degree in Computer Engineering or Artificial Intelligence to further expand his knowledge in a field he is deeply passionate about.

At the same time, he plans to continue working and investing in professional certifications, which he believes are increasingly valuable in today’s job market.

This is also the advice he would give to other young professionals starting their careers:

“Gaining real-world experience and earning professional certifications can truly make a difference.”

Continuous learning and professional growth

One of the things Flavio values most about his experience at Italtel is the company’s commitment to continuous learning.

He is currently using Udemy, the learning platform available to all employees, to deepen his knowledge of Large Language Models (LLMs) and prepare for an NVIDIA certification focused on Artificial Intelligence.

Over the past few months, he has also developed essential soft skills, including meeting management, customer interaction, and collaboration with senior professionals and business leaders.

Among his most memorable experiences are participating in a meeting with a German customer—where he had the opportunity to put his English skills into practice—and attending a Cisco event focused on emerging AI strategies.

“I’m learning a lot, not only from a technical perspective but also in terms of work methodology and professional communication,” he explains.