**Introduce yourself. What do you do? What's your story?**
My name is Nikki Taylor and I am an Australian expat who has been living in Italy since 2014. I have always had a fascination with Italy ever since my first trip to Florence in the year 2001. I remember feeling overwhelmed by everything that Italy is: the beauty, the architecture, and the history. I remember saying to myself that one day I would move there. I had lived abroad in London and Sao Paulo, returning to Sydney in 2012. In the process, I realized that I had never really felt ‘settled’ or ‘at home.’ After so many years away, I felt disconnected with my home country. It was like my soul was yearning for something more.
At the same time, I was working long hours in the investment banking industry and went through classic corporate burnout. That was really my ‘line in the sand’ moment. I was 34 at the time and single, looking to meet the love of my life and start a family. I really wanted to embark on a new adventure and completely change my life... Italy was my answer. I sold pretty much everything I owned, left my secure six-figure income, and moved to Italy.

Everyone said that I was absolutely crazy. Shortly after I arrived, I began working for a luxury global real estate company, where assisted overseas buyers in the property purchase process. I was living in the North of Italy at the time, in a town called Bolzano, which is in the mountains on the border of Austria. Although it was absolutely gorgeous, it didn't really feel like Italy to me. As an Aussie who was used to living near the beach, I really missed the ocean and decided to move to the far south of Italy to a region called Puglia. I remember arriving in Monopoli, a picture-perfect postcard-like town. I had goosebumps and tears in my eyes; I knew that this was my home.

Shortly after arriving in Monopoli, I met my husband, an architect. I started working for a luxury real estate and holiday rental company, where my role was, again, assisting foreign buyers with their property purchases in Italy. After seeing a consistent pattern in the fears that foreign buyers had concerning properties in Italy, I was inspired to create my own business.

What sparked your interest in this field of work?

After working for several years in the real estate and holiday rentals industries, I kept seeing a pattern in my foreign clients, who all had the same fears and doubts... the process can be fraught with bureaucracy and there are several ‘horror stories’ around. It is definitely not like “Under the Tuscan Sun.”

I saw a huge gap in the market where I could implement my passion for Italy while utilizing my experience in real estate and helping foreign buyers. I created my first course not only on the country, but on the industry of buying property in Italy. Shortly after that, my business really took off. I was fortunate enough to be featured in Forbes and Entrepreneur magazine and even filmed a program for the HGTV show, "Mediterranean Life.” I wrote an e-book for Amazon about buying property in Italy, which became to #1 across six categories in less than 24 hours.

My passion for helping people achieve their Italian dream runs very deep. Nothing lights me up more than seeing people happy in their new homes and living their own Italian dreams.

**What are your goals for 2022?**
I have a huge vision for 2022. Business-wise, 2021 was a bit of a crazy rollercoaster for me (as it was for many people), but all that uncertainty actually gave me a strong vision and a sense of clarity going into 2022.
In February, I finished a house giveaway competition in Italy, where people from all around the world wrote a handwritten notes as to why they love Italy. The lucky winner won a gorgeous turn-key property in Ostuni, Puglia, one of the most desired towns in Italy. My goal for that competition was to create a ripple effect of love and positivity during some very challenging times. Being able to gift someone their Italian dream was so rewarding!
I really love the idea of showing people what is possible; that their dream CAN be an achievable reality. I will be launching an online magazine called “La Dolce Vita Lifestyle Magazine," where I will be curating a list of the best property deals in Italy every week while providing invaluable insider knowledge on buying property in Italy. I am also working on designing a "La Dolce Vita Lifestyle" merchandise range, which is going to be an Italy lover's dream. I plan to sell incredible, Italian-inspired homewares, accessories, and clothing to use whilst here in Italy.

If you could give advice to women who are interested in entering property consulting, what would it be and why?

This is a great question. If I could have given myself advice when I first started out, I would have said to really have thick skin, be super resilient, and remain authentic. The property world can be incredibly ruthless; unfortunately, a lot of people do not work with ethics in mind. I cannot tell you how many times I had my ideas completely copied by others, and, in the beginning, it used to really bother me. Now, I do not let it faze me. People will always choose to work with whomever they feel most energetically aligned with. I know that being my most authentic self will always attract the right type of clients.

Describe what a good day looks like to you, start to finish.

My favorite part of what I do is the variety. A big part of my daily routine is searching for properties, which is a total passion of mine. I really enjoy hosting live training sessions in my Facebook community, "How to Confidently Buy Property in Italy and live La Dolce Vita," and sharing my knowledge to help others to take that first step. I really love it when my clients come to Italy and we view properties together. It is so amazing to be alongside them on their journeys and to see their expressions when they have found "The One.”

I am also the mom of two gorgeous little boys, so balancing mommy time and work time is key! □

Article Credits:

Facebook: Personal & Facebook Community

Instagram Profile: Personal & La Dolce Vita Magazine

La Dolce Vita Lifestyle Magazine

Photographer: Giulia Marangi

Main Website Credits: Virtuoso Digital

Magazine Website Credits: La Dolce Vita Magazine