My name is Antonino Marra, an Italian professional and would-be entrepreneur with a background in International Relations, language teaching, and non-formal education. My Host Entrepreneur (HE), Katja Lenic Salamun, leads an established organisation in Graz, Austria.
Having discovered the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) programme a while ago, with the support of my IO, Materahub, I applied to obtain a practical “reality check” for my business idea in educational project management and facilitation. I sought to observe organisational growth and impact “from within”, while acquiring advanced competencies in institutional management, budgeting, and stakeholder engagement.
What I intended to achieve was mastering operational tools, expanding an international partner database, refining my business plan through consistent work, and establishing a long-term strategic partnership with my HE in Graz.
Collaborating peer-to-peer with my HE, Katja Lenic Salamun, I was able to look closely into the full lifecycle of local and European initiatives. A core activity was facilitating the digital transformation of the host organisation: analysing project management and visibility tools, resolving operational weak spots, and testing an integrated digital infrastructure.
Methodologically, I logged transnational meetings using Agile principles, designed an Erasmus+ KA2 project focused on community inclusion, and performed cold outreach and on-site visits across Graz associations (covering arts, integration, and civic participation).
My relationship with my HE was built on open communication, mutual trust, and transparent negotiation stemming from our respective needs.
I developed practical competencies in designing custom financial budget templates, Agile project facilitation, digital team management, and supplier coordination.
I drafted an Erasmus+ KA2 project proposal ready for submission and constructed a structured database of local and European partners, even inspiring new contacts to engage in Erasmus+ consortia.
My HE and I established a strong professional synergy and are currently planning to stay in touch for future joint initiatives.
Furthermore, through structured meetings and consistent work throughout these six months together, I successfully integrated these managerial, digital, and financial skills directly into the business plan for my own venture.
This exchange proved that true entrepreneurial success lies in adaptability and active iteration, turning challenges into shared growth and long-term European partnerships.