Mariateresa Romeo is the founder of Cometa Coaching, a company offering executive coaching and leadership development services. With over twenty years of experience in corporate consulting, she has supported leaders and organizations in both Italy and the United States, addressing challenges related to organizational change and cultural transformation. Her mission is to help professionals and teams develop self-awareness, authenticity, and trust, promoting well-being and performance in multicultural settings. We interviewed her for Il Newyorkese.
“Change never comes without challenges, but it is precisely in those challenges that growth becomes possible. Only those who dare to question their certainties and embrace new perspectives can truly transform themselves—and the world around them.”
What has been the common thread guiding your professional journey, from your early years in consulting to coaching?
I left Sicily at 18 to move to Rome, where I earned a degree in Corporate Communication. That marked the start of a 14-year career in management consulting, first in Rome and then in Milan. I managed complex projects focused on performance improvement, reorganization, and change management—working on three key elements: people, processes, and information systems.
But my real passion has always been corporate communication and, more specifically, everything related to people. Of the three pillars in business projects, the one I felt most connected to was always human resources. I firmly believe that, considering how much time we spend working, it’s essential to build a work environment that’s meaningful, authentic, and generative.
While still working in the corporate world, I began studying coaching and eventually got certified as an executive coach in Italy—a natural progression that combined my existing skills with a personal drive for human development.
What did moving to New York represent for you, and how did it influence the evolution of your professional path?
Moving to New York was a turning point, even though it was supposed to last only six months. In reality, it’s been nine years. The company I was working for offered me this opportunity, and I accepted it for two reasons: first, the chance to engage with the American corporate world; second, the growing awareness that I was already deeply interested in topics like talent development and organizational culture.
In the U.S., I had the opportunity to work on more specialized HR projects, such as change management and people development in organizational contexts. At the same time, I continued my education, earning increasingly specialized certifications in coaching and individual and team performance development.
This combination of hands-on experience and theoretical study laid the foundation for what would later become Cometa Coaching.
Today, there are many companies offering training, individual coaching, and organizational development. What truly sets Cometa Coaching apart?
Cometa Coaching was born in 2022 from a personal need that gradually turned into a professional mission: to create a space where people—whether individuals or organizations—can rediscover and fully live their potential.
Cometa is a coaching, training, and—using an American term that resonates with me—human capital consulting company. It’s true, the coaching and training space is crowded. But what I wanted to create with Cometa is something different: a bridge between personal and organizational growth, where people are not just “resources” to be optimized, but individuals to be empowered.
I work with people going through transitions or professional challenges, through personalized coaching programs. I also collaborate with companies, drawing on my twenty-plus years of experience between Italy and the U.S. to develop leadership, communication, and team management skills.
What truly sets Cometa apart is that it was born from my extensive corporate experience in both consulting and coaching, and is defined by an integrated approach: we combine individual coaching, experiential training, and cultural consulting to generate real, lasting impact.
We don’t just focus on how people work, but above all on why. We help companies build coherent identities, where values, mission, and internal communication are lived every day—not just declared.
Cometa Coaching stands out because it merges the heart of individual coaching with the rigor of management consulting, grounded in corporate training. I work exclusively on long-term projects because I believe in creating paths that bring about real and lasting change—not one-off interventions.
The real difference lies in the cultural approach: I don’t just facilitate change—I guide organizations in building strong, coherent identities by working deeply on values, mission, and internal culture.
At Cometa, every journey—whether corporate or personal—is tailored. We don’t apply standard models; we listen, interpret, and co-create. Together.
How have you approached the cultural differences between the Italian and American markets to achieve positive impact?
There are deep differences between the Italian and American markets, and I’ve been fortunate to experience them firsthand. I’ve observed the contrasts between the Italian and American corporate worlds up close, and I’ve felt those differences on my skin.
Beyond the language barrier—which exists even if you speak English well—there are fundamental differences in how work dynamics play out. In Italy, for example, the culture tends to be more hierarchical, with top-down decision-making. In the U.S., there’s a stronger focus on collaboration and autonomy, and communication is more direct and informal.
The approach to time and problem-solving also differs: in the U.S., there’s a faster, more pragmatic attitude, while in Italy, decisions are more reflective and deliberate. These differences change you—they help you grow.
I’ve drawn from this experience, learning to navigate two worlds that, while both part of the corporate sphere, are profoundly different.
Today, I often support Italians moving to the U.S. to take on leadership roles in Italian companies, helping them navigate both cultures.
Initially, I relied heavily on the network of Italians here, which helped me connect with a variety of realities. I now work with several Italian companies in the U.S., especially since many talent development programs are still managed by headquarters in Italy. Having someone who understands both cultures is a huge advantage—and that’s something I always aim to highlight.
How did you manage to turn your approach into a strength, despite the competitiveness of the market?
This project is the result of years of dedication and development. When I arrived in the U.S., the idea was already clear in my mind. But, as often happens, there’s a big gap between vision and execution.
One choice I made from the start—unlike many other coaches—was not to pursue life coaching. My focus has always been the business world: professionals, entrepreneurs, and managers. Not because I’m not interested in life coaching, but because I believe in being clear about who you are and what you offer.
I didn’t come with a revolutionary or niche product. I tried to make it unique by leveraging my experience. I don’t offer pre-packaged courses or standard programs. Every company is unique, as is every individual—even when facing similar challenges.
The biggest challenge I faced was defining my positioning. Today, a quick online search yields countless leadership and coaching courses that promise instant results. The real challenge is helping the market understand that developing talent takes time and commitment.
My career has been a continuous journey of adaptation and growth, where every challenge became an opportunity to define and refine my approach.
Today, Cometa is the result of a clear vision and daily commitment—one that keeps evolving with the goal of providing authentic, tailored value. Looking ahead, my commitment is to keep growing alongside my clients, creating solutions that respond even more precisely to their needs.
It’s a journey that excites me more every day—because I truly believe that both personal and professional evolution never ends.
