This past semester, John Cabot University students Nina Lange, Mario Dinicola, and Samuele Nusca-Dagon had the unique opportunity to intern with Fairfax City Economic Development. Their project focused on strategies to help Fairfax City attract Italian companies looking to expand into the U.S. market.
As part of the initiative, the students developed a promotional brochure and presented it at SelectUSA Investment Summit, one of the most important events for foreign investment in the United States.
The fellowship not only strengthened students’ skills in international business and marketing, but also fostered a new transatlantic partnership between John Cabot University and Fairfax City Economic Development.
A Transformational Experience: Samuele’s Perspective
For Samuele Nusca-Dagon, a double major in Marketing and Psychology with minors in Entrepreneurship and Visual Arts, the experience was transformative. “My experience this past semester representing JCU alongside my peers as an inaugural fellow with Fairfax City Economic Development was nothing short of transformational in a personal, professional, and academic sense,” Samuele said.
“This experience provided me invaluable insight into the inner workings of marketing on the global level,” explained Samuele. “We spent the semester producing strategic research, which we then turned into tangible marketing collateral aimed at attracting Italian businesses to Northern Virginia.”
But beyond professional growth, the internship was deeply personal. “As an Italian, South African, and American, I’ve always lived and worked between worlds. This project brought those into alignment and enabled me to create a real impact. It showed me that my background isn’t just something to explain — it’s a superpower,” Samuele said.
Attending the SelectUSA Summit was a highlight for him. “I was fascinated to interact directly with the global business community and learn from countless leaders in technology, business, and entrepreneurship,” he said. Reflecting on the experience, Samuele emphasized the importance of people. “We realized through this internship that business isn’t just about shaking hands, but about meeting and learning from people of all backgrounds and skillsets to become a multifaceted person and professional who can effect real change in the world.”
Samuele credits JCU’s Center for Career Services for making it all possible: “This experience was life-changing on multiple levels, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the John Cabot Career Services team. They worked so hard to make this opportunity available, fostering a promising transatlantic partnership that will last for many years to come.”
