Born in Karachi, Pakistan to Indian parents and raised in Italy, Alumna Shazia Naqui graduated from JCU in 2004 with a BA in International Affairs. She has gone on to build a career rooted in human connection, cultural understanding, and entrepreneurship. Today, she is the founder of Naquist, a luxury experiential travel and cultural platform based in Rome. The company curates exclusive, small-scale experiences centered around art, craftsmanship, gastronomy, wellness, and Italian culture. Rather than traditional tourism, Naquist connects clients directly with artisans, artists, historians, chefs, and other experts for immersive experiences.
You studied International Affairs at JCU. What drew you to that path? I pursued International Affairs because my dream was to work in diplomacy as an Italian ambassador. What truly attracted me was the idea of connecting people.
My strength has always been understanding who people are, where they want to go, and how to guide them in that direction. It goes far beyond translating documents or facilitating meetings. It’s about reading cultural nuances, understanding intentions, and recognizing the deeper structures behind words.
Without cultural awareness, you don’t fully understand who is speaking to you: is it the individual, their culture, or their institution? My role has always been to interpret that complexity and create alignment.
Shazia Naqui
Did your major in International Relations at John Cabot University help shape your approach to public relations? Absolutely. If you think about it, even in ancient Rome, influence and diplomacy were built on relationships. Public relations didn’t begin with social media – it began with human connection.
I often tell my daughter, who is currently studying in the US, that the people she meets at university will likely become her future collaborators, colleagues, and business partners. Your academic environment isn’t just about learning; it’s about building your lifelong network. In that sense, choosing a university also means choosing your future ecosystem.
You didn’t pursue the diplomatic path. How did that shape your journey? I wasn’t able to pursue the diplomatic path because I didn’t receive my Italian citizenship in time to meet the Ministry of Foreign Affairs application deadline. At the time, it was very complicated. But I don’t believe we are defined by external circumstances. I have a strong sense that life follows a deeper coherence. Looking back, I can see that something else was unfolding for me.
I am a traveler at heart. I don’t easily fit into rigid structures. I need flexibility in how I express myself and manage my time. In hindsight, perhaps formal diplomacy wasn’t the only – or even the best – way for me to represent my country.
In 2014, I founded I Sport Travel, a company that organizes international tours to Italy for sports events. That company is very close to my heart. I always say, “Who we are is our business,” and I mean that literally. What we create professionally is an extension of who we are personally.
My consulting work with international partners always brought me back to one theme: showcasing Italy. It’s home, it’s where my roots are. So, I became an ambassador in another way.
Tell us more about Naquist. How did it come about? Naquist is a digital platform that offers access to people who are extraordinary in what they do, and who personally open their world through a limited number of experiences each year. We connect these individuals with those who seek something more meaningful than what is commonly available.
There is a story behind the name Naquist. It comes from a principle in signal theory introduced by Swedish physicist Harry Nyquist, known as the Nyquist Theorem. Nyquist’s name mirrors mine: it was an almost uncanny resemblance I couldn’t ignore.
The idea is simple. There is a point at which a sound signal must be sampled to preserve its true form. Below that point, it turns into noise. Above it, the signal becomes clear and can be understood as it was meant to be. This reflects how people experience the world today. We travel and see more of everything, but we often miss what truly matters. Culture, craftsmanship, and human excellence get diluted. Naquist was built to bring that clarity back. It is about giving access to people you would not otherwise meet.
How did John Cabot University influence your entrepreneurial career? I owe a great deal to John Cabot University. Professor Franco Pavoncello, currently JCU’s president, left a lasting impact on me. His classes on politics went beyond theory; they explored power, money, and human nature. One of the most important lessons I learned is that there are no absolutes. Understanding people and the systems they create is essential.
John Cabot provided an international perspective not only through its students but also through its faculty. We engaged with literature from around the world, and those lessons still influence me today. The professors themselves were on journeys of their own. They offered more than knowledge; they offered vision. The University became a home, a place for growth, connection, and reflection.
What advice do you have for students, especially women aspiring to lead? Talk. Talk to everyone, from the person sitting near you, to professors to a cab driver. Ask questions. Listen carefully. Learn from their experiences, their challenges, their inspirations, and the highlight of their day. These conversations often teach you more than any textbook.
Somewhere in their stories, you will find parts of yourself. Human stories carry the same essential truths about the good, the bad, and the just. Connect with different minds, explore different paths, and reflect on who you are. Life and business are mirrors, and the deeper the connection, the clearer the reflection.
