The good life. We all dream about it, want it, desire it, but few have actually carved out a career dedicated to the experience. Marie-Louise Sciò has. Regular Tory Daily readers will recognize the name — she’s the Creative Director and Vice President of the Pellicano group, which includes the famed Il Pellicano hotel on the coast of Tuscany and La Posta Vecchia, a luxury villa just outside of Rome. Sciò spent her childhood soaking up la dolce vita at the former — her father acquired the hotel in 1979 — and now oversees every detail of both vacation estates, from renovations to pop-up events to the menu fonts. And that’s not all. Last year, Sciò added another business to her roster: MLScio Consulting, a creative consulting agency focused on hospitality and real estate projects. Here, we chat with the ever-ambitious hotelier on what it’s like to be the woman in charge…

The most exciting part about running your own business…
The excitement to see an idea and vision evolve and grow. As it grows it takes on so many different forms and projects and that is thrilling.

And the most challenging…
The business has so many aspects of it and, as much as you have to delegate, you need to be on top of everything, which can be challenging at times but nevertheless so fulfilling.

As an entrepreneur, never be afraid to…
Question everything and go for it. My father always told me if you don’t try, you will certainly fail. One has to dream big, work hard, learn constantly and never ever give up in what you believe.

Ways that I embrace ambition…
I’m proudly ambitious and a proud dreamer. I want myself to be an example for my son. I’m constantly trying to improve myself and grow as a person.