The American University of Rome launched its Fall 2025 Alumni Speaker Series with a dynamic opening session featuring Filippo Marinelli (BUS’14), Digital Marketing Strategist at Qatar Airways who shared first-hand insights into the rapidly evolving future of aviation - and reflected on the AUR experiences that helped launch his global career.
Drawing from his role at Qatar Airways, Marinelli highlighted how airlines are reimagining the travel experience through digital transformation, emotional branding, and hyper-personalization. He pointed to innovations such as Q-Verse, a virtual reality platform that allows customers to preview lounges, cabins, and in-flight dining, and Sama, the airline’s new AI-powered booking assistant. He also spotlighted the rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi, offering passengers fast, free, unlimited connectivity - even before takeoff.
“These tools aren’t just upgrades,” Marinelli noted, “they’re part of a broader strategy to build brand loyalty and connect with a new generation of tech-savvy travelers.” He also emphasized the emotional power of sports sponsorships and loyalty programs, showing how aviation marketing increasingly intersects with cultural engagement and customer experience.
Reflecting on his own AUR journey, Marinelli credited the liberal arts foundation, collaborative projects, and pragmatic teaching style for preparing him to thrive in an international career. “Art history in Rome, strong writing skills, and the Strategic Audit I did for my senior thesis - these were game-changers,” he said. Marinelli urged students to stay curious, creative, and adaptable in the face of AI-driven change, predicting not only new technologies but also the rising importance of human-centered roles in storytelling, videomaking, and advertising.
By bridging classroom learning with real-world experience, Marinelli’s story demonstrates how AUR equips graduates for diverse professional paths across industries and continents. His message to students was clear: innovation begins with a broad education, global perspective, and the confidence to think differently.
