A seasoned professional with 40+ years of experience supporting executives and leading teams, blending strategic business acumen with Italian heritage, cultural values, and a passion for preserving family traditions through innovative platforms and memoir-cookbook endeavors.
Her Story
About Dora
Dora Travaglio serves as an executive assistant, event strategist, team leader, and office manager at Mizkan, a food and beverages manufacturer in Schaumburg, Illinois. With more than 40 years in her field and over 11 years in her current position, she works closely with the CEO and president while supporting other senior executives and handling office management responsibilities across three leased floors in a large building. She coordinates complex priorities, leads small to large-scale employee and leadership events, and serves as the go-to person for office and building issues. A high school graduate who entered the workforce early to support her family, Travaglio previously held diverse roles including positions at an airline as a ticket, gate, and customs agent, as well as work in customer service, accounts payable, and cosmetology. She also volunteered with United Way for over five years at ITW, participating in charitable programs for less fortunate youth such as school painting and gardening projects. Outside her professional duties, she maintains a calm demeanor under pressure and has pursued personal interests including authoring a cookbook and maintaining a food blog for 10 years.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Dora
01What do you attribute your success to?
Learning to honor all the parts of myself at once: a demanding career, family, grandchildren and a creative calling. I stepped away from regular blogging when life became especially busy, but I never gave up that part of myself. I learned that a dream can pause without disappearing—and that it is never too late to return with more wisdom and a richer story.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Do not allow your title to define the limits of your contribution. Keep learning, volunteer for meaningful responsibility and let reliability become your reputation. Preserve what makes you unique—your culture, language, creativity and life experience—because those qualities are not separate from your leadership; they are often its greatest source.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I want to continue growing as a leader while bringing Italia on a Plate back to life and developing The Winding Road to a Piece of Home, a memoir-cookbook that connects my Italian roots, family stories and the recipes that carried home with me. My next chapter is about preserving tradition, sharing what I have learned and encouraging other women to keep creating their own next chapter.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Dora
A Legacy of Leadership, Heritage & Reinvention: The Journey of Dora Travaglio
Decades of Executive Excellence, Cultural Heritage, and Meaningful Leadership Woven Through Professional Success and Creative Vision
Professional Background
- I have spent more than 40 years supporting executives, managing complex priorities, and leading teams.
- My career has evolved from administrative roles into a strategic business partnership built on trust, sound judgment, and follow-through.
- I have managed corporate events and built a reputation for reliability, discretion, and getting things done with care.
- Being fluent in Italian allows me to stay connected to my heritage and bring that part of myself into my work and life.
Leadership and Influence
- I value trust, integrity, and setting a positive example in the way I show up for others.
- I believe behind-the-scenes leadership can have a meaningful impact on culture, decision-making, and the people around me.
- I want to encourage women to recognize the value of their contributions, use their voices, and support one another.
Cultural and Personal Impact
- My Italian heritage shapes my attention to detail, resourcefulness, and sense of hospitality.
- I grew up surrounded by family traditions, food, and community, and those experiences continue to influence the way I connect with and support others.
Creative and Future Goals
- In addition to publishing my first cookbook, Mangia Like an Italian, I founded Italia on a Plate as a way to preserve Italian recipes, family stories, and the traditions that shaped me.
- I plan to relaunch the platform and continue developing the idea of a memoir-cookbook that blends recipes, memories, and personal reflections.
- I see this next chapter as an opportunity for continued growth, reinvention, and sharing my experiences in a meaningful way.
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