Irene Valenti, founder of Valenti International

European Business Magazine catches up with

Irene Valenti pioneer of high-end, traditional matchmaking and founder of Valenti International. With the pace of life becoming increasingly busier, many are fi nding it harder to meet that special someone. This is where Valenti International excels, with a matchmaking process that is highly refi ned, classy, and personalized. Valenti International has just won the International Matchmaker of the Year award for 2020 from our executive readers and below we fi nd out the secret to their success.

Let’s start at the very beginning. Valenঞ Internaঞ onal was founded back in 1990 and successfully operates to this very day. Could you tell us how did you come up with an idea of starঞ ng this business? What was the very beginning like for you, what challenges did you have to face and overcome at that ঞ me?

Irene Valenঞ (IV)During my travels in 1989, I conঞ nuously heard amazing women and men similarly talk about their diffi culঞ es in meeঞ ng the right partner. From this, the entrepreneurial light came on for me and I set my sights on fi nding the soluঞ on. What I found was that there were many high quality individuals searching for a life partner, the true challenge however was in pairing them together. How would they ever meet each other? Would their paths ever cross? This is how Valenঞ was born, became a huge success, and great opportunity to do something that I really love - which is helping people. Growing up in my family, matchmaking was a natural part of my life. It was talked about and conducted - in fact, my father matched my siblings and I to our partners. Having matchmaking in my blood, a strong intuition, and determined nature, I felt confi dent that I could take this idea and make it successful. My experience as an entrepreneur and mother and robust people skills further forঞ - fi ed my opঞ mism about this. Getting off the ground was not easy, as I had just relocated to California from Canada and had limited resources. Also, when I originally talked about the idea of creaঞ ng a high end matchmaking service, most tried to discourage me. However, matchmaking was a foreign idea to most at that ঞ me. Through various friendships, I was introduced to the Rancho Santa Fe community, which happens to be one of the most desirable zip codes (92067) in the country and where our worldwide headquarters is located to this day. I will share more details about this, some of the joys and pains of starting a new business idea and building an empire in my new book, coming early-2021.

Today, Valenঞ Internaঞ onal features the Valenঞ Equestrian

Club, Valenঞ Matchmaking, and the Valenঞ Foundaঞ on — 3 completely diff erent, but successful businesses. What’s the secret formula for making them all so successful?

IV-Giving back is always on my mind and heart - especially when it comes to children and the elderly. Children are so o[ en vulnerable and powerless and the elderly are o[ en lonely and le[ behind. This inspired me to start a 501c3 non-profi t in 2003, which benefi ts both populaঞ ons. We were looking for a new home in the RSF area, as we had outgrown our original offi ce spaces. The soluঞ on was a beauঞ ful and tradiঞ onal mansion with enough space to house our enঞ re team which had grown from one to over twenty in a short period of ঞ me. The bonus was this property had a huge equestrian facility. This soluঞ on turned into something amazing for the brand and resulted in having a beauঞ ful property for fundraising events as well as a strong presence in the horse community. Valenti Matchmaking, the Valenti Foundaঞ on, and the Valenঞ Equestrian Club complement each other in every way due to similar clientele. It is a handful but juggling and multitasking is so much fun when you are surrounded by such beauty and love. However, Valenঞ Matchmaking always comes fi rst and our clients are our number one priority.

Looking at the business empire that you’ve created over the years, do you think that there are some parঞ cular skills that you need more than others in your job?

IV- At the inception of Valenti, I already had years of experience as an entrepreneur with a strong background in markeঞ ng and business and the ability to build a business empire from ground up. A vital big part of the Valenঞ recipe is how matchmaking is in my blood. It is something that is diffi cult to learn, yet came natural to me, due to being born with into it. This is complimented by great intuiঞ on, love of people, and great people

Irene Valenࢼ and the Valenࢼ Ambassadors at the Breeder’s Cup World Championships in 2017.

skills and ঞ ed together with a sense of responsibility, passion, self belief, and a never give up aম tude.

Valenঞ Matchmaking has been the leader in professional matchmaking for more than 30 years now. Its core philosophy is

‘Matchmaking in The European

Tradiࢼ on’. Could you tell us more

about the company’s philosophy and what does it mean?

IV-Matchmaking in the European Tradiঞ on is a philosophy based on old world values. In previous ঞ mes, families would commonly seek out the services of a village matchmaker to fi nd a suitable partner for their unwed daughters and sons. The matchmaker’s task would be to pair these individuals based on key elements of personality, educaঞ on, class, family background, values, and life goals. I have melded the fl avors of this tradiঞ onal approach with a modern and intuiঞ ve touch to create a process that is both ঞ me-tested and has also thrived in this progressive and digital era.

Tell us more about the Valenঞ

Matchmaking clientele — who usually decides to turn to the company for help and what do they all have in common?

Over the years, what was one experience with the client that you remember as a good lesson to this very day?

IV- Our clients are atypical and have everything except that special someone to share life adventures with. Self made men and women of all ages who

are accustomed to hiring the best assistance within their professional and personal lives. Furthermore, they typically arrive at Valenঞ when they are most interested in fi nding a special relaঞ onship and willing to invest in themselves for this. A wonderful memory is my first day in business with my very fi rst client. I explained to her that she would be my fi rst and only client to start. Her response was “I am not doing great on my own and trust that I would have a much be‚ er chance at fi nding love with you.” The spirit of this memory holds true to this day, in that our clients rely on us and trust us to make the right choices for them in fi nding romance.

Having a team of true professionals is extremely important in your business. How do you fi nd the right people to join you in the company? Tell us more about the team that surrounds you.

IV- Having a team of trusted, loyal, capable, and commi‚ ed professionals is a vital component of Valenঞ . Members of my team have come aboard through various avenues including tradiঞ onal searches as well as referrals from business associates, staff psychologists, clients, and other friends of the company. All members of my team were ve‚ ed in a thorough manner, in a similar fashion to how we carefully screen our clients. As a testament to the close knit and dedicated group that I have assembled, many team members have been with the organizaঞ on for extended tenure. Part of the reason why I have survived challenging ঞ mes, is the strong support from my foundaঞ onal team. The company is structured in a manner that allows us to provide an unparalleled level of service to our clients. Our consulting team provides detailed informaঞ on regarding our process to prospective clients. Our matchmaking team thoroughly screens prospecঞ ve clients, meঞ culously cra[ s new introducঞ ons, and provides coaching and guidance. Finally, our concierge team coordinates all details related to introductions, with input from our clients. This forঞfi es an already strong partnership and ensures a fi rst class experience from start to fi nish in all areas.

Let’s talk about the future. In your opinion, how will Valenঞ

Internaঞ onal evolve over the next 5 years? What’s your vision for it for the next 10 years?

IV- I envision Valenঞ as a household brand with worldwide recognition. Valenঞ will conঞ nue to own the highest position in the industry, which I founded and was created in 1990. This will be elevated even further by building a team of super stars worldwide that align with the Valenঞ core values. I plan on wriঞ ng several books - one of which is already in the works and will be potenঞ ally life changing for millions of individuals across the globe. The expected launch ঞ me frame is early-2021 if not sooner. Keep an eye out for the prelaunch on Amazon coming soon as well as it’s arrival on the NY Times Best Sellers list. The Valenঞ style of matchmaking is the future.