Italia Tornabene is a dynamic leader dedicated to empowering women across multiple platforms. As a transformational coach, she helps women rise above trauma and embrace their inner strength. Through her wine label, Tornabene Wine, she invites women to celebrate life’s victories—big or small. Moreover, her nonprofit, Empower Her Journey, offers support and tools to help women heal from hardship and rediscover their worth. Her work is rooted in authenticity, driven by purpose, and powered by compassion. With each venture, Italia fosters strength, sisterhood, and self-love.
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Beverly Hills Magazine: It’s an honor to have you. Let’s dive in. Tell us your story of overcoming setbacks, starting from the streets.
Italia Tornabene: I went from homelessness to owning nine successful businesses. I had my son young, without direction. My parents, uneducated and poor, couldn’t support me. At 16, pregnant, they said, “You’re on your own.” It taught me resilience. My son drove me to push forward, to feed him, provide a roof. We were homeless multiple times, even in a car. It was hard, but the journey taught me everything.
Beverly Hills Magazine: Earth is God’s school, challenging us to grow. We learn from the hardest experiences. Your story resonates.
Italia Tornabene: Absolutely. Our purpose is to live purposefully, helping each other. My six books share lessons from my journey. They’ll inspire generations. Even when homeless, I started investing, writing my autobiography. My sister read it and urged me to publish. It became a bestseller.
Beverly Hills Magazine: A powerful story inspires others. If we truly were to love one another, we would care for each other, we would provide for each other, and we could create heaven on earth. As a business leader, tell us about your first business.
Italia Tornabene: Some businesses are faceless, so I’ll keep those private. My entrepreneurship began young. I sold cookies on a cul-de-sac corner, not cute like kids today, but out of need. I wanted to learn drums, but my mom couldn’t afford lessons. I stepped up, pulling weeds, planting flowers, mowing lawns. I earned $250 weekly for drum lessons. Later, homeless again, I sold chicken tacos and taquitos at car dealerships, then worked there, studied criminal justice, and started a paralegal business helping with family law. It thrived until courts went online, nearly shutting it down overnight.
Beverly Hills Magazine: Life’s chapters prepare us for growth. God shapes us into who we’re meant to be. Your journey reflects that.
Italia Tornabene: It’s evolution. Every challenge builds resilience.
Beverly Hills Magazine: Absolutely, it’s a fight of faith. As a Christian, I see entrepreneurship as a leap of faith, believing in a dream only you see. God meets you there. Tell us about Empower Her Journey and its aha moment.
Italia Tornabene: I’ve always done philanthropy, volunteering at homeless shelters. When homeless, I noticed people didn’t use my name, and meals were scarce. As Miss New York, I returned to shelters, like the Bowery Mission, and saw no long-term help. I started Empower Her Journey to support single mother entrepreneurs with grants, mentorship, and connections, helping them avoid costly mistakes I faced.
Beverly Hills Magazine: Your hardships prepared you for this purpose, helping others rise. What drives your coaching practice, and how does it align with your values?
Italia Tornabene: Helping others gives me a high. I stop everything to support my assistant in a crisis. All my businesses and books aim to help people evolve. It’s selfish because it feeds my soul. Living purposefully aligns with my faith—serving others.
Beverly Hills Magazine: Jesus taught us that the greatest among us would become the servant of all. Imagine if everyone took on the mindset of servitude. The world would be beautiful. How do you help women build confidence?
Italia Tornabene: I start with a vision board, respecting all beliefs. I’m spiritual, believing in manifestation and positivity. For breakups or job loss, I ask, “What did you learn?” We grow from that. A lost job means 10 years of knowledge to start a business or find better opportunities. I help people overcome obstacles to evolve.
Beverly Hills Magazine: What are common emotional roadblocks you encounter?
Italia Tornabene: In business, it’s losing vision when plans fail, leading to frustration. I help clients refocus cost-effectively. Personally, it’s heartbreaks, job loss, weight struggles, or addictions. I teach self-discipline, self-awareness, and communication. Completing tasks boosts brain chemistry, helping people evolve.
Beverly Hills Magazine: Why is mentorship crucial, and is your practice women-only?
Italia Tornabene: I target women, having faced their struggles, but I help men too. Mentorship is vital because humans need connection. A friend’s perspective shifts your view, like a therapist offering coping tools. It helps us evolve.
Beverly Hills Magazine: How do you measure success in coaching?
Italia Tornabene: It’s personal growth and milestones. Clients create short-term, mid-term, and long-term vision boards. I check daily progress—emails, tasks, anything. If they hit roadblocks, we talk through action plans. Even small steps count.
Beverly Hills Magazine: What does empowerment look like in action?
Italia Tornabene: It’s harnessing your superpower to build your dream life.
Beverly Hills Magazine: I love that. You also started Tornabene Wine. What makes it unique?
Italia Tornabene: I’m not a big drinker, but acid reflux stopped me from enjoying wine. Using ChatGPT, I researched why wine caused it, then called Napa wineries with a formula—specific grapes, fermentation. One agreed. My three skus won five awards, including a Woman’s Choice Award. They’re velvety, perfect for sensitive stomachs.
Beverly Hills Magazine: Congratulations! What was the biggest challenge in the wine industry?
Italia Tornabene: It’s the hardest business I’ve faced. At my first festival, someone said it’s tough to crack. Direct-to-consumer sales face strict licensing—$5,000 to $10,000 per state. Distributors overlap, complicating deals. I launched in Chicago and Texas, but advertising laws, like broccoli advertising, limit promotion. It’s challenging, but I’ve learned so much.
Beverly Hills Magazine: The things we build end up building us. I believe God ordains our destiny with gifts and talents. Challenges prepare us for purpose. What drives your entrepreneurial spirit?
Italia Tornabene: My hardships—homelessness, single motherhood—equip me to help others, like through my nonprofit. Pursuing dreams aligns with divine purpose.
Beverly Hills Magazine: Italia Tornabene, your journey from homelessness to leading nine businesses is inspiring. Your commitment to empowering women and serving communities shines. Thank you for sharing your faith-driven mission.
Italia Tornabene: Thank you for this heartfelt conversation. I’m honored to share my story and inspire others to pursue their purpose.
Italia Tornabene is more than a businesswoman—she is a force for healing and hope. Her ventures reflect a commitment to uplifting others, one life at a time. Whether through heartfelt coaching, meaningful philanthropy, or her passion-filled wine label, she brings purpose to everything she does. Her leadership reminds us that when women rise, communities rise with them. Italia continues to inspire women everywhere to step into their power and embrace their journey with courage and confidence.