Conversation with Julia Kril

Public Affairs, LOBBYING in Brussels, B&K AGENCY & Working with Policymakers | Luca Bertoletti

Today, I sit down with a person I've worked with for almost ten years — Luca Bertoletti, both across various organisations and as business partners at B&K Agency. For a long time, I haven't communicated much here about the work we do at the agency. In this episode, we open up that conversation, diving deeper into the public affairs profession, explaining what it actually looks like in practice and how we work with businesses and policymakers in Brussels. Luca developed an interest in lobbying while at school and decided it would be his profession for life. Public affairs, or lobbying, is a field often viewed from different perspectives and surrounded by misconceptions. In Italy, lobbying is not widely accepted, while it is a full-on operation across the capitals that run the Western world: Brussels, London, and, obviously, Washington D.C. In this episode, we discuss how it works day to day, from representing stakeholders to building relationships with European institutions. Luca has lived in Brussels on and off since 2016 and has seen first-hand how this city has evolved into a centre of European decision-making. Listen to this episode to hear all about public affairs, the Brussels Bubble, and why our work is not frequently talked about, is hard to measure, yet truly represents the foundation of the democratic process. Subscribe to my YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@juliakril [http://www.youtube.com/@juliakril] ✔️ Julia Kril on Instagram 📸: https://www.instagram.com/julia_kril/ [https://www.instagram.com/julia_kril/] ✔️ Julia Kril on TikTok 🎥 : https://www.tiktok.com/@julia_kril [https://www.tiktok.com/@julia_kril] ✔️ Julia Kril on Linkedin 💼 : https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-kril-115761123/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-kril-115761123/] B&K Agency: https://bkagency.co/ [https://bkagency.co/] 📲 Follow B&K Agency on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/b-k-agency-llc/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/b-k-agency-llc/] 📲 Follow B&K Agency on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BK_Agency [https://www.youtube.com/@BK_Agency] 📲 Follow B&K Agency on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bkagency.co/ [https://www.instagram.com/bkagency.co/] 📲 Follow B&K Agency on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bkagency.co/ [https://www.tiktok.com/@bkagency.co/] 📲 Follow Luca Bertoletti on X: https://x.com/LucaBertoletti [https://x.com/LucaBertoletti] 📲 Follow Luca Bertoletti on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bertolettiluca/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bertolettiluca/]

European DEFENCE Industry, Donald Trump’s WAR IN IRAN & Ukraine Military Dominance | Sam Wilkin

In this episode, I sit down with Sam Wilkin, co-founder and editor of The Sentinel, a Brussels online publication providing insights for Europe's rearmament. Sam and I unpack some of the most pressing security questions facing Europe today. We discuss what holds Europe back from reaching its defence spending targets and why unity on security remains so difficult. Together, we also dive into the military conflicts, from the ongoing war in Ukraine to the recent tensions in Iran, and explore how political priorities and national interests influence decisions in the US and EU. This conversation reflects on modern warfare, the rise of drones and whether Europe can achieve a truly united defence posture. Subscribe to my YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@juliakril [http://www.youtube.com/@juliakril] ✔️ Julia Kril on Instagram 📸: https://www.instagram.com/julia_kril/ [https://www.instagram.com/julia_kril/] ✔️ Julia Kril on TikTok 🎥 : https://www.tiktok.com/@julia_kril [https://www.tiktok.com/@julia_kril] ✔️ Julia Kril on Linkedin 💼 : https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-kril-115761123/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-kril-115761123/] The Sentinel: https://www.the-sentinel.media/ [https://www.the-sentinel.media/] 📲 Follow The Sentinel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesentineleu/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesentineleu/] 📲 Follow Sam Wilkin on X: https://x.com/MrSamWilkin [https://x.com/MrSamWilkin] 📲 Follow Sam Wilkin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-wilkin-68b4782a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-wilkin-68b4782a/]

Gemologist Explains: LAB GROWN Diamonds, ENGAGEMENT RINGS & Jewellery Business | Duygu Dagdemir

Today, I sit down with Duygu Dagdemir, gemologist and founder of VONA, to talk all things diamonds and jewellery. In this episode, Duygu shares how she entered the industry, from discovering lab-grown diamonds to deciding to build a business around them. She touches upon the differences between lab-grown and mined stones, why naturality remains a controversial topic, how diamonds are created, and how long it takes to produce a piece of fine jewellery. We discuss engagement rings and how much they "should" cost, the meaning people attach to the size and quality, and how traditions and marketing around jewellery are evolving. The conversation also moves into how the industry is changing globally, from prices to shifting demand. Subscribe to my YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@juliakril [http://www.youtube.com/@juliakril] ✔️ Julia Kril on Instagram 📸: https://www.instagram.com/julia_kril/ [https://www.instagram.com/julia_kril/] ✔️ Julia Kril on TikTok 🎥 : https://www.tiktok.com/@julia_kril [https://www.tiktok.com/@julia_kril] ✔️ Julia Kril on Linkedin 💼 : https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-kril-115761123/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-kril-115761123/] VONA Fine Jewelry: https://vonaofficial.com/ [https://vonaofficial.com/] 📲 Follow Duygu Dagdemir on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duygudagdemir [https://www.instagram.com/duygudagdemir] 📲 Follow Duygu Dagdemir on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@duygudagdemir [https://www.tiktok.com/@duygudagdemir] 📲 Follow Duygu Dagdemir on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duygudagdemir [https://www.linkedin.com/in/duygudagdemir]

Fighting for Free Venezuela, Power of Mindset & Banking Issues No One Talks About with Jorge Jraissati | On Human Journey

In this episode, Julia talks with Jorge Jraissati, President at Economic Inclusion Group, a non-profit organisation advising policymakers and businesses on economic and financial policy. Together, they discuss how Jorge was growing up in Venezuela as the country's economic and political situation deteriorated year after year. Jorge recalls a childhood shaped by everyday instability and injustice, where national collapse was not an abstract concept, but something lived by friends, families and entire communities. He explains how these experiences pushed him to question how economic and political systems work, and why change felt not only possible, but necessary. Jorge talks about how he started advocating for a free and democratic Venezuela after moving to the United States to study. There, he graduated in economics and business, later completing a master’s degree in finance. He now runs an organisation that advises policymakers and business leaders on complex economic and financial issues, including de-banking — a regulatory issue affecting access to financial services in the US and Europe. The conversation touches on politics, activism, and the long road toward rebuilding Venezuela, with an honest acknowledgment that restoring democracy takes time, persistence and a collective responsibility. 🧡 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@onhumanjourney [http://www.youtube.com/@onhumanjourney] On Human Journey Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/onhumanjourney/ [http://www.instagram.com/onhumanjourney/] On Human Journey TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@onhumanjourney [https://www.tiktok.com/@onhumanjourney] Julia Kril's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julia_kril/ [https://www.instagram.com/julia_kril/] Julia Kril's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@julia_kril [https://www.tiktok.com/@julia_kril] Julia Kril's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-kril/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-kril/] Follow Jorge Jraissati on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jraissatijorge/ [https://www.instagram.com/jraissatijorge/] Follow Jorge Jraissati on X: https://x.com/JraissatiJorge/ [https://x.com/JraissatiJorge/] Follow Jorge Jraissati on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgejraissati/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgejraissati/] Economic Inclusion Group: https://econinclusion.com/ [https://econinclusion.com/]

On Building Businesses in Ukraine, Overcoming Social Pressure & Finding Role Models with Olga Shykalo | On Human Journey

In this episode, Julia talks with Olga Shykalo, Ukrainian entrepreneur, founder of Rayana, a brand of bed linen, and Chief Marketing Officer of Duotet, providing accounting and legal services, which she founded seven years ago. Together, they discuss Olga's journey to Poland at the age of 16 without knowledge of Polish language, her early career, and the reasons why she decided to build her business in Ukraine, mentor Ukrainian entrepreneurs, and pay tax in Ukraine. They touch on the social norms deeply ingrained in the Ukrainian culture, where women have been told to be moderate in their expressions of themselves and never stand out. Olga and Julia challenge this norm. Olga believes that brave always have happiness, you need to be brave enough to pursue your dreams and it will always pay off. Olga also shares the lessons she learn from your experience in business, where she believes that you always need to have a plan but be ready for unpredictable, adapt, and keep trying. 🧡 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@onhumanjourney [http://www.youtube.com/@onhumanjourney] On Human Journey Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/onhumanjourney/ [http://www.instagram.com/onhumanjourney/] On Human Journey TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@onhumanjourney [https://www.tiktok.com/@onhumanjourney] Julia Kril's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julia_kril/ [https://www.instagram.com/julia_kril/] Julia Kril's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@julia_kril [https://www.tiktok.com/@julia_kril] Julia Kril's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-kril/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-kril/] Follow Olga Shykalo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olgashykalo [https://www.instagram.com/olgashykalo] Follow Olga Shykalo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olga-shykalo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/olga-shykalo/]