‘It’s unwavering persistence that drives breakthrough achievements’ – Manila Di Giovanni, DWorld CEO

Manila Di Giovanni, CEO of DWorld, stands at the forefront of digital economic transformation, pioneering the world’s first comprehensive virtual economy for cities and countries. Starting her entrepreneurial journey at just 19 in Monaco, this Forbes 30 under 30 honouree and recipient of prestigious accolades, including the woman of the year award in Monaco, has dedicated herself to bridging the gap between the physical and digital realms.

In the world of DWorld, Manila Di Giovanni has made it her mission to foster collaborations between governments, enterprises and communities to revolutionise how nations harness technology for economic growth. In doing so, she has positioned herself as a driving force in the evolution of digital economies worldwide.

Describing her role at DWorld, Manila says it goes beyond traditional executive duties: “I serve as a bridge-builder,” she says. “I connect our team members, government officials, public institutions, and community-focused enterprises worldwide.” Her leadership philosophy stems from steadfast determination and resilience. “Taking a project from vision to reality demands intense commitment,” she explains. “It’s this unwavering persistence that drives breakthrough achievements.”

This mindset has been crucial in navigating the challenges of pioneering new technological frontiers, particularly in an emerging field that is often misunderstood. “When you’re introducing concepts like web3 and Metaverse technologies, you need to go through an intense educational process. I spend 90 per cent of my time teaching people about what the Metaverse truly is, as well as the transformative impact it can generate.”

So, what is the Metaverse? In simple terms, it’s a bridge between the real world and its virtual counterparts. However, what makes DWorld’s platform unique is that it isn’t limited to just recreating what exists today: “While we can create precise digital twins of current environments, we can also prototype and visualise the future of cities and countries,” Manila enthuses.

“Unfortunately, the term ‘Metaverse’ has become a bit tainted,” she notes. “So, we’ve intentionally shifted away from using it because people immediately associate it with gaming and pixelated environments.” In fact, DWorld has replaced ‘Metaverse’ with terms like ‘Cityverse’ and ‘Virtual Economy’ to better reflect their mission of creating practical, real-world value through tourism and economic development.

Comprehensive engagement with local businesses forms the foundation of this initiative. “The Maltese Cityverse requires participation from every enterprise and public entity,” Manila goes on to explain. “We’re creating more than just a platform; we’re building a virtual economy hub that will showcase Malta’s heritage, local enterprises, startups, and public institutions on the global stage. This ecosystem can only thrive when all stakeholders are actively engaged.”

The platform represents a transformative opportunity for Maltese businesses to transcend geographical limitations. “Being an island, Malta faces natural barriers to physical access. But, in our Cityverse, businesses can connect with anyone, anywhere in the world.” That is especially exciting because this borderless accessibility unlocks new revenue streams as businesses can showcase their offerings through virtual storefronts, host global events and create immersive customer experiences – all while building stronger international brand loyalty and expanding their customer base.

One of the platform’s most innovative features is its role in urban planning and development. “The Cityverse serves as a powerful visualisation and prototyping environment for governments and enterprises,” Manila continues. “Before committing resources to real-world implementations, stakeholders can simulate and test future projects in detail.” Beyond urban planning, the Cityverse evolves into an advanced digital ecosystem that transcends mere virtual replicas of cities, transforming them into interactive platforms where innovation, sustainability and civic engagement converge. By leveraging technologies such as virtual reality (VR), blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Cityverse becomes a dynamic environment where citizens, businesses and institutions collaborate in real time. It enables experimental models for urban growth, decentralised governance solutions and sustainable development practices, ensuring more informed decisions and optimised resources. Additionally, it breaks geographical barriers by offering opportunities for education, commerce and entertainment, positioning cities as global hubs of innovation and culture.

The platform also addresses sustainable tourism challenges. For instance, the Maltese Cityverse will offer immersive virtual tourism experiences that showcase Malta’s rich heritage to visitors worldwide. These digital experiences will give tourists the chance to explore Malta’s culture and landmarks before their physical visit. “While this virtual platform will never replace the authentic experience of visiting Malta, it will serve as a powerful complementary tool to help us manage tourism more sustainably. Beyond that, but allowing virtual exploration, the environmental impact of mass tourism can be reduced while maintaining and even enhancing tourism revenue streams.”

While the concept of a virtual economy has been widely embraced, particularly by nations limited by size or accessibility, DWorld’s journey from Monaco to Malta wasn’t straightforward. “It took us almost two years to sign our MOU with TechMT,” Manila reveals. But it was worth the wait for her and her team. This collaboration – supported by the Ministry for the Economy – represented a significant milestone in establishing Malta’s official virtual economy. Since then, the platform has gained remarkable traction among local enterprises.

“2024 exceeded our expectations in many ways,” Manila reflects. “While we anticipated moderate growth, we were pleasantly surprised by how quickly our targeted regions embraced the Cityverse technology. The adoption rate far surpassed our initial projections.” The biggest surprise, she reveals, was the high level of interest from governmental entities in embracing the Cityverse for economic and tourism development. “I’ve enjoyed seeing our virtual economies become a vibrant ecosystem where entities are collaborating and cooperating,” she says.

Looking ahead, Manila’s vision for DWorld’s digital future is both ambitious and transformative. “Our strategic direction goes beyond creating just another digital platform,” she explains. “We’re generating a virtual parallel economy for Malta that will boost tourism and GDP while actively engaging and empowering younger generations. This isn’t just about economic growth – it’s about giving the community the tools to shape Malta’s future and create lasting positive impact for our local society.”

Training and education will form a crucial pillar of Dworld’s 2025 strategy. “We’re collaborating with DiHubMT to develop comprehensive Cityverse technology training courses,” Manila continues. “Our goal is to create programmes that enhance the skills of the local workforce, making it easier for them to access new opportunities in this emerging digital economy. We want to empower people with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive in the Cityverse environment.”

Despite global economic uncertainties, Manila sees robust potential in Malta’s technology sector. “The Maltese business environment has shown remarkable resilience, particularly in technology,” she notes. “We’re continuing to see strong interest from both local and international investors, especially in Cityverse and digital transformation initiatives. While regulatory challenges remain one of our biggest hurdles, careful strategic planning can help sustain growth in our industry.”

For Manila, the Maltese Virtual Economy represents more than just technological advancement – it’s a blueprint for how nations can harness digital innovation to drive economic growth. So, by creating an ecosystem that integrates local businesses, develops talent through comprehensive training programmes and prioritises sustainable development, DWorld is establishing a framework that other regions can adapt for their own digital transformation journeys.

“What we’re creating goes beyond attracting investments,” Manila underscores. “We’re positioning Malta as a forward-thinking digital economy that welcomes tech talent and innovation. We hope the results will be transformative.”

This article is part of the serialisation of 50 interviews featured in Malta CEOs 2025 – the sister brand to MaltaCEOs.mt and an annual high-end publication bringing together some of the country’s most influential business leaders.