The Faces of the Alumni<\/p>\n
We are constantly working to develop the most modern and up-to-date skills<\/strong> in business management and ethical, responsible entrepreneurship, and we walk side by side with individuals and businesses<\/strong> to help them transform their goals into concrete projects and results. We are constantly evolving<\/strong>, just like our alumni! We celebrate and highlight the experiences and achievements of our alumni to provide new inspiration and confidence to the alumni of tomorrow.<\/em><\/p>\n Camillo Di Tullio Luca D\u2019Alba Marta Barbieri Giulio Mandruzzato Francesco Pezzutto Ingrid Gacci Rudy Morandin Alberto Bressan Paola Gregori Andrea Del Chicca Camillo Di Tullio<\/p>\n When I enrolled at CUOA, it was 1994. I chose the MIM5 Master\u2019s program (Master\u2019s in Marketing and Communication). It was the year Susanna Tamaro published *Follow Your Heart*, Forza Italia was founded, and the radio was playing Afterhours\u2019 \u201cDentro Marilyn\u201d and Jovanotti\u2019s \u201cPenso positivo.\u201d Photography and martial arts were my hobbies. My goal was clear: to join a multinational corporation to work in marketing. CUOA was instrumental: Colgate-Palmolive opened its doors to me, followed by Hill\u2019s Pet Nutrition, Danone, and Black & Decker. My experiences in the corporate world have always had one constant: creating something from nothing. I\u2019ve always found myself facing what\u2019s called a blank slate. Today, they call them startups. Having a blank slate in front of you has enormous advantages: you\u2019re the one blazing the trail; but there are also many disadvantages: being a trailblazing manager guarantees you nothing. But what\u2019s the big deal? Today, I no longer practice martial arts; I continue to take photographs; I work in big data and digital marketing at a major national telecommunications company; and, above all, I complement my professional career by teaching at CUOA. For over 10 years, I\u2019ve enjoyed sharing my experience in marketing, with the goal of updating and training the current and future generations who will lead our companies.<\/p>\n Luca D\u2019Alba<\/p>\n When I enrolled at CUOA, it was 2001 and I was 27 years old. Even back then, I was passionate about music: I listened to Vasco, Ligabue, Jovanotti, and all the bands that were popular at the time\u2014U2 and Oasis above all. Another great passion of mine was soccer, especially Juventus. I also really loved traveling. My parents have always been my inspiration in life: even back then, my goals were to start a family and find professional fulfillment, while trying to maintain the right balance between these two aspects. My time at CUOA was instrumental in helping me understand what I wanted to do in my professional life and in providing me with the tools to achieve my goals. Today, I am General Manager at Autogrill, with responsibility for European commercial operations and Italian operations. I\u2019m still passionate about music and a huge Juventus fan. I still enjoy traveling, and I\u2019m very passionate about art, but what excites me most is watching my two little girls, Anna Maria and Elisa, grow day by day. I hope CUOA continues to nurture talent by providing the many young women and men who want to work in the corporate world with the essential tools to make their dreams come true.<\/p>\n Marta Barbieri<\/p>\n I enrolled in the part-time International MBA Program at CUOA in 2009. I was 26 at the time. Back then, I spent most of my time working in Switzerland, where I managed the supply chain for Fiamm. Music was, of course, an essential part of my long drives from Vicenza. Depending on the day and my mood, I\u2019d switch between David Bowie\u2019s \u201980s rock and Bryan Adams\u2019s romantic \u201990s ballads, as well as Italian artists like Lucio Battisti and Francesco De Gregori. Singing their songs at the top of my lungs while gripping the steering wheel was truly an outlet for the stress of work. It\u2019s a remedy I still turn to today\u2014even though the number of kilometers I travel is significantly lower. Music aside, in 2009 I was passionate about sailing (I had recently obtained my boating license), skiing (I won a company ski race that very year), and traveling. Fresh from two weeks in Stintino to recharge and take in the extraordinary landscapes of Sardinia, I remember that, at the end of summer, I flew to New York with my family. The atmosphere in the Big Apple has always been a burst of energy for me. \u201cCh ch ch changes,\u201d sang David Bowie in 1973, extolling the importance of knowing how to reinvent oneself and embracing change. As it happened, a few weeks later I began my new adventure at CUOA. From my very first year of college, my priority was to become a well-rounded professional with a coherent educational and career path. I wanted to grow not only professionally but also as a person. For this reason, I\u2019ve always tried to maintain an open mind and an international perspective. My experience at CUOA allowed me to develop a broader view of business processes. Thanks to the Master\u2019s program, I expanded my professional path, eventually taking on responsibility for an entire supply chain\u2014ranging from customer care to procurement, including demand, material, production, and sales planning, as well as the central logistics hub. It is a role, therefore, in which networking and engaging with diverse people proved essential from the very beginning. I have always been a strong believer in diversity, which opens up new horizons and new perspectives. The wealth of experiences and skills is, in my opinion, the \u201csecret\u201d ingredient that no company should do without. I serve as Procurement and Supply Chain Director at Sit Group, a multinational company listed on the Italian Stock Exchange and a leader in gas and water control systems. My musical tastes have remained the same. I never get fixated on a particular artist or genre. I love immersing myself in diversity and letting myself be guided by the emotions that every note can evoke. In the same way, I let myself be swept away by movies and on-demand TV. Alongside arthouse films, I also enjoy the lightheartedness of a less pretentious TV series. After all, the screen is a tool for escaping reality, a way to daydream\u2014to spread my wings and fly away, beyond the clouds and over the sea. My beloved Croatian sea, where I spent my vacations as a child and where I still return every year. While long walks beneath the Lebanese cedars in Rovinj have become a summer tradition, other seas and landscapes remain etched in my mind every day of the year. These are the oceans of New Zealand and the Cook Islands, the destination of my honeymoon a few years ago. Few other things in life have moved me as much as those landscapes, with their fern forests and miles of wild coastline. When I close my eyes, I can still smell the salt in the air and feel the wind caressing my face. Traveling is a constant source of excitement because, even when the journey is over, we always carry it within us. I hope that CUOA continues to foster open minds, invest in relationships, and build networks both locally and internationally. Even today, my experience is a memory I cherish in my heart with nostalgia and gratitude.\u201d Giulio Mandruzzato \u201cI decided to enroll at CUOA when I was 32 years old: at the time, I was a Key Account Manager at a packaging company in the personal care and cosmetics sector. I was a fan of techno music, which I\u2019d been listening to since my college days, and I spent every free moment going to the beach or the lake to kitesurf. In the winter, I was on the slopes skiing and following motorsports. I remember that my dream was to reach the top of a company, holding a senior management position. At CUOA, I was able to give shape to this aspiration, first and foremost by filling many of the gaps I felt I had: CUOA allowed me to round out my knowledge with a more comprehensive view of the business. Above all, during the MBA program, I built a network of people I still keep in touch with today. With some of them, I\u2019ve even had the opportunity to launch business ventures. Today, I am the CTO of a major industrial group that designs and manufactures machinery for the textile sector\u2014a large Italian multinational organization with offices in several countries. To this day, I\u2019m still passionate about techno music, and sports remain at the center of my free time\u2014the only difference being that I\u2019ve also taken up golf. Many of my personal and professional dreams have come true; not least among them is the dream of not just watching motorsports as a spectator but actually getting behind the wheel to take a few laps on the track.<\/p>\n Giulio Mandruzzato<\/p>\n I decided to enroll at CUOA when I was 32: at the time, I was a key account manager at a packaging company in the personal care and cosmetics industry. I was a fan of techno music, which I\u2019d been listening to since my college days, and I spent every free moment going to the beach or the lake to kitesurf. In the winter, on the other hand, I was on the slopes skiing and following motorsports. I remember that my dream was to reach the top of a company, holding a senior management position. At CUOA, I was able to give shape to this aspiration, first and foremost by filling many of the gaps I felt I had: CUOA allowed me to round out my knowledge with a more comprehensive view of the business. Above all, during the MBA program, I built a network of people I still keep in touch with today. With some of them, I\u2019ve even had the opportunity to launch business ventures. Today, I\u2019m the CTO of a major industrial group that designs and manufactures machinery for the textile sector\u2014a large Italian multinational organization with offices in several countries. To this day, I\u2019m still passionate about techno music, and sports remain at the center of my free time\u2014the only difference being that I\u2019ve also taken up golf. Many of my dreams\u2014both personal and professional\u2014have come true; not least among them is the dream of not just watching motorsports as a spectator but actually getting behind the wheel to take a few laps on the track.<\/p>\n Francesco Pezzutto<\/p>\n When I enrolled at CUOA, I was 43 years old. No longer a young man. I\u2019ve always been passionate about travel and sports: travel because I\u2019m curious, and curiosity allows me to get to know and understand cultures and people with characteristics different from my own, and thus to grow as a person; sports because at their core lie passion, dedication, and preparation\u2014elements that bring out one\u2019s talent. All these qualities, when combined, place the individual at the center of their own fulfillment. Up to that point, my educational and professional path had been primarily technical and scientific in nature; in fact, I first earned a degree in Information Science, then embarked on a career initially as a Software Analyst, then as an IT Manager, and later as a Chief Information Officer. However, I realized that my future growth opportunities would depend on my ability to acquire transferable skills and share experiences with people from different professional backgrounds\u2014hence my decision to enroll in CUOA\u2019s part-time Executive MBA program. The experience was very rewarding, both in terms of the skills I acquired and, above all, on a personal level. It allowed me to forge relationships that remain very strong to this day. Together with my MBA classmates, we shared a journey that helped me develop my way of thinking\u2014a tremendous achievement for me. And that\u2019s precisely why I ask myself: what if I hadn\u2019t done it? I could come up with a thousand scenarios of what might have happened, but I\u2019m convinced that this experience was the turning point that sparked a genuine shift in my approach to life\u2014one that\u2019s now more focused on people rather than things. Today, I\u2019m happy to say that my work focuses on improving my colleagues\u2019 work through technology. Of course, today\u2019s world cannot do without innovation, but what makes the difference isn\u2019t just technical expertise\u2014it\u2019s the ability to bring people, processes, and technologies together. That is precisely my job: getting to know people and, together with them, designing and implementing technologies to improve processes. Today, I hold a position that I consider to be one of great responsibility: I\u2019m leading the digital transformation of a company that has always stood out in the technology sector and whose future in this field is at stake every single day. It\u2019s a stimulating role where passion and curiosity are just as essential as technical expertise. The company is called Friul Intagli Industries and is one of the leading manufacturers of flat-pack furniture for global mass retail. True passions do not change over time; they evolve. Traveling and visiting new places, learning about different cultures and people, as well as the values of sports\u2014such as respect, commitment, and a sense of belonging\u2014have taught me over time that people are driven by emotions, and that these emotions make them more aware of their capabilities. CUOA is the place where the academic, economic, and managerial worlds come together, with the goal of educating future generations. It plays an ethical role because it offers opportunities for growth, fulfillment, and the well-being of the local community. It is a treasure of immense value. \u201cAd maiora, semper.\u201d Ingrid Gacci \u201cWhen I enrolled at CUOA, it was 2002. I listened to a lot of Italian music\u2014especially Mina and Paolo Conte\u2014and I felt a strong connection to the Versilia coast and all it had to offer. Coming from a family with a father who was a small-business owner and a mother\u2014of Dutch origin\u2014who was a homemaker, I was instilled with a certain Protestant pragmatism: a strong work ethic and dedication to study coexist with a concern for others and a sensitivity to the implications of the various actions one takes. I\u2019ve always believed that studying is the right way to move forward, both personally and professionally. And the latter has always been my greatest ambition: to learn new things, to be part of the solution, and to make a difference. The Master\u2019s program was a long-cherished goal, for which I saved for several years, and which became a reality thanks to CUOA. In fact, I didn\u2019t hesitate to take a year of unpaid leave from the bank where I was working at the time. I enrolled in the full-time MAGI program, and from there I set out toward new horizons. CUOA gave me the tools to analyze the facts and events occurring within the company in a structured way and place them within a broader context. It taught me to look for connections with other players in the organization and, in this context, to understand that the company\u2019s customers aren\u2019t just external ones but also internal ones. It also taught me the extreme importance of relationships. After working in the financial and industrial sectors and gaining experience managing teams both in Italy and the Netherlands\u2014where I still live today\u2014I decided it was time to take my life in a new direction. Today, I work in online publishing. I am the director and founder of an Italian platform, riskcompliance.it, which is part of a European group. It is a community of managers, top executives, and professionals in the fields of risk, compliance, and governance, where various companies promote their services. For me, it\u2019s a new experience as an entrepreneur. And then I discovered the thrill of scuba diving. I\u2019ve been to several countries to see wonderful fish and corals, and I\u2019ve even had encounters with sharks and giant manta rays. Today, I\u2019m passionate about British and Scandinavian crime series. I believe that CUOA and its founders, back in 1957, had a great insight. They created the foundation from which the master\u2019s programs developed. So my wish for CUOA and its students is that they continue to look toward the new paths and challenges that await Italy, now fully integrated into the European and international context.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Faces of the Alumni We are constantly working to develop the most modern and up-to-date skills in business management and ethical, responsible entrepreneurship, and we walk side by side with individuals and businesses to help them transform their goals into concrete projects and results. We are constantly evolving, just like our alumni! 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\n\u201cWhen I enrolled at CUOA, it was 1994. I chose the MIM5 Master\u2019s program (Master\u2019s in Marketing and Communication). It was the year Susanna Tamaro published *Follow Your Heart*, Forza Italia was founded, and the radio stations were playing Afterhours\u2019 \u201cDentro Marilyn\u201d and Jovanotti\u2019s \u201cPenso positivo.\u201d Photography and martial arts were my hobbies. I had a clear goal: to join a multinational company to work in marketing. CUOA was instrumental: Colgate-Palmolive opened its doors to me, followed by Hill\u2019s Pet Nutrition, Danone, and Black & Decker. My experiences in the corporate world have always had one constant: creating something from nothing. I\u2019ve always found myself facing what\u2019s known as a blank slate. Today they call them startups. Having a blank slate in front of you offers enormous advantages: you\u2019re the one blazing the trail; but there are also many disadvantages: being a pioneer doesn\u2019t guarantee you anything. But what could be better? Today, I no longer practice martial arts; I continue to take photos; I work with big data and digital marketing at a major national telecommunications company; and, above all, I complement my professional career by teaching at CUOA. For over 10 years, I\u2019ve enjoyed sharing my experience in marketing, with the goal of updating and training the current and future generations who will lead our companies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhen I enrolled at CUOA, it was 2001, and I was 27 years old. Even back then, I was passionate about music: I listened to Vasco, Ligabue, Jovanotti, and all the bands that were popular at the time\u2014U2 and Oasis above all. Another great passion of mine was soccer, especially Juventus. I also really loved traveling. My parents have always been my inspiration in life: even back then, my goals were to start a family and find professional fulfillment, while trying to maintain the right balance between these two aspects. My time at CUOA was crucial in helping me understand what I wanted to do in my professional life and in equipping me with the tools to achieve my goals. Today, I am General Manager at Autogrill, with responsibility for European commercial operations and Italian operations. I\u2019m still passionate about music and a huge Juventus fan. I still enjoy traveling, and I\u2019m very passionate about art, but what excites me most is watching my two little girls, Anna Maria and Elisa, grow day by day. I hope that CUOA will continue to nurture talent by providing the many young women and men who want to work in the corporate world with the essential tools to make their dreams come true.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI enrolled in the part-time International MBA Program at CUOA in 2009. I was 26 at the time. Back then, I spent most of my time working in Switzerland, where I managed the supply chain for Fiamm. Music was, of course, an essential part of my long drives from Vicenza. Depending on the day and my mood, I\u2019d switch it up\u2014from David Bowie\u2019s \u201980s rock to Bryan Adams\u2019s romantic \u201990s ballads, and even Italian artists like Lucio Battisti and Francesco De Gregori. Singing their songs at the top of my lungs while gripping the steering wheel was truly an outlet for work-related stress. It\u2019s a remedy I still turn to today\u2014even though the number of kilometers I travel is significantly lower. Music aside, in 2009 I was passionate about sailing (I had recently obtained my boat license), skiing (I won a company race that very year), and traveling. Fresh from two weeks in Stintino to recharge and take in Sardinia\u2019s extraordinary landscapes, I remember flying to New York with my family at the end of summer. The atmosphere in the Big Apple has always been a burst of energy for me. \u201cCh ch ch changes,\u201d sang David Bowie in 1973, extolling the importance of knowing how to reinvent oneself and embracing change. As it happened, a few weeks later I began my new adventure at CUOA. Ever since my first year of college, my priority has been to become a well-rounded professional with a coherent educational and career path. I wanted to grow not only professionally but also as a person. For this reason, I\u2019ve always tried to maintain an open mind and an international perspective. My experience at CUOA allowed me to develop a broader view of business processes. Thanks to the Master\u2019s program, I expanded my professional path, eventually taking on responsibility for an entire supply chain that spans from customer care to procurement, including demand, material, production, and sales planning, as well as the central logistics hub. It\u2019s a role, therefore, in which networking and engaging with diverse people proved essential right from the start. I\u2019ve always been a strong believer in diversity, which opens up new horizons and fresh perspectives. The wealth of experiences and skills is, in my view, the \u201csecret\u201d ingredient that no company should ever do without. I serve as Procurement and Supply Chain Director at Sit Group, a multinational company listed on the Italian Stock Exchange and a leader in gas and water control systems. My musical tastes have remained unchanged. I never fixate on a particular artist or genre. I love immersing myself in diversity and letting myself be guided by the emotions that every note can evoke. In the same way, I let myself be swept away by movies and on-demand TV. Alongside arthouse films, I also enjoy the lightheartedness of a less pretentious TV series. The screen, after all, is a tool for escaping reality, a way to daydream. To spread my wings and fly away, beyond the clouds and over the sea. My beloved Croatian sea, where I spent my vacations as a child and where I still return every year. While long walks beneath the Lebanese cedars of Rovinj have become a summer tradition, other seas and other landscapes remain etched in my mind every day of the year. These are the oceans of New Zealand and the Cook Islands, the destination of my honeymoon a few years ago. Few other things in life have moved me as much as those landscapes, with their fern forests and kilometers of wild coastline. When I close my eyes, I can still smell the salt air and feel the wind caressing my face. Traveling is a constant source of excitement because, even when the journey is over, we always carry it within us. I hope that CUOA continues to foster open minds, invest in relationships, and build networks both within the local community and abroad. To this day, my experience remains a memory I cherish in my heart with nostalgia and gratitude.\u201d
\nGiulio Mandruzzato
\n\u201cI decided to enroll at CUOA when I was 32: at the time, I was a Key Account Manager at a packaging company in the personal care and cosmetics industry. I was a fan of techno music, which I\u2019d been listening to since my college days, and I spent every free moment going to the beach or the lake to kitesurf. In the winter, on the other hand, I was on the slopes skiing and following motorsports. I remember that my dream was to reach the top of a company, holding a senior management position. At CUOA, I was able to give shape to this aspiration, first and foremost by filling many of the gaps I felt I had: CUOA allowed me to round out my knowledge with a more comprehensive view of the business. Above all, during the MBA, I built a network of people I still keep in touch with today. With some of them, I\u2019ve even had the opportunity to launch business ventures. Today, I\u2019m the CTO of a major industrial group that designs and manufactures machinery for the textile sector\u2014a large Italian multinational organization with offices in several countries. To this day, I\u2019m still passionate about techno music, and sports remain at the center of my free time\u2014the only difference being that I\u2019ve also taken up golf. Many of my dreams\u2014both personal and professional\u2014have come true; not least of which is the dream of not just watching motorsports as a spectator, but actually getting behind the wheel for a few laps on the track.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI decided to enroll at CUOA when I was 32: at the time, I was a key account manager at a packaging company in the personal care and cosmetics industry. I was a fan of techno music, which I\u2019d been listening to since my college days, and I spent every free moment going to the beach or the lake to kitesurf. In the winter, on the other hand, I was on the slopes skiing and followed motorsports. I remember that my dream was to reach the top of a company, holding a senior management position. At CUOA, I was able to give shape to this aspiration, first and foremost by filling many of the gaps I felt I had: CUOA allowed me to broaden my knowledge with a more comprehensive view of the business. Above all, during the MBA, I built a network of people I still keep in touch with today. With some of them, I\u2019ve even had the opportunity to launch business ventures. Today, I\u2019m the CTO of a major industrial group that designs and manufactures machinery for the textile sector\u2014a large Italian multinational organization with offices in several countries. To this day, I\u2019m still passionate about techno music, and sports remain at the center of my free time\u2014the only difference being that I\u2019ve also taken up golf. Many of my dreams\u2014both personal and professional\u2014have come true; not least of which is the dream of not just watching motorsports as a spectator, but actually getting behind the wheel to take a few laps on the track.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhen I enrolled at CUOA, I was 43 years old. No longer a young man. I\u2019ve always been passionate about travel and sports: travel because I\u2019m curious, and curiosity allows me to get to know and understand cultures and people who are different from me, and thus to grow as a person; sports because at the heart of it all are passion, dedication, and preparation\u2014elements that bring out one\u2019s talent. All these qualities, when combined, place the individual at the center of his own fulfillment. Up to that point, my educational and professional background had been primarily technical and scientific in nature; in fact, I first earned a degree in Information Sciences, then embarked on a career path initially as a Programmer Analyst, later as an IT Manager, and subsequently as a Chief Information Officer. However, I had realized that my future growth opportunities would depend on my ability to acquire transferable skills and share experiences with people from different professional backgrounds\u2014hence my decision to enroll in CUOA\u2019s part-time Executive MBA program. The experience was very rewarding, both in terms of the skills I acquired and, above all, on a personal level. It allowed me to build relationships that remain very strong to this day. Together with my MBA classmates, we shared a journey that helped me develop my way of thinking\u2014a tremendous achievement for me. And that is precisely why I ask myself: what if I hadn\u2019t done it? I could come up with a thousand scenarios about what might have happened, but I\u2019m convinced that this experience was the turning point that sparked a genuine shift in my approach to life\u2014one that is now more focused on people rather than things. Today, I\u2019m happy to say that my work focuses on improving my colleagues\u2019 work through technology. Of course, the modern world cannot do without innovation, but what makes the difference isn\u2019t just technical expertise\u2014it\u2019s the ability to bring people, processes, and technologies together. That is precisely my job: getting to know people and, together with them, designing and implementing technologies to improve processes. Today I hold a role that I consider to be one of great responsibility: I\u2019m leading the digital transformation of a company that has always stood out in the technology sector and whose future in this field is at stake every single day. It\u2019s a stimulating role where passion and curiosity are just as essential as technical expertise. The company is called Friul Intagli Industries and is one of the leading manufacturers of flat-pack furniture for global mass retailers. True passions do not change over time, but they do evolve. Traveling and visiting new places, learning about different cultures and people, as well as the values of sports\u2014such as respect, commitment, and a sense of belonging\u2014have taught me over time that people are driven by emotions and that these emotions make them more aware of their own capabilities. CUOA is the place where the academic, economic, and managerial worlds come together, with the goal of educating future generations. It plays an ethical role because it offers opportunities for growth, fulfillment, and well-being for the local community. It is a treasure of immense value. \u201cAd maiora, semper.\u201d
\nIngrid Gacci
\n\u201cWhen I enrolled at CUOA, it was 2002. I listened to a lot of Italian music\u2014especially Mina and Paolo Conte\u2014and I felt a strong connection to the Versilia coast and all it had to offer. Coming from a family with a father who was a small-business owner and a mother\u2014of Dutch origin\u2014who was a homemaker, I was instilled with a certain Protestant pragmatism: a strong work ethic and dedication to study go hand in hand with caring for others and a sensitivity to the consequences of the various actions I take. I\u2019ve always believed that studying is the right way to move forward, both personally and professionally. And the latter has always been my greatest ambition: to learn new things, to be part of the solution, and to make a difference. The master\u2019s program was a long-cherished goal, for which I saved for several years, and which became a reality thanks to CUOA. In fact, I didn\u2019t hesitate to take a year of unpaid leave from the bank where I was working at the time. I enrolled in the full-time MAGI program, and from there I set out for new horizons. CUOA gave me the tools to analyze the facts and events occurring within the company in a structured way and place them within a broader context. It taught me to look for connections with other stakeholders in the organization and, in this context, to understand that the company\u2019s customers aren\u2019t just external ones but also internal ones. It also taught me the extreme importance of relationships. After working in the financial and industrial sectors and gaining experience managing teams in both Italy and the Netherlands\u2014where I still live today\u2014I decided it was time to take my life in a new direction. Today, I work in online publishing. I am the director and founder of an Italian platform, riskcompliance.it, which is part of a European group. It is a community of managers, top executives, and professionals in the fields of risk, compliance, and governance, where various companies promote their services. For me, it\u2019s a new experience as an entrepreneur. And then I discovered the thrill of scuba diving. I\u2019ve traveled to several countries to see marvelous fish and corals, and I\u2019ve even had encounters with sharks and giant manta rays. Today, I\u2019m passionate about British and Scandinavian crime series. I believe that CUOA and its founders, back in 1957, had a great vision. They created the foundation from which the master\u2019s programs have developed. So my wish for CUOA and its students is that they continue to look toward the new paths and challenges awaiting Italy, now fully integrated into the European and international context.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhen I enrolled at CUOA, it was the year 2002. I listened to a lot of Italian music\u2014especially Mina and Paolo Conte\u2014and I felt a strong connection to the Versilia coast and all it had to offer. Coming from a family with a father who was a small-business owner and a mother\u2014of Dutch origin\u2014who was a homemaker, I was instilled with a certain Protestant pragmatism: a strong work ethic and dedication to study go hand in hand with caring for others and an awareness of the implications of the various actions we take. I have always believed that studying is the right way to move forward, both personally and professionally. And the latter has always been my greatest ambition: to learn new things, to be part of the solution, and to make a difference. The Master\u2019s program was a long-cherished goal, for which I saved for several years, and which became a reality thanks to CUOA. In fact, I didn\u2019t hesitate to take a year of unpaid leave from the bank where I was working at the time. I enrolled in the full-time MAGI program, and from there I set out for new horizons. CUOA gave me the tools to analyze the facts and events occurring within the company in a structured way and place them within a broader context. It taught me to look for connections with other stakeholders in the organization and, in this context, to understand that the company\u2019s customers aren\u2019t just external ones but also internal ones. It also taught me the extreme importance of relationships. After working in the financial and industrial sectors and gaining experience managing teams both in Italy and in the Netherlands\u2014where I still live today\u2014I decided it was time to take my life in a new direction. Today, I work in online publishing. I am the director and founder of an Italian platform, riskcompliance.it, which is part of a European group. It is a community of managers, top executives, and professionals in the fields of risk, compliance, and governance, where various companies promote their services. For me, it\u2019s a new experience as an entrepreneur. And then I discovered the thrill of scuba diving. I\u2019ve been to several countries to see wonderful fish and corals, and I\u2019ve even had encounters with sharks and giant manta rays. Today, I\u2019m passionate about British and Scandinavian crime series. I believe that CUOA and its founders, back in 1957, had a great vision. They created the foundation from which the master\u2019s programs have developed. So my wish for CUOA and its students is that they continue to look toward the new paths and challenges that await Italy, now fully integrated into the European and international context.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhen I enrolled at CUOA, it was the year 2000, and I had just turned 25. Having grown up in the \u201990s, I listened to a lot of music from that era, especially grunge. I was still playing soccer and was extremely knowledgeable about every kind of sport. So many emotions tied me to that world: the successes of Italian teams and my idols\u2014who came not only from soccer but also from basketball, skiing, tennis, track and field, and so much more. I was curious and had a clear vision in my mind that I wanted to explore the world. Somehow, I thought that my personal and professional goals would go hand in hand. What wasn\u2019t clear to me was how I could make this idea of \u201cexploration\u201d a reality. CUOA was the vehicle that made this dream a reality. It opened a window for me onto the world of business management, which I hadn\u2019t known before; second, it introduced me to exceptional people\u2014my classmates\u2014some of whom played a decisive role in my journey; and finally, it connected me to the professional world through an internship experience that launched my career. For 15 years, I\u2019ve worked for the Pirelli Group in Human Resources. This historic company has given me the opportunity to fulfill my dream of exploring the world: I\u2019ve lived in cities such as Milan, Birmingham, Shanghai, Beijing, and New York. I\u2019ve worked as a Human Resources manager in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and North America. In April 2022, after more than 10 years abroad, I returned to Italy, where I continue to work as an HR professional, focusing on Asia and other innovative projects within Italy. These days I listen to less music than I used to, but I still keep up with the world of sports, listen to Wall Street Journal podcasts, and love walking around the city. I\u2019m moved when I look at my daughter, who was born a few months ago. CUOA was already a center of excellence twenty years ago, but over the past two decades it has expanded its offerings and become increasingly well-structured. CUOA is the experience that allowed me to make my dreams come true.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI enrolled at CUOA way back in 2005, after completing my bachelor\u2019s degree. I was 25 years old, always hungry for music and the sea, but also for responsibility. I had two main dreams: to manage a business project from start to finish and to gain experience abroad. And this is where CUOA made a fundamental difference. It provided me with the technical and human resources to tackle these challenges, and I didn\u2019t even have to wait until the end of the Master\u2019s program to see both of them come true. Then, at age 32, I returned to CUOA to pursue the Executive MBA. At the time, I was expecting to become a father, so you can imagine how intensely I experienced that second stint at the business school. Today, I lead a wonderful team at the startup I founded, which operates in the fashion industry. With the help of my colleagues, I\u2019ve managed to give the brand a \u201cgreen\u201d identity, which makes me even prouder of the path I\u2019ve taken. My professional and personal growth hasn\u2019t diminished my interests: I remain a huge lover of music and the sea, even though, in this case, I\u2019ve managed to turn it into a part of my work by having the opportunity to collaborate with incredibly talented athletes who have made the board\u2014whether for surfing, kitesurfing, or wakeboarding\u2014their passion. I hope that CUOA can continue to offer the tools the job market demands\u2014tools that are constantly evolving. These are fast-paced and complicated times we\u2019re living in. That\u2019s why I hope you can continue to positively influence people\u2019s futures by spreading a sea of expertise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThe first time I walked into CUOA, I was 24 years old. Back then, I drove a Fiat Punto, listened to all of Whitney Houston\u2019s songs, and never missed an episode of the TV series *Capitol*. I went about my day with a Nokia cell phone in my pocket and a strong desire for freedom. I enrolled in the Master\u2019s program because I had a clear goal in mind: to become a Marketing Director. My experience at CUOA was fundamental for me. It gave me a close-up look at and deep understanding of the working world in large corporations. It was the driving force behind my professional growth, which led me to become General Manager in the wine industry. My passions have also evolved: I listen to jazz, follow scientific research on sustainability in viticulture, and know every season of *The Big Bang Theory* by heart. Above all, when I take a break from work, I set out to conquer a few peaks in the Dolomites. Because challenges continue to inspire me. I hope that, just as it did for me, CUOA can teach new generations the joy of collaboration that emerges within a workgroup.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhen I enrolled at CUOA, I was 25 years old and, alas, had a lot more hair on my head. In my ears, however, I had so many songs; I remember two singers who reflected my different sides: Jovanotti and Ligabue. Those were the years of songs like \u2018Certe notti,\u2019 \u2018Penso Positivo,\u2019 and \u2018L\u2019ombelico del mondo.\u2019 On the one hand, we felt we were at the \u2018center of the world\u2019\u2014we were embarking on a professional journey with the strong ambition to contribute to the success of companies and organizations\u2014but on the other hand, there was the night, a time for reflection and self-discovery. Attending the CUOA Master\u2019s program for a full year was a truly significant milestone: I came from a family without much financial means, and I had a strong desire for social advancement. I had already been working at a bank for four years (at that time, every Italian mother\u2019s dream for her children!), but my sights were already set on the future. While on the one hand I had the desire\u2014albeit somewhat idealized\u2014to become a manager, on the other there was a strong motivation, a determination to demonstrate my abilities and values with the aim of building \u201csomething.\u201d I believe my Catholic upbringing helped me understand the importance of the \u201ccommon good,\u201d which becomes a \u201cwe\u201d at the organizational level. To use a metaphor, for me, the CUOA was a \u201cportal\u201d that allowed me to access another dimension. CUOA also gave me the opportunity to meet people who went on to become friends, mentors, and companions on my life\u2019s journey. Later, I realized that a career was not as important as personal \u201csuccess\u201d\u2014understood as making the most of one\u2019s talents in alignment with our deepest values. After completing the CUOA Master\u2019s program, I worked in human resources, holding positions of increasing responsibility. I served as Director of Human Resources for more than 20 years at leading national and international companies, working across the banking, services, IT, metalworking, and\u2014today\u2014transportation sectors. I currently serve as Corporate Director at Trenord, coordinating the Human Resources, Procurement, IT, and Legal departments. Today, I am a firm believer in personal growth and the potential that lies within every human being. I am still inspired by the idea of building an organizational \u201cwe\u201d; I am passionate about defining and implementing an integrated, credible system for human resources management and development\u2014one capable of empowering people so they can contribute to their organization\u2019s success. I hope that CUOA will continue its mission of serving as a gateway\u2014a bridge\u2014to develop the human resources and skills that our country so desperately needs. And I hope that anyone willing to take the plunge will discover the CUOA that, for me, represented a leap forward\u2014an opportunity to thrive as a person and as a professional. A mission that is as noble as it is important\u2014because there is still so much to be done.\u201d<\/p>\n