Executive Chats

In this period of complexity “we need to speed up the transition, especially with regards to digital and green,” says Elena Goitini, CEO of BNL and Head of BNP Paribas Group in Italy and a Bocconi alumna, in a conversation in the Executive Chats series with Rector Gianmario Verona.

“Speeding up this transition is paramount to address the two key challenges we face related to globalization and the new frontiers in terms of sustainability, she adds.

With regards to gender diversity “we need to work on the sense of belonging, so as to give women a voice at the table, not just a seat,” she underlines.

Goitini closes the conversation with some advice for NextGen: “be curious, follow your passion and do not be afraid of making mistakes.”

“The pandemic was a real accelerator for digital transformation in education, in so many ways,” highlights Lisa Gevelber, Chief Marketing Officer Americas Region at Google and Vice President of Grow with Google, in a conversation in the Executive Chats series with Rector Gianmario Verona. “And digital has also become such an important part, a lifeline, for businesses. We see that digitally advanced companies acquire customers at 20 times a higher rate.”

Talking of Grow with Google, she highlights that the aim was to “ensure opportunity for everyone and make the job market more inclusive. The Google Certificate Program aims to teach people the skills required by the job market - we are teaching exactly what employers are looking for.”

Regards the world of education, “we see an increasing emphasis on and investment in tech knowledge and career readiness, also with high school students. Training programs are vital to ensure high school graduates have a real set of career skills – but also at college and university level.”

“Today, diversity is a priority for the public sector and also for the ESG agendas of companies. But I feel that in Europe there is still a lot to be done,” underlines Veronica Diquattro, Chief Revenue Officer Europe at DAZN and alumna Bocconi, in a conversation in the Executive Chats series with Rector Gianmario Verona.

“I think there are two important aspects to progress on,” she states. “One is tackling the gender pay gap, which is a vital step to fight discrimination, and the other is promoting paternity leave, to ensure the equal share of childcare, and also guarantee the rights of fathers.”

Diquattro also highlights the importance innovation has played in her career path. “Innovation can be disruptive but also an evolution. And today new technologies are drivers of this innovation. In my career I have always looked for companies that impact and innovate the everyday life of people.”

Regarding DAZN, “our vision is to become a sports destination platform,” she says, “where viewing is not the only service but where we offer engaging and immersive experiences to sports fans.”

Business schools are undergoing, but also leading, change driven by trends such as digital transformation and sustainability, highlights John Byrne, CEO of Poets&Quants, in a conversation in the Executive Chats series with Rector Gianmario Verona.

“There have been positive changes as a result of the pandemic – such as the acceleration in distance learning. In the future we will see far more higher education delivered through technology,” he says. “And technology has also transformed the world of business and is reshaping the workforce – and business schools are preparing their students for this.”

Another important factor of change is the drive to sustainability. “Sustainability has become an important topic at business schools, in part because this generation demands in it. Business schools have the responsibility to teach people about the implications of their decisions on people, society and the environment,” he says. “And the demand and interest from young people for the topic of sustainability and social impact is there.”

And as “business schools put more and more resources into the area of entrepreneurship, we are also seeing more young people starting companies that have an impact on sustainability and the environment,” he adds.

An industry, automotive, that is rapidly changing and that needs to put the customer at the center to keep pace, explains Davide Grasso, CEO Maserati and Bocconi alumnus, in a conversation in the Executive Chats series with Rector Gianmario Verona.

“The automotive industry is revolutionizing. The taste and expectations of customers is changing, he says. “You have to put the customer at the centre and their expectations exceed simply providing ‘a computer on wheels’.”

“Today it’s about transforming the entire customer experience. And it’s not about creating loyalty in customers, but being a loyal brand.”

Regards leadership, he believes an important quality is to “have the humility and confidence to understand when to add value and when to step back and trust your team.” And in these difficult times, “as leaders we have the responsibility to drive and build the future. We have to continue with tenacity, resilience and confidence to build a better future.”

Innovation and inclusion are important drivers for companies today, highlights Alice Acciarri, General Manager eBay Italy and Bocconi alumna, in a conversation in the Executive Chats series with Rector Gianmario Verona.

“Today, eBay is a wide community,” she says. “It is a global marketplace whose purpose is to create inclusion and opportunity for everyone.”

Regards innovation, “It starts from our customers’ needs. Our approach to market is customer focused and we don’t simply copy and paste innovation across markets. We listen to and adopt to local markets.”

Looking at inclusion, “We have created ‘Women at Ebay’ that is a community of employees working to progress on gender balance – also looking at the wider community in which we operate. In Italy we have created a special project to support and mentor female students and entrepreneurs.”

Innovation, diversity and sustainability are the way forward for companies today highlights Mariangela Marseglia, VP & Country Manager Amazon.it and Amazon.es, in a conversation in the Executive Chats series with Rector Gianmario Verona.

“Becoming more inclusive and diverse in way we do business is really a priority and in doing so we can be more innovative as we include perspectives from different angles,” she says. “The time for talk on diversity and inclusion is over – now is the time to take actions.”

Another main focus is sustainability, she says. “The environment is a priority. We are creating new technologies to reduce our carbon footprint and are investing in innovative startups that are creating technologies for the environment.”

Regards innovation, “it is at the core of everything we do. We believe in bottom-up innovation and anyone at Amazon can present their ideas to leadership.”

A sector at the intersection of life sciences and technology, that of hearing healthcare, impacted by a series of trends, as explains Enrico Vita, CEO of Amplifon, in a conversation in the Executive Chats series with Rector Gianmario Verona.

“One such factor is the growth in the ageing population,” he says. “And the new generation of seniors is more dynamic and curious towards new technologies.” With regards to digital transformation, “hearing aids have become connectable devices - which opens many opportunities to innovate customer experiences and services.”

Amplifon and Bocconi last year launched the Amplifon Chair in Customer Science, held by Gaia Rubera. “We decided to strengthen our relationship because I believe we share with Bocconi many important values and a commitment to innovation and talent,” says Vita. “This Chair builds a bridge between the latest advancements in AI and marketing practice which I believe is the future of marketing. With this Chair we want to support the advancement in knowledge of marketing.”

“Digitalization provides a great opportunity,” underlines Marco Tronchetti Provera, CEO of Pirelli and Bocconi Alumnus of the Year in 1993, in a conversation in the Executive Chats series with Rector Gianmario Verona.

“For us especially the use of virtualization that makes the evolution of products faster and more efficient. And we have linked all our processes and the exchange of information, with data analytics for example, rendering everything more simplified and efficient,” he explains. “Digital has created a new momentum in our R&D.”

And the other key aspect for companies today is sustainability, he underlines. “ESG is officially becoming a priority.”

“Connecting people is a value”, highlights Luca Colombo, Country Director at Facebook Italy, discussing the company’s business model in a conversation in the Executive Chats series with Rector Gianmario Verona.

Looking at the future, “the metaverse should be the next evolution of online social experiences. Experiences that should offer more immersive and engaging opportunities for people. The metaverse is our vision for the next 5-10 years – now we have to develop the necessary products and services.”

Colombo has also helped Bocconi develop the new ‘CEO Connect - Your Executive Mentor’ program which will see 30 Bocconi MSc students each paired up with 30 top CEOs who will mentor them. “The program is unique, giving students access to unique resources. I want to expand the community of mentors in Italy,” says Colombo.