News | Luiss Business School - School of Management - Part 3

04 March 2025

Open Evening Executive Education

Luiss Business School meets professionals who wish to accelerate their careers in the business world at an Open Evening dedicated to the presentation of the Executive Programmes. The event is scheduled online for Tuesday, April 15, from 5:00 to 6:00 pm. Participants will have the opportunity to dive into the Executive education offerings and receive detailed information about the courses, designed to meet the specific needs of professionals with high-profile solutions compatible with their work commitments. It will be possible to participate in personalized information sessions with Academic Coordinators and the Recruitment Staff, who will be available to answer questions and provide tailored advice. Participation in the event grants an exemption from paying the admission fee, where applicable, for the next two selection dates on April 17 and May 8. WHEN: Tuesday, April 15, 2025WHERE: OnlineTIME: 5:00 – 6:00 PM Registration is required to attend. document.documentElement.lang = navigator.language;

Executive Programme

04 March 2025

Open Day Master Full-time Online

Join the Open Day on Tuesday, April 8, to discover the full range of Full-time Master's programmes at Luiss Business School and explore the educational offering in Milan. This is an opportunity to learn more about the benefits of studying at the Milan Hub, the distinctive features of the programs and the school, as well as the services offered to students. The Open Day provides a chance to meet the coordinators, the recruiting team, and the career service, who will answer all your questions: admission process, details of specific programmes, costs, financial aid options, and scholarships still available. Participants will also be exempt from paying the €100 admission fee for the upcoming selection dates: April 16 and 17, 2025. Luiss Business School is committed to delivering high-quality education and fostering a mindset centered on change, innovation, and transformation to shape future leaders capable of driving positive change in the business community while supporting sustainability every step of the way. WHEN: Tuesday, April 8, 2025WHERE: OnlineTIME: 4:00 – 6:00 PM Registration is required to participate. document.documentElement.lang = navigator.language;

Master Full-time

28 February 2025

Introducing the DBA in Higher Education Leadership and Management

DBA in Higher Education Leadership and ManagementA doctoral-level degree for visionary leaders Luiss Business School is proud to announce the second edition of the DBA in Higher Education Leadership and Management (HELM), a prestigious programme designed for experienced leaders seeking to make an impact in the higher education sector. Join us on Thursday, 20 March, 2025, at 5:00 PM to attend the online presentation. This programme equips candidates with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to excel in today’s competitive global higher education environment. The DBA HELM specifically focuses on developing strong management, leadership, and decision-making abilities to navigate the latest technological and organizational changes in the complex world of higher education. During the webinar, Dr. Mathias Falkenstein, Professor of Practice in Higher Education Management at Luiss Business School and DBA Scientific Director, will explore the innovative educational approach at the core of the programme, scheduled to start in October 2025. Speakers Dr. Mathias Falkenstein, Professor of Practice in Higher Education Management at Luiss Business School and DBA HELM Scientific Director Dr. Fiona Hunter, DBA HELM Core Faculty, Research Module WHEN: Thursday, 20 March, 2025TIME: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PMWHERE: Online Register now to join the event! document.documentElement.lang = navigator.language;

DBA DBA HELM

28 February 2025

Generative AI and Urban Governance

Generative AI and Urban GovernanceOpen Lesson in Digital Innovation & Governance Luiss Business School presents Generative AI and Urban Governance, a special open lesson organised in partnership with HSPI – a management consulting firm and part of the TXT Group – culminating in a masterclass by Enrico Colaiacovo, CIO of Roma Capitale. As Director of the Department for Digital Transformation, Dr Colaiacovo has been directly involved in the development of Julia, the innovative virtual assistant of Roma Capitale powered by generative artificial intelligence based on the OpenAI GPT-4 model. This initiative is part of the Executive Programme in Digital Innovation & Governance (EMIT), set to launch at the Rome campus in September 2025. The programme is designed to train specialised professionals with the managerial skills necessary to drive innovation and manage digital services. The event will also feature speakers Roberto Carbone, Managing Director of HSPI, and Paolo Spagnoletti, Fastweb & Vodafone Chair in Cybersecurity and Digital Transformation and Full Professor at Luiss Guido Carli University. Speakers Greetings - Roberto Carbone, Managing Director, HSPI Masterclass - Enrico Colaiacovo, CIO, Roma Capitale Moderator - Paolo Spagnoletti, Fastweb & Vodafone Chair in Cybersecurity and Digital Transformation, & Full Professor, Luiss Guido Carli University Please note: the event will be held in Italian. WHEN: Thursday, 17 April 2025TIME: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PMWHERE: Villa Blanc, Via Nomentana 216, Rome / Online document.documentElement.lang = navigator.language;

AI Digital Innovation

25 February 2025

MBA Open Evening

Join the MBA Open Evening dedicated to MBA programmes, scheduled for Tuesday, April 1st, at 5:30 pm, and get ready to embark on new career paths. The event, held in Italian and English, will provide a unique opportunity to discover Luiss Business School and its team. Prof. Maria Isabella Leone, Head of MBAs, will present the course modules, workshops, and activities that characterize the School's various MBA programmes. These programmes address the demands that today's international market places on junior and senior professionals. Luiss Business School successfully meets these challenges thanks to its network of faculty and top managers. The educational model of Luiss Business School MBAs, both refined and innovative, places special emphasis on each student's learning experience, starting with the admission process, which will be explained in detail by the MBA staff. The event will also be an opportunity to meet the speakers and ask questions about the programme structure, selection process, available scholarships, and all the programs starting this fall. SpeakersProf. Maria Isabella Leone, Head of MBAMBA Staff, Luiss Business School AgendaMBA PresentationQ&A SessionWhen: April 1st, 2025Time: 5:30 – 6:30 PM CETWhere: OnlineLanguage: Italian and English document.documentElement.lang = navigator.language;

MBA

05 February 2025

Open Day Master Full-time

Join the Full-time Master's Open Day on March 4th at 4:00 pm to explore the complete range of Full-time Master’s programmes offered in English and Italian by Luiss Business School and discover the educational opportunities awaiting you. This is a unique chance to learn about the benefits of studying at our hubs in Rome, Milan, Belluno, Amsterdam, and Dubai, the distinctive features of our programmes and school, and the services available to students. The event is an opportunity to meet programme coordinators, the recruiting team, and the career service, who will answer all your questions about the admission process, specific program details, costs, financial aid and scholarships, placement opportunities, and campus life. Luiss Business School is committed to providing high-quality education and fostering a mindset based on change, innovation, and transformation to shape future leaders capable of driving positive change in the business community while supporting sustainability at every step. The hybrid format of the event allows participants to join comfortably from home or experience it live at Villa Blanc, the stunning Rome campus of Luiss Business School, where you can interact with faculty and staff.Participants will also be exempt from paying the admission fee of €100 for the upcoming selection dates: March 6-7 and 20-21, 2025. WHEN: Tuesday, March 4th, 2025WHERE: Rome & OnlineTIME: 4:00 – 5:00 pm CET Registration is required to participate. document.documentElement.lang = navigator.language;

Master Full-time

29 January 2025

Open Evening Executive Education

Luiss Business School meets professionals eager to accelerate their careers in an Open Evening dedicated to presenting the Executive Programmes. During the Open Evening, participants will have the opportunity to explore the various training paths offered, designed for professionals looking to take their careers to the next level. The features of the programmes, networking and professional development opportunities, as well as the benefits of enrolling in our executive courses, will be highlighted. Join us on Tuesday, February 25, at 5:00 PM to learn more about Luiss Business School's Executive Education offerings. Event details: DATE: Tuesday, February 25WHENE: 5:00 – 6:00 pm CESTWHERE: OnlineParticipation is free, but registration is required. Register now to secure your spot! document.documentElement.lang = navigator.language;

Executive Education

27 January 2025

Online Open Day MBA Education

Discover the MBA Programmes at Luiss Business School by attending the Online Open Day, scheduled for Thursday, February 20, 2025, starting at 5:00 pm. Prepare to explore new career opportunities. This event is a unique opportunity to learn more about Luiss Business School and its team of experts. Prof. Maria Isabella Leone, Head of MBAs, will present the teaching modules, workshops, and activities that define the various MBA programs offered by the School: Flex MBA Rome, Full-time MBA Rome, Part-time MBA Milan, Part-time MBA Rome, Executive MBA Rome, Executive MBA Milan. These programmes are designed to meet the demands of the international market, offering unique opportunities for junior and senior professionals through the School's network of faculty and top managers. During the event, the innovative and personalized educational model of the Luiss Business School MBA programs will be explained in detail, emphasizing the student experience from the very first step of the admissions process. The MBA staff will also be available to provide insights into program details, the selection process, available scholarships, and upcoming courses. SPEAKERSProf. Maria Isabella Leone, Head of MBAs, Luiss Business SchoolMBA Staff, Luiss Business SchoolWHEN: Thursday, February 20, 2025TIME: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (CET)WHERE: Online The event is free of charge, but registration is required. document.documentElement.lang = navigator.language;

MBA

21 January 2025

Introducing the DBA in Higher Education Leadership and Management

Join us on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 5:00 PM and attend the webinar introducing the DBA in Higher Education Leadership and Management (HELM) by Luiss Business School. The DBA in Higher Education Leadership and Management is a top-notch programme designed for experienced leaders in the higher education industry. This programme equips candidates with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to excel in today’s competitive global higher education environment. The programme specifically focuses on developing strong management, leadership, and decision-making abilities to navigate the latest technological and organizational changes in the complex world of higher education. During the programme presentation, Dr. Mathias Falkenstein, Professor of Practice in Higher Education Management at Luiss Business School and DBA Scientific Director, will explore the innovative educational approach at the core of the programme, scheduled to start in October 2025. Speakers: Dr. Mathias Falkenstein, Professor of Practice in Higher Education Management at Luiss Business School and DBA Scientific DirectorDr. Fiona Hunter, DBA-HELM Core Faculty (Research Module)Jinnie Hinderscheit, DBA HELM Student, Head of Marketing, post-experience programs at Grenoble Ecole de Management WHEN: Thursday, February 20, 2025TIME: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PMWHERE: Online Register now to join the event! document.documentElement.lang = navigator.language;

DBA

20 December 2024

Open Evening Executive Education

Join the Event and Discover the Part-Time Courses and Services Reserved for Professionals! Finance, Healthcare, Public Affairs, Management, Marketing, and Sustainability. Discover how to fast-track your career by joining our Open Evening dedicated to Executive Education. Luiss Business School, ranked among the top 1% of business schools worldwide and holding prestigious triple accreditation (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS), is proud to virtually welcome you to explore the 2025 Executive Education Catalogue. This unmatched learning experience is designed to empower professionals like you to make a real, long-lasting impact in your career. Register now and meet us online on Tuesday, 28 January 2025. Don’t miss the chance to learn about the immersive, collaborative and life-changing Executive Education programmes offered by Luiss Business School and discover our Early Birds opportunities. Join us and lay the foundation for a significant career boost. WHEN: Tuesday, 28 January 2025TIME: 5.00 PM - 6.00 pm (CET)WHERE: Online document.documentElement.lang = navigator.language;

18 December 2024

International Week Information Session

Are you ready to expand your horizons and immerse yourself in a transformative international journey? Luiss Business School is thrilled to invite you to an exclusive International Week Information Session, where you will discover how to participate in our enriching short week programs and gain insights into a truly global educational experience.When: Tuesday, January 9, 2025Time: 5:30 PM (CET)Where: Villa Blanc, Luiss Business School Campus & OnlineWhy Join the International Week Information Session?• Explore Opportunities: Learn about the unique programs offered during International Week, designed to foster cultural exchange and enhance your global outlook• Connect Globally: Discover how an International Week can help you build a worldwide network, connecting you with students and professionals from diverse cultures• Enhance Your Career: Understand the professional advantages of engaging in international experiences and how they can position you for success in a competitive global marketWhat to Expect?• An overview of the International Week activities and themes at our campuses in Rome, Milan, Belluno, Amsterdam, and Dubai• A live Q&A session with our teamDon’t miss this opportunity to learn how you can participate in an enriching international adventure that combines learning, networking, and personal growth.Reserve Your Spot Now! document.documentElement.lang = navigator.language;

13 December 2024

Shaping the Future of Business

Luiss Business School presents Shaping the Future of Business: Introducing the DBA in Global Strategic Management on Green and Digital Transition, a multi-campus program – in Rome, Italy, and Amsterdam, the Netherlands – designed for managers and C-level executives who aim to lead their businesses through a highly impactful paradigm shift and address the challenges of sustainability and technological opportunities. With a focus on the substantial implications of the dual green and digital transition, the DBA in Global Strategic Management offers advanced training with a global perspective through a practical and applied approach.The program's educational value is enriched by strong cross-cultural collaboration, partnerships with top-tier business schools in Asia, the US, and the UK, and a faculty with proven international expertise.Join us on Wednesday, January 15th, 2025, for Shaping the Future of Business, the online presentation of the DBA in Global Strategic Management on Green and Digital Transition. Choose between two time slots: 12:30 PM CET or 5:00 PM CET. SPEAKER Cecilia Jona-Lasinio, Full Professor of Applied Economics, Luiss Business School, Rome, IT Frederick Guy, Birkbeck Business School, University of London (retired); Professore di Chiara Fama, Department of Economics and Business, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, IT Marco Francesco Mazzù, Professor of Practice of Marketing, Luiss Business School, Rome, IT Cristiano Busco, Full professor of Accounting, Luiss Business School, Rome, IT; and, UCL, UK AGENDA Introduction: Cecilia Jona-Lasinio, Full Professor of Applied Economics, Luiss Business School Module I: Management and Strategy in the Green Transition – Frederick Guy, Birkbeck Business School, University of London (retired) and University of Cagliari Module II: The Information Economy, Digitization, and Intangible Assets – Cecilia Jona-Lasinio Module III: Sustainability and Digitization: Marketing Issues – Marco Francesco Mazzù, Professor of Practice of Marketing, Luiss Business School Module IV: Accounting and Corporate Finance in the Modern Environment – Cristiano Busco, Full Professor of Accounting, Luiss Business School and University College London Conclusion and Q&A: Cecilia Jona-Lasinio WHEN: Wednesday, January 15th, 2025TIME: 12:30 PM or 5.00 PM (CET)WHERE: Online REGISTER FOR 12:30 PM REGISTER FOR 5:00 PM

DBA GSM

10 December 2024

Luiss Business School joins QS for the Responsible AI Consortium

QS launches landmark Responsible AI Consortium in partnership with leading global business schools QS Quacquarelli Symonds, global higher education experts, has launched the Responsible AI Consortium alongside EDHEC Business School, Imperial College Business School, and Luiss Business School. The Consortium is a collaborative partnership between leading universities around the world and QS, who commit to innovating and embrace the need to re-engineer education through an AI Roadmap for transformation across four key pillars: Research & Intellectual Leadership; Teaching, Learning & Assessment; Outreach & Operational Efficiencies; and Governance & Human Commitment. The Responsible AI Consortium offers universities and business schools worldwide a forum for integrating AI into strategic and operational areas. It will develop project-based learning opportunities, foster collaboration in thought leadership and research, and provide a sandbox environment for piloting new AI-driven technologies. QS Founder and President Nunzio Quacquarelli said: “The Responsible AI Consortium marks a pivotal step toward transforming higher education through AI, preparing both institutions and students to harness its immense potential.” Quacquarelli continued: “As AI reshapes both learning and work, it is essential universities and business schools are equipped with the tools and frameworks to integrate this emerging technology effectively. By developing the Responsible AI Consortium, we aim to empower institutions with critical AI capabilities, enabling them to lead with innovation, adaptability and resourcefulness in an accelerating and dynamic world.” Responsible AI Consortium Members voices Michelle Sisto, AI Center Director of EDHEC Business School: “Recognising the imperative to reimagine business education in the AI era, the Consortium seizes the opportunity to collaborate on pioneering projects, research, and student-centred learning experiences that prepare our graduates for the future of work. Together, we will establish a roadmap for best practices in institutional AI integration, maintaining a steadfast commitment to human development, ethical innovation, and empowerment.” Leila Guerra, Vice Dean (Education) at Imperial College Business School said: “By joining forces with other leading business schools and universities, we will deepen our understanding of AI and its transformative impact on higher education. The insights gained through this partnership will boost our research and enable us to promote safe and responsible use of AI within teaching, operations and student learning environments, identifying also best AI governance models. The partnership will build on the work Imperial is already doing through I-X – Imperial’s multidisciplinary research hub that aims to address the real-world challenges surrounding AI and through the work of the IDEA Lab.“ Raffaele Oriani, Dean of Luiss Business School: “Our vision for AI is pervasive, engaging every stakeholder in our ecosystem and deeply aligning with our entry into the Responsible AI Consortium. By joining the Consortium, we further our commitment to preparing students with future-ready competencies, supporting corporate partners as they shape the skills landscape of tomorrow, and equipping our faculty to drive a paradigm shift in education.“ Zoya Zaitseva, Innovation Manager & Head of Future17 SDG Challenge, QS: “Responsible AI Consortium is a cornerstone forum for visionary educators and EdTech innovators – such synergy is pivotal to maximize the potential of AI in Higher Education and youth employability. Creating intelligence that is based on insights from students, academia and employers is one of our key objectives, and I can’t wait to see the impact this Consortium will create.” 12/10/2024

AI

12 November 2024

Digital Entertainment Business: Q&A Session with the Scientific Director

What is it like to have a career in the entertainment business and gain new opportunities thanks to digital breakouts? How can you build an internationally oriented career path and make it grow through competencies acquisition, connections creation and personal upskill? Join us on Tuesday, 26 November at 5 PM (CET) to meet the Scientific Director and Faculty representatives of the Major in Digital Entertainment Business (DEB), Prof. Dr. Jors Ebbers and Hylke Sprangers. The DEB is an international, full-time postgraduate programme offered by Luiss Business School in Amsterdam and Rome as part of the Master in Management of Creative and Cultural Industries. Starting in February 2025, this course is delivered in English and focuses on digital strategy, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and mindset required for a successful career in the entertainment industry. Don’t miss the chance to meet us and receive personalised feedback on your curriculum and how DEB can support you achieve your learning goals and develop the career path you desire. AGENDA Overview presentation by Prof. Dr. Joris Ebbers, Scientific Director of the Major Interview with Hylke Sprangers on the job market and industry insights Q&A session with guests, speakers, and programme staff SPEAKERS Prof. Dr. Joris Ebbers; Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Scientific Director of the DEB, Luiss Business School Hylke Sprangers; CEO, University Lecturer and Board Member; Co-Lecturer of the Core Course in Strategy in Entertainment Industries REGISTER HERE WHERE: OnlineWHEN: Tuesday, 26 November 2024TIME: 5 PM (CET) Do you want to learn more about the Master in Management of Creative and Cultural Industries and other available Majors? Register to the Online Open Day Turn your passion into a profession! scheduled for Thursday, 28 November 2024 to know more about the admission process, the career service and the international opportunities available. It is strongly suggested combining the participation to the two webinars for a complete overview of both content insights and useful information about the admission process. Attending both the Q&A Session and the Online Open Day grants an exemption from the €100 admission fee for the selection rounds on 5-6 December and 12-13 December 2024. REGISTER TO THE ONLINE OPEN DAY Published on Tuesday, 12 November 2024

Full-time Master

05 November 2024

Online Open Evening

Luiss Business School is pleased to invite you to the Online Open Evening dedicated to our Full-time Master’s Programmes, taking place on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, from 4:00 to 5:00 PM (CET).This event is a unique opportunity to explore our academic offerings and engage with the Recruitment Office, Programme Coordinators, and Luiss Business School Staff. We will provide all the details regarding the selection process for the 2025-2026 academic year, including application procedures, costs, scholarships, and available financial aid.Participants will also receive a waiver of the €100 application fee for the upcoming selection dates on January 30 and 31, 2025, to help you better plan your application.WHEN: January 22, 2025TIME: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (CET)WHERE: OnlineThe event is free, but registration is required. For more information, please contact the recruitment team by emailing: recruitment@luissbusinessschool.it

25 October 2024

Introducing the DBA in Global Strategic Management - Green and Digital Transition

Introducing the DBA in Global Strategic Management - Green and Digital TransitionCareer Booster for Thought Leaders Luiss Business School presents the DBA in Global Strategic Management - Green and Digital Transition, a multi-campus program – in Rome, Italy, and Amsterdam, the Netherlands – designed for managers and C-level executives who wish to lead their business through a highly impactful paradigm shift and embrace current and emerging challenges focused on sustainability and technological opportunities. With a unique attention on the substantial implications of the dual green and digital transition, the DBA in Global Strategic Management offers advanced training with a global perspective through a sizable, applied approach. Its educational value is further enhanced by strong cross-cultural collaboration, significant partnerships with business schools in Asia, the US, and the UK, and a faculty with proven international experience. Register and join us on Friday, 22 November 2024, at 5 PM (CET) for the online presentation of the DBA in Global Strategic Management - Green and Digital Transition. SPEAKER Cecilia Jona-Lasinio, Full Professor of Applied Economics, Luiss Business School Frederick Guy, Birkbeck Business School, University of London (retired) and University of Cagliari Marco Francesco Mazzù, Professor of Practice of Marketing, Luiss Business School Cristiano Busco, Full Professor of Accounting, Luiss Business School and University College London AGENDA Introduction to the DBA in Global Strategic Management - Green and digital transition Presentation of Module I - Management and Strategy in the Green Transition Presentation of Module II - The information economy, digitization, and intangible assets Presentation of Module III - Sustainability and digitization: marketing issues Presentation of Module IV - Accounting and Corporate Finance in the Modern Environment Conclusion and Q&A WHEN: Friday, 22 November 2024TIME: 5.00PM - 6.30PM (Central European Time)WHERE: Online Published on Friday, 25 October 2024

DBA Digital Transition Green Transition

17 July 2017

“The LUISS MBA? A Monumental Experience”: to take a step toward a Finance career, Rafael choose LUISS Business School

Prior to joining the LUISS MBA program, Rafael Da Cruz Bezerra studied electrical engineering in Brazil and France. Then he worked in Brazil and Mozambique in Procurement and Internal Control for Vale S.A., one of the world’s largest mining companies. When he decided that an MBA was the next step toward a Finance career, Rafael wanted to study on a prestigious course in Italy and found LUISS Business School. Describing his LUISS MBA experience, Rafael said, “What I like best about the program is that with the small class size we have really bonded together. In addition, I have enjoyed the marketing courses, even if my focus area is Finance. The most memorable part of my year so far has been participating in the Finance Competition in Milan. There my colleagues and I saw that our course preparation was equal to that of other business schools like London Business School, HEC Paris or Insead. I recommend participating in competitions like this as well as exchanges or electives with other business schools. These experiences are very rich, much more than I anticipated. They are great for networking and giving a broader vision of where other business schools focus. They are also good to see the strengths of our own school. Living in Rome has also been an important part of my experience. My one word description of Rome is 'monumental'. Everything here is in a different scale and always very impressive. After this first impact you start to realize that there are a multitude of Rome’s, with so many places and facets to discover. I live just outside Rome in a little town called Paliano, and I come often into Rome. It is a great city in all senses: culturally, night life and personal life (people are extremely friendly). One more piece of advice for prospective students is to learn a little Italian to really discover Italy. It is so much more than the big cities (Rome, Milan….) and with so much to offer, not just in business. My MBA experience so far has been great. My goal after the MBA is to have a career in Finance. In the meantime I am working hard to enjoy every minute of these 15 months through my classroom learning, through exchange experiences and through living in Rome.” 17/07/2017

20 June 2017

Achieving an Automotive Career Dream: Ernesto, Brand & Marketing Analyst at Renault Italy, after the LUISS MBA

Since I was young, I have been passionate about cars and the automotive industry. During my economic studies in Milan, I worked in “Mercedes-Benz Milano”, which confirmed my interest in this field. After my university studies, I needed something that could help me put into practice all the theory I had learned. After long research, I thought an MBA could help me develop diverse skills to apply in many different professional situations. So I started an Executive Master focused on the automotive Industry and then an MBA, both at LUISS Business School in Rome. The best part of the MBA program was the practical approach of the teaching methods and the 360° degree personal development. I especially liked the continuous combination of work on hard and soft skills. Soft skills help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and work ethic including communication, problem solving, leadership and team collaboration. Hard skills are the same for everyone; soft skills differentiate you. Without any doubt, the most memorable experience was the “MBA-life”: waking up early in the morning, focusing on our goals all day and studying in the evening. It was fun because we students became like a family. We were often together and shared joys and sorrows. I have known great people who are my best friends. It was really an unforgettable experience. Living in Rome was also an important part of this experience. It allowed me to cultivate my passion for walking, exploring new things including art exhibitions. Living in a multiethnic city, rich with art and history, expanded my personal culture. Plus Rome is the capital of Italy, and many multinational companies, especially in the automotive industry, have headquarters in Rome. I completed the last six months of the MBA in Paris, where I attended courses at ESSEC Business School. I wanted to learn a new language and experience the French culture and business environment. Back in Italy, my dream was to work in an automotive company, and I did many job interviews. LUISS played a key role at this stage because it supported and directed me toward the best choices. We had several “career service” meetings where we simulated job interviews, learning how to handle stressful situations such as those sitting in front of an HR manager. Finally Groupe Renault hired me, after four rounds of interviews, in three languages with several tests. Groupe Renault is the third largest automotive group in Italy, after Fiat and Volkswagen, and its “Renault Clio” is the most popular foreign car in Italy. My role is Brand & Marketing Analyst, and my team is responsible for pricing and positioning strategies for the Italian market. To be more precise, we are responsible for the analysis of trends and their impact on vehicle demand, and we are modifying constantly our car prices to respond to competitors' strategies. We collaborate with other business units, and we respond directly to the global management team to improve information flows and update weekly sales forecasts. When prospective LUISS MBA candidates contact me now, I tell them that companies are no longer looking for people who are prepared, skilled or with several degrees. They are looking for people who can bring innovation, ideas and… value! The LUISS MBA is a very intense and difficult program, and at the end, you feel great discovering how you have grown. The LUISS MBA has been an important step for me to bring this value and to achieve my career dream.

19 June 2017

The kick off of the Field Project Work of the LUISS Part time MBA students with WIND|3

On June 9, the kick off meeting of the Field Project Work of the LUISS Part time MBA students. A conclusive challenge of this advanced training and career path entirely taught in English, which allows students to elaborate a business consulting project working side by side with employers. Giancarlo Mazza, Head of Marketing Large & Top Offer WIND|3 will be supporting a team of LUISS Part time MBA students in realizing a strategic Marketing Plan for Large Enterprise Segment in Telecommunications industry with specific focus on ICT and new technologies trends. Starting from market segmentation and competition analysis, the project engages students to provide a strategic-medium term recommendation for WIND|3 through a SWOT analysis and WIND|3 positioning evaluation. As Giancarlo Mazza stated: “With this project WIND|3 confirms its willingness to drive digital transformation in B2B using also competencies and skills coming from executive educational program”. This innovative learning experience – based on a pragmatic approach – aims to develop students’ knowledge, skills and attitudes facing real problems and proposing real solutions to business related issues. Thanks to the guidelines and the suggestions shared directly by a top leader in the industry, the field project is a unique opportunity for the students to deepen how a distinct sector performs and consequently realize the skills to improve for their own career path. 19/06/2017

12 June 2017

A dream to join a European fashion apparel company: Natasha, US to Italy with the LUISS MBA program

Natasha Kuzmanovic has a dream to join a European fashion apparel company. Building on 11 years’ experience, most recently as Director of Merchandising at the University of Southern California (USC, one of the largest NCAA teams in the United States), the LUISS MBA is preparing her with the business, industry and cultural skills to make this transition. “Once I started considering the possibility of moving to Rome, I began to research schools in Italy. Through word of mouth I learned that LUISS has an unparalleled reputation in the Italian business community. From the beginning it was apparent that being associated with LUISS carries a lot of weight in Italy, especially in Rome. This was the driving factor in my decision making process.” As an American living in Rome, Natasha appreciates the hard-working and balanced lifestyle. “Living in Rome is a unique experience that combines magnificent art and history with the modern world. The lifestyle in Rome replicates this model of time standing still and dynamic progress. People are eager to work hard as well as to slow down and enjoy a good meal or time with friends. I find this balance very refreshing after living in United States, where the emphasis is more often on work than anything else. My experience in Rome has been that we get everything accomplished, and we hold each other accountable, while respecting the boundaries and the need for personal life.” The program elements that make a difference for Natasha are the structure, complex problem solving and class diversity. “The program is well-structured because it provides a good balance of a strong academic foundation with practical knowledge. As a class, we are challenged to solve complex problems, to think critically, to connect the dots and to get out of our comfort zone. The class diversity is an incredible advantage. Different backgrounds, education levels, skill sets and experiences contribute to dynamic and challenging discussions and help maintain high standards. We learn as much from each another as we do from professors. The class profile is high quality, and we are constantly raising the bar higher. For example, our presentations have gone from basic, simple, and uncertain to elaborate, comprehensive, engaging and creative works of art. The LUISS MBA has been an invaluable experience for me. It has changed my life for the better, and I feel confident that I can succeed in the job market. I started this program hoping to get any job and now feel the ball is my court, and I can go after my dream. Taking a year to attend the LUISS MBA program is changing the playing field for my entire career.”

23 May 2017

Building a global Perspective: the story of Wen Ting Chang, LUISS MBA class of 2016

MBA 2016 "Prior to the LUISS MBA, I worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan. I had accumulated significant experience in organizing diverse activities, including governmental ceremonies and visiting programs of foreign political leaders. I had also led one branch of a renowned Taiwanese educational institute, setting annual plans and budgets, and our team was recognized as best branch of the year. After all this experience in Taiwan, however, I realized that I needed to 'Go Global' to become more competitive in the dynamic global business environment. The LUISS MBA was appealing because it helped a person like me, with limited financial and economic experience, to build a solid knowledge of business, both hard and soft skills. The most critical part of the program was the international perspective shared between the diverse nationalities of faculty and participants. This allowed me to meet, work and become friends with people from around the world. My most memorable MBA experience was with an international social impact program. The project was in partnership with Energia per i Diritti Umani (Energy for the Human Rights), a non-profit organization financing and managing schools for children in Senegal, Gambia and India. Our team participated in a competition called “MBA for Africa”, in which we designed, under time pressure, a game for Senegalese children to educate them on the importance of team work and role play. Following the competition the organization brought the best design to Senegal, teaching children there how to play the game and understand the lesson behind it. I was thrilled to have strengthened my ability to work in a group under pressure, and we learned the power of bonding. Each team member had distinct backgrounds with different work patterns and habits. To achieve high-performance, we needed to build trust and have each person in the right place to conquer the challenge. This experience gave me the opportunity to DO something meaningful for society, contributing as a member of the global village. The LUISS MBA program was intense but worthwhile. It enriched my global perspective and my personal experience. I have become more confident and ready to confront and solve challenges. It was also a place to nourish my awareness of social global issues. In the end I achieved my goal. I have developed my career into the next level and am enthusiastic about my life and future". 23/05/2017

22 May 2017

#MasterYourCareer - Challenges and difficulties in your life are the starting point for your achievements: Greta, IBM Analyist after the Master in Corporate Finance

«The Master in Corporate Finance was 360° training. Since the first admission test I learned that nothing is given but you have to earn as much as you are willing to fight and to overcome your limits. At the end job offers arrived fast»: Greta, IBM Analyst presso IBM in the Finance and Administration department in Bratislava, which is the largest centre in Europe. “If you want something, go and get it. Point.” (from “The Pursuit of Happiness”) I am Greta, I am 27 years old and my passion is Finance. After obtaining the Master of Science in Economics, Management and Corporate Finance cum laude and a scarce job offer I felt I needed to specialize more in that field; hence the decision to enroll in the post degree Corporate Finance’s Master at the LUISS Business School. From the admission test my English’s level was not high enough to access that kind of Master, but this was not, for sure, a good reason to be able to stop me. The following week, in fact, I went to London for six months in order to improve the language. In this time lapse I was studying at an English School and I was working in a restaurant. This was a constructive and not easy at all experience in a context quite different from “comfort zone”, but when I come back I passed the admission test with great satisfaction. A summary of the Master’s description is not simple, for me it was 360° training. Since the first admission test I learned that nothing is given but you have to earn as much as you are willing to fight and to overcome your limits. Obviously that there were “hard and discouraging” moments, where the first thought was to give up, but in reality it was those events reminded me that I was going in the right direction. If a specific way would be so easy it could be undertaken by everyone, but fortunately it is not. The hard work was paid off, and if I can be honest I have gained more knowledge and skills than I could expect: the possibility of facing business cases with Top Managers and highly qualified teachers, the possibility to interface with different cultures in an international environment, sharing, comparison, tears, smiles, friendships, ideas, challenges and growth, both on a professional level and soft skills level. At the end jobs offer arrived fast, first a six months internship in the Administration, Finance and Control at Costa Cruise, in Genoa’s headquarters. Then the permanent contract offer in one of the biggest American Company in the IT sector, globally speaking: IBM. Currently I hold an Analyst position in the Finance and Administration department in Bratislava, which is the largest centre in Europe. With great enthusiasm I really have the ability here, on daily basis, to practice what I learned during the Master, with a very great team. I could not ask for anything better, obviously there is still a lot of work to do, to learn, to grow and to be always better but I am always ready to accept new challenges. Someone says that I am as ambitious as combative, and I cannot deny it. What I would advise to the future LUISS Business School’s students is to pursue their way with passion, motivation, determination and responsibility. May you be always courageous to accept challenges in your life, there will be difficulties, but make it as a starting point for your achievements. 22/05/2017

15 May 2017

Discovering the power of friendship: the success story of Maria Clelia Pagliaro, MBA class of 2016

MBA 2015 When I applied to the LUISS MBA program, I had just graduated with a Master’s Degree in International Politics and Foreign Affairs. The business world was fascinating to me, and I liked the idea of challenging myself in a new and diverse career path. Nonetheless, I had a gap compared with future colleagues having a background in finance, marketing or economics. So I decided to go London for an intensive Business English course: the more I could become comfortable in English, the more it would help me overcome my limits in the other subjects. So I took a flight and arrived alone in snowy cold London. By the summer, with great sacrifice and hard study, I passed the LUISS admissions exam, and I was an MBA student! The LUISS MBA program was rich, intense and challenging, and my class had a melting pot of different nationalities, languages and cultures. I had the chance to learn many topics in the business world, from statistics to corporate strategy, and this was fundamental to acquire the necessary skills to enter the job market. During the MBA I discovered the power of friendship. Not having experience in finance and economics, I was fortunate to meet two people who became my dearest friends. They were experts in those fields and helped me every day to learn these new topics. In return, I helped them to learn the more humanistic subjects. Together we overcame all the challenges (even the hardest, the unthinkable ones!) thanks to mutual support and patience. I will be grateful to them for all my life!! Following the program I got a position with the cosmetics company where I did my first internship. I am a junior brand manager in the marketing team. The MBA was a fundamental step in my career, and the decision to do it was the most important milestone of my professional life. Looking back on my experience I would give this advice to prospective candidates: Give everything - your mind, your heart, your soul - and enjoy what will be one of the best periods of your life! 15/05/2017

08 May 2017

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone: the career of Alessandro after the LUISS MBA

MBA 2015 Over my desk hangs a saying: “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”. Life is more enjoyable when I experience new adventures, both in my personal life and in business. When it came time to choose an MBA program, I wanted one that would stretch me. So I chose the LUISS MBA. I learned from challenging classes, valuable soft skill labs, carefully selected international students and talented international faculty. I had opportunities to meet influential CEOs from Italian and international companies, as well as board members and experienced managers. The LUISS MBA was the perfect mix between academia and a learning by doing experience. And Rome was the perfect setting for this experience. It was literally possible to breathe in all the ancient history coming from the past as well as the modernity of a capital city. Nightlife was another plus because there are many places where students can experience unforgettable nights. The result of this mixture was something unique because the challenging environment fit perfectly with the charming city and the business school location. Before joining the LUISS MBA program, I worked as a consultant and an entrepreneur in the medical equipment industry, selling products and services for private clinics. I wanted to make a career change to a larger company, and the LUISS career services team suggested many opportunities with well-known Italian and international companies. Currently I am a Buyer for Babcock Mission Critical Services in the rotary wings division (part of the UK company Babcock International Group). We save lives every day in our core business of HEMS service (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service). The LUISS MBA helped me develop the tools to succeed. Mental flexibly, stress management, hard skills and negotiation abilities are valuable allies in my current professional life. All were improved in the LUISS MBA through academic lessons and practical training. To be accepted in the LUISS MBA program, it was essential to have two big qualities: motivation and skills. To cover the cost, I applied for the “AdVenture” full tuition scholarship, making a business plan for an innovative idea. When the LUISS Admissions Office called, I was excited to hear that I was one of the winners. It taught me that if you are resilient and believe in your dreams, no one can stop you. The LUISS MBA is a 360-degree program that changed my life, taking me far past my comfort zone. I loved every minute of this incredible learning experience.

MBA

03 May 2017

The path to leadership according to Sir Martin Sorrell: a long-term commitment to the creation of value

On March 16 2017 Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP was guest at L4T – Leader for Talent – a series of meetings aimed for Specialized Masters and MBA Students. This insight was written by Cristina Maria Mion, Student of Full Time MBA. On March 16th, students, professors and entrepreneurs had the unique opportunity to engage in an open discussion with Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP - the world’s leading company in marketing communications services, through the LUISS Business School Leader for Talent #L4T series. Sir Martin Sorrell approached the conference in a two-way conversation, using his keen ability to recognize global trends, and his vast personal experiences, to answer questions at the forefront of the audience’s mind. The interactivity and personal insights were characteristic of today’s style of communication, and offered an enriching experience for the leaders of tomorrow to engage with an individual who has shaped the business world of today. Sir Martin initiated the discussion by sharing his perspective on those trends that are defining the global market and the actions of its members. A time characterized by low GDP growth and minimal inflation, rising cost pressure, emergence of disruptive technologies, and a growing number of active investors, represent unique challenges for current and future leaders. The most significant of these challenges was identified to be the pursuit of balance whilst facing opposing pressures. Sorrell highlighted the importance for leaders to balance the increasing demand for short-term returns and cost-cuts, alongside the growing necessity that firms adopt a more sustainable long-term perspective to growth, capital investment, and value creation. At an individual level, Sorrell translated this into an ability to balance execution and strategy, that is, that successful leaders have the capacity to inspire and develop strategic visions, without losing sight of the technical performance details necessary to bring them to fruition. Sir Martin also shared with the students his personal leadership values which are characterised by a combination of persistence and speed, a refusal to be deterred by challenges, and a keen belief that nothing is impossible. For the future leaders in the audience, this insight was invaluable and brought a renewed a sense of strength to move forward in the pursuit of meaningful change, despite the somewhat uncertain waters of today’s economy. Sorrell’s own path to leadership was influenced by advice given to him by his father who stated that “you should find an industry you enjoy, find a company you like, build a reputation in that company, and if at a certain stage, you want to go and start something on your own go and do it.” Sir Martin maintained that this piece of advice should be held true for all those pursuing leadership positions today, with the understanding that the path to leadership is neither short nor linear, but instead requires a long-term commitment to the creation of value whilst facing cyclical changes, emerging obstacles, and opposing economic pressures. The leadership conference with Sir Martin Sorrell was a highly engaging and informative event that offered future leaders the opportunity to not only better understand the aspects that are shaping the business world of today, but how to can respond to those elements and develop into the leaders that will contribute to the business world of tomorrow. (Article by Cristina Maria Mion, Full Time MBA Student) Gallery 03/05/2017

24 April 2017

International Management students finalists of "The Mark Challenge" competition

The students of the Master in International Management Giuseppe D’Auria, Anna Stella Dolcetti, Alessandro Azzolini, Andrea Vitale and Lorenzo Chieppa were ranked in the first five positions of “The Mark challenge” a luxury business competition hosted by the International University of Monaco that involved 75 teams coming from 24 Business Schools. "The Mark" allows students with an entrepreneurial spirit to pitch a luxury or premium business idea to a professional panel of investors and community leaders. LUISS Business School students will take part in the final on April 25th introducing “ID Shield” project “which aims to reduce the problem of counterfeiting in the luxury market by exploiting the innovative blockchain technology” explains Alessandro. “It is a digital guarantee system designed to protect not only the consumer when purchasing luxury goods, but also the manufacturer and retailers, allowing them to trace and verify the goods through the entire production chain” says Stella. “The project is part of an innovation process with a significant impact in the functioning of a developed and complex market – adds Lorenzo. – The Mark Challenge is an important opportunity in order to establish an idea which could become a standard of guarantee and authenticity.” The idea “arises from the common will to exploit the latest technologies to provide an effective service starting from the luxury sector but that may easily find further purposes in other sectors with similar needs.” It is indeed a project “scalable in all those sectors in which an unalterable guarantee of authenticity is desirable or fundamental, as for example, in the pharmaceutical industry where traceability and guarantee involve not only economic dynamics but also and above all the protection of consumer healthcare.” An entrepreneurial idea that combines social impact with innovation: “ID Shield provides innovation to those who have an economic and social interest – explains Andrea – aiming to weaken the criminal business of counterfeiting and the resulting labor exploitation (child labor too) which connected to this type of activity, establishing thus a positive impact on society. ID Shield is the synthesis of an entrepreneurial spirit that looks to innovation to solve critical issues while sharing the professional background and the experience of every team member, as Giuseppe mentions: “creating an innovative startup represents the affirmation of a mindset that gained maturity from previous entrepreneurial experiences, a specific and constantly evolving technical knowledge, marketing and business development skills. It means working on a highly innovative project, that enables us to exploit the disruptive potential of IoT and combined blockchains is a strong motivational driver.” Gallery 24/04/2017

31 March 2017

Problem solving with LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methodology

On the 9th of March MBA Part time students had the opportunity to confront themselves with a Case History in the FMCG field in which they experienced the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methodology to improve the procurement function within a global organization. LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is an innovative and effective methodology half way between consultancy and training, designed to improve business results through the use of LEGO Blocks. The project was born in the 1990’s thanks to Kjeld Kristiansen’s initiative, he was the grandson of the founder of Lego® not to mention CEO of the company, who in order to promote the creation of a working group formed by Johan Roos and Bart Victor, both professors at IMD Business School in Lausanne, Robert Ramussen, Director of educational research of Lego® and Per Kristiansen Global Brand Director of LEGO®. The goal was to develop a strategic approach to Problem Solving for the management capable of breaking barriers and limited beliefs, opening up to new points of view and developing innovative solutions. “It is an extremely flexible facilitation, no predefined content - said Rachele Soliera, consultant and certified facilitator at LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® - particularly suitable for all those activities that need to be developed or strengthened within an organization, such as problem solving, strategic thinking effective communication and team identity.” Participants use building blocks to build models representing metaphorically their thoughts, their challenges and their personal and professional aspirations. It is transverse methodology, cross - market and cross-function applicable in different contexts, orientated to business development, as much as teams and people. This methodology increases participants self-confidence because based on the precondition that every individual can offer unique contribution to the work of the team, and thanks to this participate in problem solving. The inclusive and involving approach changes the scope of commitment of individuals towards the team and allows them to transform classic meeting where 80% of the contents is generated by 20% of the participants in workshops with a 100% level and of commitment and involvement for all. For these reasons, it is a method that has been extremely effective for starting and/or ruling shared change processes; training and assessment; create project teams; manage risks or overcome team crisis situations; facilitate participation of planned processes for citizens and civil society; facilitate networking activities, get impacting insights; develop Business Model Canvas; resolve conflicts and deal with “indisputable threads” start start-ups. Propose students to experiment with innovative approaches and transversal activities is an aim of the Part Time MBA. In light of its horizontal application, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® favours the development of managerial skills that puts at the core of business the growth of individuals and team work. “ The application of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methodology to the Business Case presented, is a solid example of its effectiveness - said Rachele Soliera - in a few hours students, according to the frame of the SWOT analysis identified and built up areas of strength and weakness, the threats and opportunities arising from the case concerned up to the shared Business Solution.” Gallery 31/03/2017

20 March 2017

The attitude to embrace changes, involve talents and take ethical decisions: leadership according to Marco Patuano

On February 21 Marco Patuano, CEO of Edizione S.r.l was guest at L4T – Leader for Talent – a series of meetings aimed for Specialized Masters and MBA students. This insight was written by Leone Bonanni, Student of Full Time MBA. On Tuesday, February 21st, full time MBA students had the opportunity to meet Marco Patuano, CEO of Edizione S.r.l through the LUISS Business School Leader for Talent series. The event was held in Sala Delle Colonne and students were extremely excited to get to meet such an influential Italian business leader. From the beginning, attendees could easily perceive Marco Patuano’s strong interpersonal skills, which are typical of today’s distinguished business leaders. As one of his main points, Marco Patuano stated that in order to be successful in our current and future endeavors, we must possess the right attitude. As future leaders, we must take pride in what we do and face every single challenge with our best effort. To be a successful leader, Patuano also highlighted that we must surround ourselves with talented individuals in order to maximize results both on a personal and a professional level. His team at Edizione S.r.l is filled with enthusiastic professionals who love what they do and strive to be the best every single day. Marco Patuano has worked in many different locations and has experienced significantly different working environments, which have allowed him to develop as a top executive manager. Patuano believes that future leaders must be keen to relocate in order to pursue a fulfilling and rewarding career due to the increased globalization trends that are taking place. Today, we live in a world that figuratively has no borders and there are potential opportunities all over the globe. The main challenges that a future leader may face are mainly related to globalization and the adaptation to changes with a particular industry. Adapting to certain changes within an industry is crucial if a firm wants to survive in a competitive environment. A leader must be able to embrace change and transfer his eagerness to change to his team ensuring positive results through high productivity and high employee morale. Another point made by Marco Patuano is that all leaders must behave in an ethical manner when making managerial and personal decisions. Patuano stated that when analyzing potential businesses to acquire, he makes sure to not invest in unethical industries or unethical firms. Today, ethics play a fundamental role in business activities due to increased visibility thanks to digital technologies and increased consumer awareness. Acquiring an unethical business may lead to devaluation of the whole brand portfolio, therefore a single wrong move may prove to be detrimental. There are also times when personal ethics may come into conflict with orders from the CEO. Marco Patuano described handling such a situation while working in Brazil and was able to deliver positive results to his CEO while preserving his own personal ethics by finding an efficient solution that worked for both parties. Making ethical decisions not only has a positive effect on the long-term sustainability of companies, but also safeguards individuals. The Leader for Talent series has once again proven to be a fantastic way for future leaders to meet current leaders and learn about the different challenges that leaders face on a daily basis. (Article by Leone Bonanni, Full Time MBA Student) Gallery 20/03/2017

24 February 2017

#MasterYourCareer - Continuous new stimulus and challenging international activities changed the way of conceiving my career: Carlo after the Master in Corporate Finance

«Ambition, curiosity and need to challenge myself once again are the main reasons why I chose to enroll in the Master in Corporate Finance at the LUISS Business School»: the career of Carlo Venticinque after the MACOFIN I graduated in Management Engineering and joined afterwards the Management Consulting company EY, where I worked for more than 2 years on different projects dealing with different areas from Operations Optimization to Business Development. Even though I was acquiring a good level of experience during these two years, I just felt I was missing something. Moreover, I have always been fascinated by the Corporate Finance world and its marvelous applications into the real life and in each business area: Finance is concrete and you need to know at least some if you aspire to become a good Manager. The Master in Corporate Finance at the LUISS Business School offered me the most complete and diversified path. It concerns different areas in which a manager should excel, not only the usual hard skills. We explored different aspects of finance from different points of view, while interacting with successful managers who shared with us their experience focusing on the skills the job market requires today. Not less, it gave me the opportunity to find smart colleagues who challenged me several times and pushed me to do better. The work environment is made of human connections and what really matters is the way we interact each other, how we communicate with people and especially how we inspire them. The most effective Communication and Public speaking lessons I have ever attended are actually the ones provided by the MACOFIN. The Global Business Opportunity Programme, an intensive educational path to develop an idea into s business project, and the Going Global Programme, a four month exchange at EM Lyon Business School, changed completely my way of conceiving my career and probably my life in general. These experiences enriched me with the smartness of the people that I met and helped me to realize that working abroad was what I was looking for. While I was looking for jobs in exchange, I discovered Flixbus, a company that is not widely famous yet but with an extremely interesting business model that is surprisingly expanding. I applied for a vacancy and then I joined the Business Development team for the Italian market. This working position is completely different from what I have done so far. The activities I deal with are not directly connected to the scope of the MACOFIN but I strongly believe that the knowledge acquired will be useful in my future path. I would suggest to the incoming students to leverage every single opportunity of interaction with the managers to get some good insights on how they climbed the career ladder and what is really important to succeed in the workplace. I would suggest them to look continuously for new stimulus, following their own interests, and gather the maximum by all the international activities provided by the master to have great life experiences and build their network. 24/02/2017

25 January 2017

Leadership Through Diversity and Inclusion

LUISS Business School has positioned its female students at the centre of a new project named GROW – Generating Real Opportunities for Women. The project promotes diversity and inclusion in management culture, and has an aim to enhance the vision of leadership that could create growth in contexts characterised by high variability. In this view, diversity is considered as a resource that enriches companies with values and skills. GROW was initiated and will work as a collection of ideas and tools that helps its participants develop both their personality and professional skills. For the students of LUISS Business School participating in the GROW project means broadening their skills to become future leaders through mentoring and networking, Talent Programme and Data Girl Programme – the integrated initiatives to support the career development of women. However, it also means working with the corporate world to bring about innovation thanks to a different management culture, and to create a strong connection between the companies and the academy with an aim to build balanced teams of professionals on all organisation levels. The focus on diversity in educating the future leaders involves the whole community of LUISS Business School students: GROW is open to all students enrolled in graduate and master's programmes, including the MBA and Executive Master’s programmes. Having a direct contact with female leaders who have led a successful career and are therefore very useful role models, all the students have an opportunity to understand which aspects of their personality and professional skills should they concentrate on in order to grow. To gain self-awareness, set priorities, combine passion and hard work, go beyond one’s limits and be open-minded – these are the characteristics considered as essential for true leaders by Simonetta Iarlori, the COO of Gruppo Cassa Depositi e Prestiti. Simonetta Iarlori, who met the students during the GROW presentation on November 29, 2016, emphasised the necessity for those traits in order to be able to take complex decisions in very heterogeneous environments, and encouraged the students to work on these aspects. (Article by Marica Bartoli, student of Master in Trade Management) 03/01/2017

GROW

24 January 2017

#MasterYourCareer-"Data is meaningless without its market context": Marco, Business Analytics Specialist after the Master in Big Data

«After my Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, I was looking for a field to apply my knowledge and my mindset: something concrete, real, demanded by the market with a great business value. The big data industry was the perfect solution to combine my passion for numbers and their application to one of the most developing areas of business»: the career of Marco, Business after attending the Master in Big Data. In Italy, business innovation led by data analytics is only starting to develop, if compared to other countries. Nevertheless, big companies are now changing their approach to bring their business up-to-date. LUISS Business School was a pioneer in investing and believing in this great opportunity. The Master in Big Data (MaBDA) is a dynamic programme, a great source of motivation to explore the evolving world of big data. The key element of the Master’s success is the synergy of three main aspects. First, the technical part: computer science with particular attention to big data infrastructures and R, a leading data analytics programming language. Second, my favorite area: the numeric one. Data scientists deal with a mixture of mathematics, statistics and econometrics, they have to face problems in a logical way, trying to consider all the factors and the points of view involved. My background, of course, was an added value in this scenario. And last but not least, a data scientist should also have business skills: data is meaningless without its market context. As a matter of fact, MaBDA involves many subjects focused on this, and I appreciated them a lot because I had the possibility to study something new that has fostered my skills. MaBDA is not only a matter of traditional lectures: it also consists of group works, projects, workshops, all the activities that train one’s ability to work in a group, share ideas, research to find solutions and communicate. A data scientist absolutely needs these skills as well! I would recommend to those who want to attend the MaBDA programme to consider all subjects, in particular the technical ones that make up the base structure of the programme. The winning choice of the Master’s programme is to initially get acquainted with as many topics as possible in order to get a general perspective, and then deepen one’s knowledge according to personal preferences. Currently I am a trainee at a consulting company that deals exactly with data analytics and business intelligence. Thanks to the support of the LUISS Business School’s Career Service, I found the perfect solution for my ambitions. I am very satisfied being able to apply the skills I learned in a real business context. My plan is to continue growing in this company, learning other tools, and improving my analytics skills. MaBDA was a great experience: it gave me new insights, skills, motivations, and also the opportunity to meet a wonderful network of people and professionals with whom I really look forward to work with again. 24/01/2017

16 November 2016

The Recipe for Success by Walter Ruffinoni

On November 8 2016, LUISS Business School hosted Walter Ruffinoni, CEO at NTT DATA Italy, for the «#L4T - Leader for Talent» event reserved for the Students of Specialized Masters. Here are the insights written by Katrina Ustyuzhanina, student of the Master in Tourism Management who attended the event. Leader for Talent is a great opportunity for LUISS Business School students to meet the most successful professionals from the corporate world. During an hour of listening to the Leader's speech, students can enrich themselves with the most useful operational methodology information used in the World's leading companies and get precious advices for their career paths. This time students had a chance to meet an outstanding professional - Walter Ruffinoni. Walter Ruffinoni is a CEO at NTT DATA Italy. He joined the company in 2010, bringing to the role more than 20 years of experience in the Technology and Consulting Industry along with an Executive Management Leadership. His main mission as a CEO is to make NTT DATA Italy the leading company in digital innovation and in particular cybersecurity, undoubtly he has been extremely successful in brining this mission into action. Mr. Walter Ruffinoni shared with the students his vision of the leader in the future and gave some suggestions about building a successful career plan according to his personal professional experience. Mr.Walter Ruffinoni mentioned that we are living in the time of digital revolution, where the changes are happening with an unusual speed and are transforming not only the way we interact with each other, but also the business society. Our generation will be facing the biggest opportunities in the business world, but in order to find your place in it you will have to be educated and to be an advanced user of new technologies. Every step forward that technology is making is also creating an exponential disruption , however it means that there are no more boundaries that were preventing people in the past to make their dreams come true, today you have a chance to become a corporate citizen , to be a start uper,enterpreneur or to have any career you wish. There are 10 basic rules that Mr. Ruffinoni suggested the students to follow when they will start their career path: First rule is to choose the right company to work for. In order to do that you have to understand the vision a company has, the values it is endorsing, along with the culture and the people that are envolved in it. The company you will choose has to be a right fit for your personal characteristics, because at the end of the day you invest so much of your personal time in it, that it will really make an incredible difference if you are sharing the vision and feel the purpose of making all the effort. Second rule is to periodically check your own progress. Take a couple of hours to ask yourself ''Am I learning? Am I acquiring new skills that are taking me to the goal I would like to pursue?''. Make sure if the answer to these questions is ''No'', you have to do something about it. Third rule is to always ask feedback from the people youwork with, from your boss and your leader. It will help you to distinguish your strengths and your weaknesses. Certainly your weaknesses are something you have to work on , but do not forget to know your strengths, you have to build on those, because they are going to be an accelerator to your career. Fourth rule is to never stay in your comfort zone. You have to always push yourself beyond your limits. Once you feel confident and comfortable in what you are doing in your work – it is time to move on. It has to become your philosophy and the rythm of your internal clock. Fifth rule is to put passion in everything you do. Passion is an amazing engine that potentially can make anything possible. Try your best not to be shy but to use the maximum of your energy and passion in the job you do. Sixth rule is to not be afraid of making mistakes. Never be afraid of failing, because by trying you will either win or you will learn. It is important to put all of your effort in a task rather than doing nothing, even if you are not sure whether you will succeed. Seventh rule is to not put a lot of attention on your salary or earnings at the beginning of your career. In the first 5-6 years your goal is to lay the grounds and build the leader you want to become, therefore your salary or earnings in this period of time will not be a critical factor. However, in order to do that you need to pick a job that you like, where you can learn a lot of things, improve your skills and put yourself out of a comfort zone. Eighth rule will apply when you will become a leader. Remember that a Leader is different from a Boss,a leader is generous, welcoming, suggesting and proposing. You will have to set a vision, that is inclusive and sustainable, because you have to give a purpose for the people working with you, for you and around you. Your strategy has to take the right focus, to be simple and understandable for everyone. Nineth rule is to be a brave leader and to always be yourself. If somebody is putting you in a particular place, there must a reason why it is you and not another person. Some people tend to change their personal characteristics depending on the position they were given in a company, never do this kind of mistake – always stay true to yourself. Tenth rule is to always think of talking to the people's mind and heart, emotions play an incredibly important role in being a leader. Apply story telling every time you can and listen to the people. Communication is the key, it makes people feel a part of the big picture which will definitely stimulate their perfomance. Mr.Walter Ruffinoni is an expert in technology and executive management field, LUISS students could not miss an opportunity to ask him questions, Mr. Walter Ruffinoni gave full answers to all of them. Here are the list of Questions and Answers: How did a small start-up in Calabria, one of the Italian regions most affected from the digital gap, succeedin becoming a center of excellence in Cyber Security Research? There are three main ingredients for that. First a purpose, going back to the 2000, it was 3 people’s dream to build a working positing and an opportunity to hire employees, which will prevent people from leaving Calabria, because there is no work. Second is passion, by becoming a visible leader in technology we are able to attract many young people to work with artificial intelligence, cyber security and so on. Third is the innovation ecosystem, we started collaborating with a local university, which is preparing trained specialists with the skills we are looking for. We also think about Cosenza employees’ future, if one day our operation there will stop, they will have a good technology experience and will be able to find a job anywhere else. Currently we have grown from 50 people to 200 people within 3 years. Now we are coming to do the same in Naples. Which are the actual risks led by the digital revolution in terms of cyber security? Which viable solutions do you see in a long term perspective and in particular which strategy is NTT pursuing? Cyber security is very complex, investing in a cyber security seems strange, because if everything is going well you will be wondering why are we investing in it, but once it goes wrong it can be very dangerous. The more digital world is developing, the more data is growing and today data gives organizations a competitive advantage. These days the companies have to protect a complex environment. My vision is that the cyber opportunity will be perceived as a threat in doing business in a future world; you need to protect an amazing number of elements that are going to become a potential source of attack for your company. However, there is another way to go, our strategy is to put cyber security in the 1st place, our company was even thinking to reframe its identity to a security company. There is a lot of awareness that needs to be carried out in the society, corporations, institutions and the private life. We need to educate our children to the right use of a social media, data and how to have more privacy sharing. The Europe Code Week has just ended. What do you think about coding courses introduction into fancy school programs? How teaching paradigms are evolving with the digital revolution? There will be an empowerment of next generation learning capacity or we risk digital dementia to  gain the upper hand? We strongly believe that we need to get more people exposed to technology, especially women. It is not easy to find a presence of women in STEM universities. We have a day dedicated to kids, which is called ''kids in the company''. We try to let them start coding from scratch, for children it serves as a game instrument, but it gives them a basic understanding. Our purpose is to make sure that every year more boys and girls attend this course. One thing we are lacking is people coming out from the technology faculties. In our case we try to fill the gap. Do you think the company with Japanese origin and its peculiar mindset has had an influence on the corporate pursued strategies? In my career I was working for a company acquired by USA, it had a ''straight to the point''. We had to plan the budget for this quarter and to always increase the bar, we worked as if there was no next quarter rather than this one, and it was kind of a ''hire or fire'' strategy. If the change in numbers was not as it was written in the plan, for the first time you were safe, next time you were out. On the opposite, Japanese culture is very different. In Japanese company they asked me to do a long-term plan. The first and second year while we reaching the planned number in our budget I didn’t get the request to raise the bar. There is more attention to sustainability, it is not about making the numbers bigger, but creating the grounds to keep achieving the same numbers and get the company to grow. We are an Italian company owned by a Japanese company. From our starting point they gave us enough time to transform the company and to build the right grounds. Which is the role played by women in the digital revolution and the more effective ways to attract female talents? I strongly believe that women have a great opportunity in a digital world. We are taking this topic seriously in our company, we set up a target of having 50% of hiring women employees, 50% of the management promotions need to be women too, probably the target won’t be achieved within 2 years, but it is important to keep working on it and to make structural changes in a company. We have to give the same opportunities to women in the technology world. Which do you think are the pros and cons of public services digitization? Which is the likelihood of human jobs being cut ? The technology revolution will not stop, we either have to embrace it and try to get the best out of it or we will lose. For sure a lot of jobs will change, if you go to the cities like Tokyo and Shanghai you can see more and more robots alongside citizens. There are already machines diagnosing cancer, artificial intelligence lawyers and artificial intelligence journalists in USA. Digitalization will hit the banking sector in Italy, today there is no need to go to the banks like we did 10-15 years ago, we can do it online, a lot of branches will be closing, there will be a real estate revolution and a lot of people will be relocated. The digital revolution is here; in 10 years almost a half of current jobs will not exist anymore and there will be new jobs which will require a new set of skills. We need lead the revolution and seize the opportunities coming from it. Taking into account the Genesys voice platform implemented for Fastweb and the central role played by customer satisfaction, could you tell us its relevance in the whole global NTT strategy and which actions have been undertaken? Customer satisfaction is the most important aspect of every single company. Look at any emerging companies like Amazon, Airbnb, Uber etc. if there is one thing impressing me is the user experience. In the future companies will have to make sure they can satisfy customers; if the company does not have the right customer experience it will be a matter of few years till they close down their business. Which resources and distinctive capabilities should a company hold to gain a sustainable competitive advantage in the IT service and solution field? Picking the right technology and the right trend, for us it is absolutely the key. Of course you need to have the right people around you, you need people who are willing to experience new things and to bring passion to the company. It is also very important to have the right focus on innovation. How is the European market of digital technologies similar or different from an Asian market? One of the main differences is of course the data using. Another incredible thing is that the quality focus is different. The western mentality is to do good enough, but for the Japanese the quality is a number one issue. Finally, the dedication and the sense of belonging. When I was working in the American Cyber company I asked my colleagues for how long they’ve been working in the company and I got the answers ''3, 2, 4, 5 years''. When I entered the NTT Data, the first time I asked few people the same question and after the fifth person told me ''since university'' - I stopped asking. In Japan the company you choose to work for is for life. The sense of belonging, the way you are treated by the company is totally different. As Italians we should take Italian creativity and flexibility and combine it with Japanese dedication, long-term execution and teamwork, then you will get the most you can possibly imagine. It is worth mentioning that it is interesting to realize how simple and genuine a successful and great people are. How easily they share there own experience and give you a life changing advices . These were 2 fantastic hours where all the LUISS students who attended this meeting learnt a lot of useful information and certainly are going to apply it in real life. Our main goal is not only to become a leader, but to create leaders around us and be the change we want to see in this world. (Article by Katrina Ustyuzhanina, student of the Master in Tourism Management) Gallery 08/11/2016 16/11/2016

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