AMBA & BGA EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS
skills and vertical knowledge. In short, I wanted to become a more rounded and mature manager in a way that would allow me to further advance my career. “When it came to choosing a school, I asked for the advice of alumni from several business schools in Europe and it looked like the best fit was just around the corner, in Milan. I came to realise that the mix between technology and entrepreneurship is a big thing at Polimi and that its whole ecosystem is dedicated to empowering emerging entrepreneurs, with a focus on purposeful ventures. I liked the idea of being immersed in that environment.” What was your favourite part of the programme? “What I liked most was the chance to hear directly from alumni and faculty founders, as well as having immediate access to them. I remember asking so many questions and receiving so many tips that I felt stronger in my ideas and convictions with every interaction. “I also treasured the strategy sessions and the classes on product-market fit which, later, would become my everyday routine. We had lessons with Polimi dean Federico Frattini covering his research on how purpose can drive growth. I found these insights fascinating and it was in this climate that I started to conceive my company, Fybra.” How has what you have learnt during your EMBA helped you in your subsequent career as an entrepreneur? “If you’ve never been an entrepreneur before, you’ll find you’re missing the basics; it’s as if you’re in a foreign country without knowing the language. So, for me, the EMBA is like a language teacher that helps you learn how to communicate in the entrepreneurial world. “For example, I learned how to raise money in both pre-seed and seed phases. I realised that it was possible to assess a start-up company’s value and that there were professional ways of doing so. I also acquired industry insights into and knowledge of venture capital rules and the start-up industry’s buzzwords. At the end of my business school journey, I could speak the language. I was still a beginner who needed to practise, but I could live in the world of entrepreneurship.” Your company, Fybra, is said to solve two problems in one go. Could you briefly describe them both? “According to the World Health Organisation, we spend 90 per cent of our time indoors and our closed spaces are mostly unhealthy, offering a poor exchange of air with
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Business Impact • ISSUE 4 • 2024
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