Category: Educations Series

Leading the new generation workforce

Posted on | by Tania Tornese | Leave a Comment on Leading the new generation workforce

 

The essential digital skills for the leaders of tomorrow

To be a successful leader you need to have the right mix of soft skills and technical knowledge.

Soft skills, also known as “interpersonal skills“, relate to the way we interact with other people and include reliability, effective communication, problem-solving, people management, change management and more…

Alongside these very important skills, there are hard skills, the job-specific knowledge and technical abilities which are constantly shifting and evolving over time in the dynamic working environment in which we work today.

To manage resources and interact with different teams, you need important leadership skills but also specific digital hard skills that an International Part-time MBA at the MIP School of Business aims to develop in its traditional courses, elective boot camps and company visits.

 

  • Data science skills and the ability to make data-driven decisions: a leader must know how to read and manage data, generate reports and forecasts, identify sales opportunities and estimate profitability since organizations collect and analyze large amounts of data to make objective decisions and transform their processes. In the Data Analysis course, for example, I learned how to apply statistics to business from collecting the relevant data to writing technical reports useful for strategic decision-making.

 

  • Programming and software development: basic programming, web and app development knowledge are required to work with both internal resources and outsourcing agencies. Programming is also important for knowing how to identify opportunities, define specific project objectives and requirements, estimate the times, costs and resources necessary for implementation and guide technicians in development. In this case, the boot camp dedicated to Biomarketing used real cases to show how to use digital technology to analyze the market and to improve our understanding of the customer. Moreover, the company visit to Accenture highlighted how the company supports other businesses in the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and in the development of software used for data collection and analysis with the aim of improving sales strategies, customer management and process transformation.

 

  • Network and information security, cybersecurity and privacy knowledge: the advent of the GDPR in Europe during May 2018 put data security and privacy at the top of the agenda for many project teams. Also, consumers are now more conscious of the risk of sharing their personal information online and they expect to have their data protected. As project leaders, we will need to be able to set guidelines for project delivery that include data security approaches, work with the IT and legal teams and ensure that the required standards for security and privacy are met.

 

  • Social media selling and digital marketing: today, buyers won’t engage with a seller without visiting their company website first. Social selling uses social media to find, connect and develop meaningful relationships with potential customers. Product managers must master digital marketing skills to create digital content and promote products and services. The company visit to Moleskine, in this case, was very impressive. The company is completely digitized in its processes, marketing and customer relations while selling some of the most traditional products on the market: diaries and notebooks.

 

In the next few years, when we will be in team leader positions, we will be working with a new generation of workers who have grown up in a fully digitalized world. We should use our digital skills to coordinate them, understand their needs, support them with the tools they require, set goals and evaluate their work.

On the other hand, since technology allows new generations to be confused in values ​​and ethics, and to be lazy in habits and have little emotional intelligence, we should teach them the timeless virtues like commitment, responsibility, and the valuable soft skills that they may not understand, like emotional intelligence.

We will learn from them how to take advantage of new technologies and we will use our digital and soft skills to leverage their abilities and create the best working conditions to maximize their performance.

That is the critical role we will play.

 

About the author
 Andrea De Donatis

I am Andrea De Donatis, a student of the international part-time MBA at MIP Politecnico di Milano. I Graduated in energy engineering and I am currently working in technical sales for a leading multinational electronics company based in Milan.
I am very passionate about technology, IT and digital marketing. I strongly believe that disruptive innovation is vital to create new value.

 

 

How MBA Scholarships Are Helping Women Change Careers

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The MIP Politecnico di Milano women in business scholarship, MIP4Women, has given Maria Khukhlaev the opportunity to think about changing careers

MBA scholarships are helping women change careers and push for more gender diversity in the business school classroom. Maria Khukhlaev has seen the impact firsthand, as she is set to graduate from the International Full-Time MBA program at MIP Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Business later this year. She’s the latest in a line of women in business who’ve benefitted from the MIP4Women scholarship.

The school offers two grants of $8,686, two worth $7,058, and three for $5,429. It’s an attempt to encourage female participation in the International MBA, to further diversify the classroom, and foster a culture of women in management.

“I’m an economist, so that side of things is obviously very important to me,” says Maria. “Because of the scholarship, I managed to move to Italy, experience the full-time format, and enjoy life in Milan––something I couldn’t realistically afford without MIP’s financial support.” 

And it’s not just about the financial support. The MBA is exposing Maria to an array of perspectives––the current class is made up of students from 19 different nationalities. She’s also looking to pivot her career and move in a new direction.

Confidence to consider other careers 

With the backing of the MIP4Women scholarship, Maria has thrown herself into the program and is taking every opportunity to broaden and further develop her skill set.

“We are learning lots of things, like digital transformations and supply chain operations. I’m completely new to these topics,” she says.

The more she’s learning, the more confident she feels about pursuing new career opportunities. Maria is interested in using her MBA to switch to a career in business development or consulting for companies in and around Italy.

She’ll be pivoting from a role as an account manager for JI Investments Solutions, a consultancy she founded in 2009 in Costa Rica and has been working for since.

“I want to change my career path.” she reveals. “I have been working on an entrepreneurial project for almost 10 years, learning these things has been helpful with that. I have the chance to consider jobs in areas I wasn’t even thinking about before.”

The importance of diversity in business  

The diversity of her cohort has been an unexpected bonus, says Maria. 

“It’s really interesting having so many international perspectives in my class. I have classmates from the US, Japan, India, and Europe.” 

The opportunity to meet other like-minded people who are determined to achieve their business goals has been inspiring, she adds and motivated her to continue pursuing her own goals.  

“I wanted to meet people who can challenge me and inspire me, and I have. Yes, your classmates become friends, but why not future business partners, too?” 

She mentions an interview she did recently with a “very important bank”. They were hiring for a project involving digital transformation and stated they were looking for candidates from diverse backgrounds. 

It’s an example of how businesses are pushing for more diverse workforces. The MIP4Women scholarship ties into that––it’s hoping to push more female MBAs into more visible roles, to inspire the next generation of women in business.

“Things are changing,” says Maria. “Women feel more able to invest the time to prepare themselves for their careers, but the market is also beginning to support us more. That progress now needs to keep happening.” 

Business schools want more women to apply 

Maria estimates that around 35% of her cohort are women. A 2018 Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) study shows that the average distribution of men and women in a full-time MBA program was 38% women and 61% men. 

Initiatives like the MIP4Women scholarship are the right way to keep up momentum–it’s given Maria the chance to explore her future in business through the MBA.

“My advice to future candidates considering the MIP4Women scholarship is to be confident in your own abilities,” she advises. “Do your research. Look for the opportunities that will open doors for you.“

“It promotes personal growth, socially and culturally, because it encourages critical thinking. You will become a better leader. You will learn to communicate better, understand people from different cultures and backgrounds, you will become a better professional.” 

Originally published on

FLEXA is one of the most innovative projects in the world

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MIP’s platform of personalised and continuous learning was recognized by AMBA, the global authority on setting standards of excellence for MBAs, as one of the best examples of existing innovation

 

FLEXA is among the six most innovative projects in the world promoted by a Business School. This recognition was received on 7 February in London, during the annual gala evening organized by AMBA (Association of MBAs), the association that sets the standards of excellence throughout the world for masters in business administration. The project FLEXA, the platform of personalised and continuous learning created by MIP Politecnico di Milano in collaboration with Microsoft, was considered to be among the best examples of innovation in the field of management training, as well as a bold, creative project that can radically change teaching and learning methods.

 

Entrepreneurship, digitalization, innovation

A real bet won by MIP, as Dean Federico Frattini confirmed: «MIP has invested heavily in this project, adopting an entrepreneurial approach, which has characterized our work for years and is essential to allow our school to be extremely competitive in a global scenario in which business schools around the world seek to attract the best talent. This is an approach in which digitalization plays a key role: MIP is increasingly digital and is fully aware of the importance of new technologies in training and education. Innovation in content delivery methods is one of our distinctive characteristics. And it is precisely for this reason that FLEXA plays a crucial role, because it shows the ability of MIP to respond to the stimuli and challenges tied to ongoing technological and market trends, even when they are complex like artificial intelligence, because they are potentially able to achieve significant results and improve the experience of our students».

 

Lifelong learning as a compass

FLEXA responds to the inescapable need to remain constantly updated, in a continuous training process embodied by the concept of lifelong learning: today’s professionals, and even more those of tomorrow, will need to continuously reinforce and expand their knowledge. The challenge is far from simple: the world is characterised by an excess of information and a wealth of proposals that can be disorienting. It’s here that FLEXA seeks to make the difference: thanks to artificial intelligence, it’s able to identity the training needs of the single user, offering the most appropriate contents to meet their needs. Not only; the platform itself learns from users, giving life to a virtuous circle that continuously improves the quality of the service provided. The contents are also of a top-notch quality: articles, videos, courses, tests to challenge the student. All considering their objectives and the most precious and limited resources: time.

 

A flexible platform with flexible goals

It’s no exaggeration, therefore, to see the platform as a real digital mentor, capable of outlining study and professional training plans to fill in the student’s gaps. In addition, training isn’t limited to hard skills, but also involves soft ones, whose central role is now clear to everyone. It’s a service that, as the name suggests, was conceived to be extremely flexible. And not only for the ways in which it transmits knowledge, but also for the opportunities it offers: it is, for example, also a full-fledged networking service, since it allows you to connect to other users, not only strengthening bonds created during class courses, but also creating new ones, that bring with them new, potential growth and career opportunities.

Life is great in Milan

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Life in Milan is definitely amazing! Maybe here, my “Milanese” pride is coming out, as Milan is my home, where I live, study and am building my family ̶ but it’s true that it’s a really great city!

First of all, to describe Milan I have to say that it is not a city you fall in love with at first sight; life here must be lived to the full and Milan discovered before you can really appreciate it. My colleagues and I are finding that the International Part-Time MBA at MIP Politecnico di Milano certainly gives us plenty of opportunities to do this, both in terms of the access we are given to the thriving world of business and, of course, socially, where there is so much choice available. I am happy to act as a guide to show off the many facets my home city has to offer.

So, where to start to convince you?

Milan has changed a lot throughout these last few years and I can say that now it can easily be compared to the most glamorous European destinations. It is a city where you can have all types of experiences without ever getting bored. In many aspects you can feel a rare energy of a city that is growing and remains true to itself. Let’s start for example with culture: Milan has its own hidden and less hidden gems, such as Castello Sforzesco or the Duomo with its amazing Madonnina (built in 150 years through the donations of the people of Milan), the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, the Pinacoteca of Brera, the Cimitero Monumentale and so on… places like the universities are worth a visit: the Politecnico, the Università Cattolica (where I left my heart) or la Statale are amazing ancient institutions of culture and beauty (but also incredible places to rest). The entertainment scene is also varied: you can go to one of the most famous opera houses in the world, La Scala, or to the cinema or to the many museums or exhibitions that have started up in recent years. Milan, of course, is famous all over the world for its fashion, with opportunities including shopping in the iconic via Montenapoleone or visiting the Prada Foundation. In any case, whatever your destination, you will notice that most people in Milan pay great attention to their clothes and to beauty. There are so many little made in Italy boutiques that have risen up all over the city that if you are addicted to fashion, you won’t be disappointed.

If you are a sports fan, you cannot miss a match at San Siro, the heart of soccer in Milan (A.C. Milan is now struggling a bit, but new support is always good!)

Of course, we are in Italy, so food is fundamental! Milan is known for its risotto giallo with ossobuco (though this is a bit heavy for summertime…) or the cotoletta or panettone. In any case, if you feel homesick, Milano can offer you every type of cuisine at a high level.

You will fall in love with Milan simply by walking (or taking its iconic tram) through its streets and its neighborhoods, each so different from the last.

You will find your own favorite: Porta Romana if you want to chill out, the Navigli if you want a good drink and some romance, the beautiful new skyline of Garibaldi and City Life if you like modern style or Isola if you are an hipster ̶ and even all this is only scratching the surface.

In few words.. “Milan l’è un gran Milan“

 

About the author
 Pietro Cavallo

My name is Pietro and I grew up in Milan, where I am currently living. I work in Switzerland, in the Supply Chain division of a clothing multinational. I am the husband of an incredible wife and father of 1 crazy kid and ½…  I’ll keep you posted when the second ½ arrives…

 

FLEXA: how knowledge is amplified by AI – an MBA candidate’s perspective

Posted on | by Veronica Rafaniello | Leave a Comment on FLEXA: how knowledge is amplified by AI – an MBA candidate’s perspective

From Udemy to Coursera, from Google Garage to Linkedin Learning, the importance of online platforms offering courses and training to students and practitioners has turned into a relevant and profitable business in recent years. Building upon a capital theme, the need for lifelong and up-to-date learning, the flourishing of digital platforms all around the web has emphasized the need in both academia and the job market to master the most relevant trends in a field, to go in-depth, and to find individual paths of specialization. The common denominator is to develop competences taking into consideration the hectic pace of professional life, but at the same time allowing the effective achievement of growth in knowledge.

To respond to these requirements, platforms have proved to be reliable and efficient tools for meeting time and space needs, being based on accessible resources anytime, anywhere, and allowing learners to take courses at their own pace and to suit their schedule. In an MBA candidate’s life, punctuated by busy weeks of classes, assignments, and the search for career opportunities, these conditions are even more important when it comes to navigating a complex and fast-changing world through focused learning objectives. For this reason, MIP Politecnico di Milano has implemented and offered to its students an innovative learning platform, FLEXA, able to tailor and personalize content, filling the gaps in knowledge.

The novelty about FLEXA is that having been developed in collaboration with Microsoft, it exploits AI to learn from its users, making it a real digital mentor. The journey on the platform begins with defining the desired career objective and job function and the way to get to it through a self-assessment of one’s hard, soft and digital skills. Progressing from that information, an objective is set that can be entrepreneurial or managerial; FLEXA then proposes a selection of certified and high-quality content such as articles, videos and online resources coming from an archive of numerous sources like Stanford Business or Forbes, which serve to reach the goal in the long term and take into consideration the time the user has available. After six months, the test can be taken again to evaluate the improvements made and what has been achieved in terms of knowledge acquired. Then, a new and further professional aspiration can be set.

My daily routine with FLEXA starts in the morning, as I arrive at MIP School of Business. When I turn my computer on, I go to the platform to take a daily test, which, if I give the right answer, allows me to gain some points that can be turned into discounts for courses and purchases from the catalogue. If I forget to tune in, there is usually someone from amongst my companions who will be taking the test and will remind me to do so too. Then I read the proposed article of the day or use the search tab to look for more specific information, and, based on my rating, I tell the platform if the subjects are in line with my interests or not, so as to receive more tailored content as my use of the platform increases. On my learning pathway, I can also find webinars, so on those days when I don’t have the time to read, I can still learn by watching some useful resources. What I really like about the content offered is that since it comes from other universities, you can feel the quality level of a real shared platform where knowledge is not monetized.

One of my classmates told me that one day, he went to a company presentation and met someone from the part-time MBA program. They started chatting and, instead of exchanging their Linkedin profiles, they chose to connect on FLEXA. In his opinion, this opportunity helped him to network in a different light, augmenting proximity and building upon common ground with respect to a more official platform where, after all, sometimes you come across people you don’t really know.

I look forward to diving into the future advantages FLEXA will give me by putting me in touch with companies and a broader community of professionals, alumni and students. My profile will be shareable for recruitment opportunities with specific companies I would want to come into contact with. In order to engage effectively with them and enjoy a more direct possibility to network and monitor vacancies, I will be able to engage personally and to adjust my profile, choosing how best to show my suitability.
As I see it, this innovative way of combining e-learning and the search for a career with AI could really provide us with the right insights for finding the best fit in our present complex business environment.

 

About the author
 Marianna Trimarchi
I am a candidate of the International Full Time MBA at MIP. I have a background in academia as a PhD in Communication and Strategic Analysis and a career as content producer in the Media Industry.I have worked for the Italian Television as author and assistant producer for cultural programs as well as for other media outlets as journalist. I am passionate about understanding complex phenomena particularly related to internationalization and global development from a multidisciplinary perspective.

 

 

 

How Microsoft AI Is Transforming This MBA Program

Posted on | by Veronica Rafaniello | Leave a Comment on How Microsoft AI Is Transforming This MBA Program

Microsoft AI learning platform FLEXA helps students at Italy’s MIP personalize their MBA experience. We spoke to an MIP MBA student to find out more

 

The traditional MBA program sees students go through a core curriculum covering finance, marketing, and accounting, and then choose from a wide variety of electives. But it’s difficult for students to know where their weaknesses are and what courses might best support their career goals. After the MBA, it’s tricky for alumni to keep their knowledge up to date.

Not so at MIP Politecnico di Milano, where a new artificial intelligence learning platform, created with Microsoft, is enabling a more personalized learning experience for both MBA students and alums.

FLEXA, described by the university as a ‘continuous-learning platform’, uses Microsoft AI technology to categorize content appropriately for every individual student, based on data sourced from a series of online tests.

Say you took the tests and identified one of your weakest areas of knowledge as finance. FLEXA will then filter through all the available content approved by MIP and provide you with the best resources available to strengthen your knowledge in this area.

What’s more, MIP MBA alumni are allowed continued access to FLEXA, which means they can log back in months down the line and receive up to date knowledge in a range of topic areas.

An innovative MBA

Colombian native and experienced architect Juan Pablo Fierro chose MIP for its reputation for innovation.

He’s studying an MBA to gain the business know-how to merge his creativity as an architect and surveyor with a business mindset capable of creating his own venture. Using FLEXA at MIP, he says the course content is more personalized to his specific needs.

Even before the MBA started, Juan says students benefited from MIP’s tech-savvy approach. They were onboarded through a series of short explanatory videos; one for every MBA topic. It’s up to the student how much of this content they watch, how many times they go through it, or when they decide to watch them.

“When you go through those videos you get an overview of everything you will learn,” Juan explains. “By the time we all meet for classes in Milan––even if your background isn’t in finance or design or leadership––we all had the same basic knowledge to build on.”

AI on the MBA curriculum

The rise of digital technologies like artificial intelligence and FLEXA is not only changing the MBA experience, but also affecting what MBA students learn.

Two out of the four specializations on offer concern business digitization. Students can choose to study Entrepreneurship & Innovation or Digital Transformation & Big Data alongside more traditional MBA modules.

MIP encourages a balance of hard and soft skills when learning about technology, with an emphasis on experiential learning. Students get to experience an intensive one-week study tour in the Silicon Valley, which is designed to expose students to its ecosystem and deepen their understanding of entrepreneurship and cutting-edge topics.

The MBA itself is designed around four key elements: An analytical approach to problem solving, innovation & futuristic technology, a balance of hard and soft skills, and close collaboration with companies.

Students sign on for projects with one of MIP’s partner companies for three-months of essential full-time, hands-on experience in industry. For the digitally savvy students, the university has close partnerships with tech companies like IBM, Microsoft, and TeamSystem. Having the opportunity to work with companies like these can be the chance students need to launch a career in technology.

“One of the most important things I have learned at MIP so far is that the things we originally learn can change very quickly, because innovation is always happening,” Juan says.

 

 

Originally published on

 

MIP scholarships and how to apply for them: an MBA candidate’s point of view

Posted on | by Veronica Rafaniello | Leave a Comment on MIP scholarships and how to apply for them: an MBA candidate’s point of view

 

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” (Benjamin Franklin)

One of the main reasons which holds people back from applying to study for an MBA (besides the fact that you have to go back to school, to study during weekends… but that’s only a matter of motivation) is the high cost.

Indeed, an MBA is often expensive, and the first question which comes to your mind is “will it be worth it?”
Well, according to Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States (not a Mr Nobody, let’s say…), the answer is a convincing and resounding “YES!”

Now, the second question that can come to your mind is, “Dear Benjamin, where can I find all that money to finance my MBA?”

Certainly, nowadays there are many banks which are more than willing to give you a student loan, with low interest rates and deferred repayment. But, even better, MIP offers you several types of financial aid which can make your MBA much more affordable.

Contributions are mostly merit-based and based on academic excellence, personal and professional achievement, particularly strong leadership potential, and superior interpersonal skills.

But which are these contributions?
  • You can find all the information you need about MIP’s financial aid program in the specific section of MIP’s MBA website. I’ll try to summarize the main ones:
    Early Bird Waiver: “first come, first served”, they say. MIP awards a 1,500 € contribution to applicants who submit their application by a given date – look on the MIP website or contact the Recruitment Team to check the deadline for the specific intake.
  • Travel Support Program: MIP offers contributions of up to 60% of the tuition fee to international and Italian candidates living abroad in order to make it easier for them to get to the school every month.
  • Expat Tuition Fee Contribution: MIP offers contributions of up to 30% of the tuition fee to international candidates already living and working in Italy.
  • MIP4Women: in order to develop and nurture a culture of women in management, MIP offers contributions of up to 6,000 € to female participants.
  • Assistantship: Assistantships are sponsorships for students of the MBA who serve in a supporting educational or research role within the program. There are up to 2 assistantships to be awarded, covering up to 30% of the tuition fee for the course.
  • GMAT-based contribution: 30% of the tuition fee goes to the highest achievers in terms of GMAT scores.
  • Entrepreneurship contribution: 2 contributions of up to 20% of the tuition fee are offered to entrepreneurs or entrepreneurs-to-be.
  • High-Flyer Award: 30% of the tuition fee is awarded to two applicants who possess outstanding leadership potential.

If you would like to check with regard to the availability of a specific contribution, to verify your eligibility or to ask for more details, you can contact the Admissions Team and evaluate all the opportunities with the MIP representatives.

Now, how best can you apply for a scholarship?

I won’t bother you with technicalities, such as “Pay attention to whom to address your application”, “Only use generic forms of address”, “Draw attention to your primary qualifications”, “Use clear and concise language”, “Be honest”, etc. … You can easily find this information on Google.
I just want to give you a few tips from a person who has already applied for scholarships.

First things first: ask yourself why YOU should be chosen. Why YOU, and not someone else? Margaret Mead, an American anthropologist, once said:

“Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.”

And that’s absolutely true! We often apply for scholarships or for a new job, saying, “I’m smart, I have strong relational skills, I am a natural born leader, …”. Well, guess what? 80% of the people who applied have written the same thing as you did. Don’t feel that unique anymore, right?

So, try to express something about yourself which makes you stand out from the crowd. This could be based on facts, experiences, projects… Just be yourself, in your unique way, not the standard candidate you think the school (or a company) is looking for.

Secondly, think about why you chose this school and this program. Consider all your motivations, including the personal and professional ones. Choosing an MBA is a big step both for your life and your career. You don’t want to seem to have chosen it blindfold, right?

Finally, ask for constructive criticism from reliable sources (like me, for instance*). This is not a step people usually take, but it can be extremely useful for making a good application. Don’t be too proud! You’re not (yet) the best at everything, so you can ask for a little help from professors or students already enrolled in graduate schools. They’ll surely have a clearer understanding of what the university wants from its students.

Well, that’s it. These are my practical (and not boring, I hope) suggestions to use when applying for an MIP scholarship. And remember, maybe Benjamin Franklin cannot help you in getting one, but without any doubt, YOU can!

*I actually may not be such a reliable source, but of course I’ll be glad to help if you need some advice.

 

About the author
 Marco Di Salvio

Student of the International Part Time MBA at MIP Politecnico di Milano.
Industrial Engineer currently working @ Gucci as WW Supply & Demand Planner, based in Florence.
Tech passionate, Cinema-lover, Sports addicted.
Solving the world’s problems one spreadsheet at a time.

 

 

i-Flex EMBA: Kick off of amazing journey

Posted on | by Veronica Rafaniello | Leave a Comment on i-Flex EMBA: Kick off of amazing journey

 

I’d like to introduce to you my first, kick-off week of the i-Flex Executive Master of Business Administration at MIP Politecnico di Milano by starting from the end: the warm hugs, the willingness to meet again soon and the mutual feeling that it was as if we had known each other for years.

Yes, it might seem odd, but in just a few days we started to build up a strong relationship that we are sure will last for the whole 20 months of the program and even longer. It started on the introduction day when we first met up, a class of 61 friends coming from all parts of the world. It’s a melting pot of people from China, Japan, South Korea, Mozambique, Nigeria, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, the USA, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Hungary, Germany, Finland, Romania, Turkey, Switzerland, Poland, etc. ̶ and, of course, Italy. Everyone brings with them their experience, professional and, mainly, personal views, their culture and way of facing problems.

How did it begin? We passed two days in a quiet atmosphere at a historical Italian countryside “villa”. The silence of the Ligurian mountains was our background. Talking (it’s so essential to communicate), doing outdoor activities together (emphasizing the concept of learning by doing) and briefing what we actually did, all helped us to get to know the other participants, understand their way of thinking, trust each other and collaborate toward a final common goal: to learn.

The initial hesitancy soon broke up. It was so pleasant to find other open-minded and easy-going people, too attractive the sharing of their own experience and learning from others, too important the common goal. The structure of the activities, with a gradual increase in the level of cooperation, facilitated a gaining in confidence and the ability to recognize other participants’ strengths.

With this awareness we tackled the first week of lessons, analysing the problems with everyone’s contributions, looking hence from all our different points of view. It was an immersion in the initial topics, into which we surely could not have gone in such depth if we hadn’t trusted and respected each other. We built up a class, we become friends.

We all now have great expectations from the amazing journey that awaits us, and we know that it’s feasible to all go on together, as a unique team. To use one of our outdoor activity mottos, we are “stronger together”!!!

 

About the author
 Vito Conversano

Student of the International Flex Executive MBA at MIP Politecnico di Milano.
Chief Information Officer @ San Marzano Vini SpA with extensive international experience in IT & strategic consultancy for fortune 500 companies. Creative, Curious, Travel lover. Passionate about discovering new concepts, learning continuously and developing new ideas.

 

 

The first step of a long journey

Posted on | by Veronica Rafaniello | Leave a Comment on The first step of a long journey

 

When I am asked to tell people about the week in Barcelona I say: “It was amazing, I’m proud to be part of that group, I’m proud of my choice to study for an MBA”.

When I chose to enroll, it felt like a leap in the dark: I was going to be bearing a long-term commitment, filling up my daily schedule (and the weekends!) without any guaranteed profit at the end of the path.
After the week in Barcelona, I’ve been able to have the first sight of the benefits: great courses, a super group and the mandate to lead my own career.

At EADA (the business school that hosted us in Barcelona), we attended courses about Leadership, Organizational behaviour and Macroeconomics: for me, it was a first time for all three subjects, but the professors were crystal clear in transmitting the core knowledge and, most of all, the right state of mind for approaching problems.

The two soft skills courses brought me a new awareness: leadership is an attitude, not a blessing, and thus must be learned and chosen as an approach towards team-members, regardless of the role.
The group is the greatest surprise: I didn’t expect it could be so easy to build bonds in such a short time. I think that the key of this link is the common state of mind: we all want to be leaders of our future.
We have been great colleagues during the courses, sharing personal experience and knowledge and helping each other to complete the assignments: the outdoor activity of the leadership course was a great idea to break the ice during the first day.

Due to the epidemic of fever that spread among us, we also jokingly supposed that this time spent outdoors had ruined our health: however, it strengthened our attitude of comradeship, leading us to share medicines and help those who couldn’t attend the lessons.

At the end of the day we also became friends, hanging around in Barcelona for tapas and a drink: now I can say that all the effort we will need to make on the hard path of an MBA will be less of a burden, because it is going to be shared in a supportive environment.

This MBA will be a long and demanding journey to build my career: the Barcelona experience is the cornerstone that makes me feel confident of the final result.

About the author
 Fabrizio Liponi

My name is Fabrizio and I work as a tunnel engineer in the construction of Underground Line 4 of Milan. Born, raised, studied, living and working in Milan: I love my city and I’m proud to take part in building its future. Travel addicted, I love to meet people and different cultures.

 

 

Change at the top of our Business School

Posted on | by albe@mip.polimi.it | Leave a Comment on Change at the top of our Business School

Today’s shareholders’ meeting has ratified the change at the top of our Business School, starting from the 1st of January 2020: Andrea Sianesi, appointed by the Senate and the University Board as the new President of Fondazione Politecnico di Milano, leaves the Presidency to Vittorio Chiesa and the office of Dean to Federico Frattini.

The gratitude of the whole School goes to Andrea for all the work he has done in recent years.

Under his guidance, MIP has, in fact, contributed substantially and fundamentally to the achievement of significant successes on the part of the School of Management in terms of international accreditations (EQUIS for 5 years, AMBA for 5 years, EOCCS for two Flex EMBA courses and the forthcoming AACSB) and results in the rankings (e.g. 7th in the world in QS – Online MBA), which today enable the School of Management to rank among the best management schools in the world which belong to a technical university.

Again, under his guidance, MIP has succeeded in following a path of progressive integration within the School, which, together with the strong drive for internationalisation, innovation in terms of both product and format and the ever increasing application of digital technology to the provision of training courses, has allowed the attainment of remarkable growth in both turnover and profitability, generating resources that have been committed to the development of the faculty of the Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, or to support the School’s strategic projects (funding for the development of activities in China and for the Gianluca Spina residency) and, last but not least, for the realisation of innovative projects for the application of digital technologies (AI) to lifelong learning (the FLEXA project).

A big thank you then, to Andrea, and our best wishes for success in his next professional challenge.

Alessandro Perego on behalf of the whole Politecnico di Milano School of Management