Testimonials

A fundamental aspect is the relationship with classmates, a unique opportunity for new friendships, as well as for fresh ideas and discussions. In this context, the EMBA 2 GIVE BACK initiative was created through contact with Alumni from different cohorts. United by the desire to contribute to third-sector organizations, we are actively involved in volunteering and organizing events to raise awareness and support the efforts of those helping others.

The EMBA program is characterized by innovation, internationalization, and interdisciplinarity, with a strong connection to businesses and problem-oriented learning.

For me, EMBA represents a SENSE OF BELONGING to the world and the vast SDA Bocconi network, offering countless opportunities for meetings, learning, and discussion for lifelong learning. It also embodies the COURAGE to challenge oneself, face difficulties, and find one’s own path with confidence and a sense of participation, and finally, TRANSFORMATION—transforming oneself to create a positive impact in both work and society, driven and motivated by one's purpose.

How does it feel after starting the EMBA at SDA Bocconi?

I am absolutely thrilled and energized. I am proud of completing this journey (proud of me). I now have a deeper self-awareness that has made me more conscious of my strengths and potential. I feel professionally different, much more solid. I am confident that the skills I’ve gained will help me in my professional life and make me a better leader. My expectations from this experience were definitely met. The EMBA is unquestionably a life phase that is hard to forget. It’s not just an academic experience but, above all, a life experience.

What impact has the EMBA had on your personal and professional life?

The impact has been incredibly strong. The EMBA becomes a part of you—it penetrates deeply and shapes the way you view everything. It provides you with a new way of seeing yourself and the world, fostering greater self-confidence. It equips you with an "expanded" way of thinking, as if you have an additional perspective, capable of seeing where others don’t (new perspectives). For me, the EMBA has become a "state of mind," a whole new mindset.

Embarking on the EMBA was driven by a personal inspiration that has stayed with me throughout the journey, supported by my passion for innovation and change. Professionally, the EMBA has had a concrete and tangible application. Rationalizing the knowledge gained during the EMBA in my daily actions has led to a new approach to my work. It has provided me with the tools to develop innovative solutions and adapt them to the current competitive environment.

How would you describe the EMBA journey, both from a personal and professional development perspective, to a potential candidate?

I believe it is an essential experience for anyone who doesn’t want to stay stagnant and is willing to step out of their daily routine to take on new challenges. It’s for those who feel the desire to improve themselves and structure their training for future professional challenges. It’s an investment in skills aimed at improving the learning process and expanding one’s potential, all while balancing study and work.

What enriches this experience:

• The Network: The opportunity to build your own relational network through continuous interaction and exchange with classmates and the Faculty.
• The Group: The age diversity, the various industries represented, the exchange of ideas, and shared experiences are key ingredients to the success of the EMBA classroom. Deep friendships form, and lasting relationships are built.
• The Content: The pragmatic approach to each discipline is rooted in case-based learning, which offers you strategic thinking and a comprehensive vision of business.

The day I defended my thesis in Marketing, as a sociology student and full-time worker, I felt a profound sense of liberation: finally, I could just work and rediscover the joy of having evenings free, enjoying weekends, and taking vacations. What followed were years filled with a relationship, marriage, two children, two cats, and an ever-growing set of professional responsibilities, culminating in an executive role. Today, at 44, I am a woman, mother, manager, friend, sister, daughter—a nearly impossible bouquet of roles to juggle within the constraints of 24 hours.

Then suddenly, the EMBA in Rome appeared, bringing back a dream I had shelved due to the distance from Milan. But as soon as the excitement set in, so did the doubts: Am I smart enough? Will I pass the exams? Can I find the strength and time to study? How will I manage my family on the weekends? Who will prepare lunch and dinner? Amid countless “what ifs,” “buts,” and “hows,” I finally found clarity in the proud gaze of my daughter as she showed me yet another perfect score in math.

In that moment, I saw her path laid out before me and intertwined my memories of struggle with her sense of accomplishment. I realized that my example would speak louder than any words. For us women, our professional lives are often fraught with daily challenges and impossible compromises, but becoming a mother should never mean losing one’s identity, talents, or ambitions. I understood that if I could succeed today, I would give her the courage to try tomorrow.

A week later, I found myself in a classroom overlooking St. Peter’s Basilica, with a freezer full of meals and a promise of extra support at home. There I was, a student again, with digital textbooks, even greater enthusiasm, ready to acquire new skills to bring to my workplace, and eager to rediscover and strengthen every hidden reserve of physical and mental resilience.

I quickly discovered that the EMBA in Rome meant a smaller yet highly cohesive class, the warm camaraderie typical of central and southern Italy, and a network far more valuable and extensive than I had anticipated. Shared study sessions helped solidify professional relationships and friendships, forming a network that gradually expanded to include alumni from previous cohorts and peers sharing the journey in Milan. Module by module, the effort (considerable!) began to fade into the background, replaced by growing satisfaction.

The EMBA has truly transformed how I approach both my professional and personal life. It is not just a master’s program; it is a journey of self-discovery, one from which I am certain I will emerge ready to embrace a new future.

I had always dreamed of pursuing an MBA at a prestigious, globally accredited business school. Last year, I finally decided to explore the educational programs that best aligned with my needs, both in Italy and abroad. My shortlist included SDA Bocconi and two international institutions—one in Europe and another in the United States. I was determined to choose the best option while minimizing sacrifices.

After carefully weighing the pros and cons of each program, I decided to attend the presentation for the EMBA Weekend – Rome at the Rome campus to resolve my remaining doubts. The Weekend Rome format offered me the flexibility to continue working, allowing me to manage tuition costs more comfortably. Additionally, I wouldn’t need to worry about relocating within Italy or abroad or dealing with the expenses and logistics of frequent flights, given that I’m based in Rome. Pursuing an MBA is already a challenging investment; adding further complexity to my professional and personal life would have made it significantly harder to manage.

The prestige of a historic institution like Bocconi University, the well-structured curriculum designed to comprehensively prepare future managers, and the enthusiasm of those who presented the program—particularly Director E. Baglieri—convinced me that the EMBA Weekend Rome at SDA Bocconi was undoubtedly the best choice for me. Furthermore, the positive experiences and testimonials from previous cohorts, shared during the presentation, reinforced my belief that I was making the right decision.

Six months into the program, I can confidently say that this experience is both unique and transformative. Despite the demanding schedule and the significant commitment, I am managing to balance work, study, and personal life, thanks to sacrifices I had anticipated in pursuit of this goal. The human element is proving to be invaluable. The professors’ ability to foster empathy and engagement in the classroom, the exchange of diverse and high-level managerial experiences within the working groups, and the camaraderie and friendships formed among classmates have enriched and completed my journey of personal and professional growth.

Participating in the EMBA was an essential step in consolidating my professional expertise, both in terms of skills and the development of my potential. I had nurtured this ambition for years, fully aware that the commitment in terms of time and resources required by such a decision demanded a choice rooted primarily in the quality of the program. Over time, as I became a mother, geographical proximity also became a crucial factor in my decision.

The availability of the EMBA Weekend program in Rome provided the perfect solution, enabling me to embark on a path of sustainable growth. It was challenging, but it was absolutely worth it. I encountered an exceptional faculty, inspiring colleagues, and a highly engaging environment.

The greatest value lies in the awareness I have gained—today, I understand my boundaries and feel equipped to confidently navigate new contexts and unfamiliar challenges. Moreover, realizing that I could successfully balance studying, working, and caring for my family was a significant personal achievement. The substantial effort has been rewarded with meaningful professional and personal outcomes.

The EMBA was the most difficult yet most challenging choice I made during a period of profound change in both my professional career and personal life. It came at a time when you start reflecting on the past 20 years to figure out how to shape the next 20. I never imagined, after earning my degree, that I would challenge myself again in a structured educational program—studying textbooks, doing exercises, and preparing for exams at a relentless pace—all while taking on roles with greater responsibilities in the company.

During the EMBA, it is essential to manage and simplify complexity as much as possible, learning from the outset to optimize your time and physical and mental resources. Choosing #EMBARoma allowed me to minimize travel from Naples while unexpectedly proving to be a unique decision for the quality of the participants and the shared spirit of "starting something entirely new together", that gave us extra energy to face such a profound process of transformation. At the same time, it left us with a network of relationships that was more intimate and valuable than I could have imagined when making the decision.

Embarking on an Executive MBA journey at SDA Bocconi means choosing to challenge yourself both personally and professionally. While many approach the EMBA expecting it to be primarily an educational experience, they soon realize it goes far beyond the purely academic aspect. During the program, participants are consistently pushed to explore and exceed their limits, gain awareness of their potential, and discover what they can truly achieve. It is an experience that hones leadership skills, strengthening the abilities of those already in positions of responsibility and preparing others to take the next step in their careers.

Pursuing an EMBA at SDA Bocconi means being an active participant in the learning experience. The classroom plays a pivotal role, complementing the contributions of professors and the program management team. Interaction with peers enriches the experience, bringing in diverse perspectives and insights from various sectors and industries. This exchange extends beyond the classroom, continuing through group projects and collaborative assignments, fostering a dynamic and engaging environment.

The high-quality faculty and effective teaching methods enable participants to tackle the program's modules with a managerial approach, enriched by real-world business examples. What is learned is often directly applicable to professional life, and even when not specific to one’s role, it equips executives with the tools to interact effectively across different functions, evaluate alternatives, and make informed decisions.

The establishment of the Rome campus is a remarkable opportunity for SDA Bocconi to engage with professionals and managers in and around the capital. Launching the program in the Eternal City not only provides a logistical advantage for those based in Rome or far from Milan, but it also allows participants to leverage and contribute to the vibrant Bocconi Alumni Community network. This active network, present across Italy, including Rome, offers EMBA participants the chance to connect and exchange ideas not only with classmates but also with Bocconi alumni and hundreds of leaders who have previously completed this journey. EMBA Rome, therefore, provides the opportunity to fully engage with the Bocconi network while immersing oneself in a context attuned to the dynamics and uniqueness of the capital, enriched by its close ties with Milan.

Undertaking an Executive MBA at SDA Bocconi means beginning a journey confident in your skills, only to discover that your true potential is yet to be unlocked. It is an investment in yourself and your future—one that, if you have the chance, you should have the courage to make.

For years, I questioned the true value of an Executive MBA. Opinions from those around me were divided, yet all shared one characteristic: they were categorical.

Over time, I came to understand.

The world, in all its richness and diversity, also reflects a division: between those who have completed an Executive MBA and those who have not. If you have the privilege of being among the former, the answer to the question, “Is it worth it?” can only be one.

Of course, this answer will take on different shades depending on the degree of enthusiasm, yet it will never lose its conviction or clarity. Some may simply say, “It was enlightening” or “a formative experience,” while others might declare, “It changed my life.”

Each person's sensibilities will pull them one way or the other. In my case, I can only say it was a little of everything. This adventure—because that’s what it truly is—certainly opens your eyes to a wealth of knowledge that was always there but perhaps remained in the shadows, barely glimpsed or not fully understood. An Executive MBA is also a tool that offers new ways of interpreting and understanding life.

You study, but you also learn to improvise. You share your experiences, but you also learn to question them. You rely on your own abilities, yet you also learn to depend on others. Someone once said that great works require 1% inspiration—or genius—and 99% perspiration, and there may be no better way to describe what to expect from an experience like this.

An MBA demands patience and sacrifice, participation and collaboration, but it guarantees immense rewards, both personal and professional. Deep down, when I first asked myself whether enrolling in an MBA program was worth it, I already knew the answer.

Being able to attend the program here in Rome was both a privilege and a tremendous advantage, granting me access to the resources of one of the most prestigious business schools, all within steps of my workplace.

To anyone who asks, with the right motivation, I can only recommend diving headfirst into this experience.