Alumni Stories - Carlo Sicoli

Carlo Sicoli, originally from Naples, received his master's degree in International Management at the University of Bologna in 2016.

Passionate about travel and foreign languages, he first started to build his career at LinkedIn, then at Workday, a software company providing HCM and Finance solutions to other companies and training institutions.

Today, he lives in Madrid and holds an Enterprise Account Executive position, dealing with Go to Market strategy and B2B Enterprise Sales.

Carlo, during your Bachelor's degree, you studied Business Economics. What led you to choose IM to continue your studies?

Several reasons led me to choose the IM programme.

First of all, being passionate about foreign languages, it was my priority to make my profile as international as possible. Therefore, the choice of IM was almost inevitable: I was looking for a degree completely taught in English, which would guarantee a global study context and allow me to develop a career abroad.

I remember having evaluated positively the exclusivity of the programme. The strict admission selection process guarantees that you will relate to motivated classmates who are genuinely interested in the study subjects. In fact, I have never met people as enthusiastic and eager to learn as those I met at IM.

Also, I liked the fact that there were fewer students per class than during the Bachelor's Degree. This aspect made it easy to build personal relationships with professors, who never lacked support and trust in the projects we carried out.

One aspect that I remember with pleasure is the choice of the professors to call us from the very beginning of the programme with the nickname 'future leaders'.

Group work is the aspect that most characterizes IM and that distinguishes it from many other degree courses. What was your experience like?

Group work has undoubtedly enriched my university experience a lot.

The practical approach of IM, based precisely on teamwork, was essential to experience the working atmosphere of a company in advance.

In addition, team projects have taught me to manage time efficiently and to listen to the opinion of others, significantly strengthening the bond with my teammates.

The relationships born during those projects are the most incredible aspect of the experience at IM. Even today, the companions with whom I shared this study path hold an important place in my life.

In addition to the relational aspect, learning through teamwork was a winning approach because it led me to acquire new skills, such as knowing how to present a project to an audience. It is a skill that has been of great help to me in my today's profession, giving me an edge.

The practical approach of IM, with extra-curricular experiences projected into the world of work, is a feature noted by many students and subsequently appreciated by employers. Do you remember any activity in particular?

The opportunities offered by IM were numerous.

As for me, I remember in particular an experience that gave me enormous satisfaction, namely the victory of the Business Game.

It is a competition I participated in together with two other classmates. The game was structured this way: simulating being the manager of a company, we had to do a market analysis and make good decisions to ensure benefits for our company. I learned economic and business aspects, but also skills such as decision-making and analytical skills.

It was a truly educational experience, as well as being a lot of fun.

In addition, during the years at IM, I took the opportunity to carry out an internship at a start-up, where I approached the Sales field for the first time.

Subsequently, I participated in a LinkedIn recruiting day in Bologna, which gave a positive result. Therefore, even before I graduated, thanks to IM, I was already hired by LinkedIn, where I started working immediately after graduating.

All of these opportunities were instrumental in getting me to where I am today.

Did you already know what you wanted to do after graduation, or did you discover it during the programme? Which of the acquired skills has served you the most when starting your career?

At the beginning of the programme, I did not know what I wanted to do nor who I wanted to become. I only discovered it by seizing the opportunities that IM offered me, such as internships and group work organized in collaboration with major companies.

Specifically, the skill I use most today is knowing how to present a project effectively. IM focused a lot on this topic, and it is an activity for which I didn't even know I was suited. I discovered it with practice, trying to learn as much as possible from professors and classmates.

But the main strength of IM lies in teaching you a working method that, once you graduate, you can use to perform any type of job. In my work today, I apply precisely the same tools and concepts that I applied when I was studying at IM: organization, planning, goal setting. And, obviously, respecting deadlines, which is the most challenging aspect of my job. I owe this ability to IM.

Bologna is home to the oldest university in the West. In your opinion, why is it the ideal city in which to live the university experience?

I had a great time in Bologna. I really felt at home.

The fact that the city is on a human scale allows you to go anywhere in a short time and meet friends without the need for complex programming. It is also a university city, therefore a fertile place for topics such as innovation, research, and experimentation. There are many start-ups and associations present in the area.

In addition, there is an aspect that we sometimes forget. Bologna is an international city known all over the world. When speaking abroad with US citizens, they knew the University of Bologna: this is critical to consider when choosing where to study.

Finally, the numerous excellences of the territory (such as the Motor Valley or the food sector) and the strategic position of the regional capital make Bologna the ideal city in which to realize one's entrepreneurial aspirations.

In conclusion, is there any advice you would like to give to those who will soon find themselves following in your footsteps? What would you suggest to a future IM student?

To those who are undecided about IM, I would say to grasp this incredible experience, focusing on building relationships and taking advantage of the many extracurricular opportunities offered.

The IM allows you to enhance your skills and gain new ones. The important thing is not to experience it only as a study course, because as a complete experience which requires commitment and proactivity.

I was neither the smartest in my class nor the most brilliant, but LinkedIn chose me.

This is what IM teaches you: to abandon fear and work hard to truly become a "future leader".