Luciano Balbo Among AACSB's Influential Leaders of 2016

THE FOUNDER OF OLTRE VENTURE, AND MBA GRADUATE OF SDA BOCCONI, NOMINATED BY THE ASSOCIATION TO ADVANCE COLLEGIATE SCHOOLS OF BUSINESS, AACSB.

Graduates of the best business schools around the world who have distinguished themselves for the positive impact they make on society and the inspiring example they set for others. These are the characteristics of the 30 people nominated as the 2016 Influential Leaders by the Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), which include Luciano Balbo, founder of Oltre Venture and MBA graduate of SDA Bocconi.

“The 2016 Influential Leaders illustrates how the power of a business degree goes beyond—beyond industries, reaching lives in every part of the world—pioneering change, fostering global exchange, and improving the quality of life,” said Thomas R. Robinson, president and chief executive officer of AACSB International. “I would like to thank Luciano Balbo for exemplifying how business graduates can be a positive force in society, and congratulate SDA Bocconi for their role in helping to develop the knowledge, skills, and fortitude needed to address some of the toughest challenges we face today.”

Founded in 1916, AACSB is the world's largest business education network connecting academe with business. It provides business education intelligence, quality assurance, and professional development services to more than 1,500 member organizations across 91 countries. Today 775 business schools in 52 countries are AACSB accredited.

Launched in 2015 to honour notable alumni from AACSB accredited schools, and to recognize business schools for their work in developing exceptional leaders and industry innovators across sectors, the acknowledgment goes to graduates who have distinguished themselves for their positive impact on society through their actions and leadership. This year 100 nominations were received from the schools from which the 30 names were selected and announced today during the AACSB Annual Accreditation Conference in Minneapolis.

After his MBA diploma and some experiences in industry, Balbo entered the world of private equity as director general of Finnova, the first private equity firm in Italy. In 1988 he founded and became president of B&S Private Equity and then in 2002 he created the Fondazione Oltre Onlus, the first Italian foundation of venture philanthropy, of which he is still president. In 2006 he founded Oltre Venture, the first Italian social venture capital firm, which promotes sustainable investments with a social impact, where he still occupies the role of president. This year he launched Oltre II Sicaf Euveca, the first Impact Investing fund in Italy.

Source: ViaSarfatti25