MBA reunion 2025

Every year, the MBA reunion brings back to Milan those who have lived the SDA Bocconi experience. Alumni and faculty return, united by a common mindset of learning as a continuous act of transformation.

This year, within the broader Bocconi University Homecoming 2025, the reunion became a space for reflection on the principles that define the School's approach to management: content, concreteness and proximity to the business community.

As Dean Stefano Caselli reminded the gathering, the School exists as “a collective exercise” where students, faculty, staff and the business community work together. In that spirit, the event moved beyond celebration to create an opportunity for reconnection through ideas as much as through people. Networking, one of the pillars of the MBA experience, once again proved to be the bridge between generations of leaders working together to understand the present and shape the future.

The program centered on three conversations that asked a single question: what will the equilibria of the future look like in an increasingly fragmented world? The answers emerged in concentric circles, moving outward from cities to regions to global dynamics.

High tech or high touch: the future of cities in the new society

Stephen Coticoni, Country Manager at BNP Paribas Real Estate, in conversation with Enzo Baglieri, Associate Dean for Master Division, challenged the notion of real estate as static. "Real estate may seem, in the eyes of many, a very stable and consistent asset class," he observed. "In fact, it's really an exciting arena to work in." Cities are evolving into infrastructure, he explained, with the future belonging to "compact cities" and "45-minute regions" where millions can reach work, education and healthcare within that timeframe. This shift is driving new asset classes – senior housing, student housing, data centers – while retail transforms into experiential destinations and logistics evolves into sophisticated last-mile networks.

The Arabian Peninsula and new global dynamics

Carlo Gelfo, Executive Member of the Board, M23 | Non-Executive Board Member at AAG LLC Italy and Qatar, brought Dean Stefano Caselli a regional perspective on economic transformation. The GCC countries may be comparable to Italy in population and GDP, yet they generate four times Europe's net exports, functioning as a triple hub for energy, trade and finance. "That melting pot of people, with different ideas, different backgrounds and different religions creates great opportunities," Gelfo observed. With a median age of 30 compared to Europe's 45, the region has transformed from a second-choice to a first-choice destination, attracting not just capital but the international expertise to deploy it.

The macroeconomic scenario and the future of Europe

The final panel brought together Mario Monti, President of the Istituto Javotte Bocconi, and Mario Nava, Director-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion at the European Commission, moderated by Mariangela Pira, SKY TG24 journalist. Their dialogue explored the evolving dynamics of European integration and competitiveness. Monti reflected on the delicate balance between economic interdependence and political hesitation, reminding that “if we believe that some things are impossible forever, they will remain impossible forever.” Nava focused on the transformation of the labor market, where success now depends on adaptability and lifelong learning, underpinned by a stronger alignment between public and private sectors. Both agreed that Europe stands at a true leadership crossroads, with citizens, especially younger generations, calling for deeper unity and the courage to make it real.

The afternoon featured institutional greetings and a reflection on the physical, institutional, and human foundations that sustain Bocconi University’s ambitions. Riccardo Taranto, Managing Director of Bocconi University, and Francesco Billari, Rector of Bocconi University, emphasized, respectively, the ongoing evolution of the campus and the enduring value of the Bocconi community—founded from the very beginning on an “intergenerational pact” rooted in responsibility and the sharing of educational opportunities.

The MBA Reunion, like the School itself, exists as much for reflection as for connection. As the formal program concluded with the class awards, participants looked ahead to the farewell party: an evening of music, celebration and shared pride. A fitting way to continue the conversation beyond the auditorium and celebrate the spirit of a community that learns, leads and keeps building together across generations.

That spirit of connection, excellence and giving back was tangible throughout the event. A special mention went to Carter & Benson, official partner of the Reunion – represented by Senior Partner & Bocconi alumna Simona Cremascoli – for its commitment to nurturing talent and promoting value-based leadership. Meanwhile, the heartfelt testimony of Kerlly Freire, scholarship recipient and MBA student, reminded the audience that behind every achievement lies the generosity of those who choose to invest in future generations — turning opportunity into impact and education into change.

SDA Bocconi School of Management

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