On February 24, 2025, the MCF class met Elena Carletti, Deputy Vice Chair of UniCredit Group, and Paola Tagliavini, Board Member of Intesa Sanpaolo. They discussed managing banking risk in Italy, sharing their experiences and insights.
Elena Carletti started her career in academia and has always been involved with financial policies and regulation. Her background as a researcher and her constant engagement with institutions have allowed her to gain a deep understanding of the sector, which is crucial in her current role.
Paola Tagliavini focused her career on risk management, starting as a researcher, and then moving on to consulting and academia with a practical view of the field. A significant change in her career came with the new Corporate Governance code, with which she became the chair of the risk and sustainability committee, integrating various types of risks and working with professionals from diverse disciplines.
Both emphasized the importance of taking responsibility and managing risks as fundamental elements for personal and business growth. Carletti shared an experience of sending her CV for a position that seemed hopeless, yet she was selected, underscoring the importance of pursuing ambitions.
Discussing the role of banking and finance in shaping society, Prof. Carletti highlighted how financial decisions impact every aspect of business and social development, while Prof. Tagliavini pointed out the relevance of supporting SMEs in Italy through credit. Both stressed the crucial role of Finance in supporting sustainable growth, especially through ESG initiatives, which will remain a fundamental pillar despite policy fluctuations worldwide.
They also discussed the importance of being proactive on the ESG topic, quoting both the need for more public investment to support a transition to lower emissions, and the challenges related to integrating ESG reporting and regulation.
Both recognized the transformative impact of AI in supporting risk management, compliance, and regulation.
They finally addressed the issue of gender parity in leadership positions, with Prof. Carletti praising UniCredit for having a command line filled with women, and Prof. Tagliavini highlighting internal growth as a go-to solution.
SDA Bocconi School of Management
Unlocking Europe's Unicorn Potential, empowering VC, PE and Entrepreneurs to grow from Startup to Scale-up in the FFF (Food, Fashion, and Furniture) and FS (Financial Services) Tech Sectors.
Padroneggiare strumenti e processi e affinare le soft skill utili alla funzione di controllo direzionale nel contesto di un’impresa sostenibile.
Il corso offre una panoramica completa delle strategie di investimento che si basano su progetti di impatto.
