On February 19, 2026, Candidates from the Master in Corporate Finance welcomed Paolo Basilico, Founder of Kairos and Samhita Investments, and Chairman of Samhita Group. He also leads the Oliver Twist Foundation, founded in 2005 together with Leonardo Del Vecchio to support disadvantaged children and young people in Italy.

Mr. Basilico’s career mirrors the transformation of Italy’s modern financial markets. Reflecting on his personal achievements, he emphasized that success is rarely the result of perfect timing. Rather, it stems from patience to endure discomfort and the judgment to act decisively when opportunity presents itself. He additionally noted that timing “never looks perfect” while you are living it. What later appears strategic often feels uncertain and frustrating in real time. The true driver of success, he argued, is the ability to move through those phases without losing conviction.

The First Window of Opportunity: Market Modernization
The first decisive window opened in the mid-1980s, when Italy’s stock market shifted from physical trading floors to electronic systems. This was not merely technological modernization — it was a structural redesign of how capital markets functioned.
When regulation and infrastructure change, incumbents hesitate. Large institutions move slowly, but young professionals and entrepreneurs can move faster. Basilico entered what was, at the time, an underdeveloped ecosystem. Rather than seeking stability, he stepped into transformation. 
The transformation continued into the early 1990s, when brokerage activity was formalized and professionalized under new regulatory frameworks. The competitive landscape changed again. His approach remained consistent: identify structural change early, anticipate institutional inertia, and act before the system stabilizes. The pattern was reinforced: opportunity tends to emerge during legislative disruption, before the system fully stabilizes.
In 1991, he joined Giubergia Warburg as CEO and member of Warburg London’s European Equity Management Committee - his “second life opportunity.” The role accelerated his development and confirmed his preference for environments of responsibility and accountability.

The Second Window of Opportunity: Independent Asset Management
In 1999, together with four partners, he founded Kairos - his entrepreneurial ambition realized. The opportunity stemmed from regulatory evolution allowing innovative investment structures in Italy. Despite skepticism and institutional resistance, Kairos grew from €35 million to €12 billion in assets under management before being acquired by Julius Baer in 2019.
The firm’s defining test came during the 2008 financial crisis. Independent and without a large banking parent, Kairos saw assets fall dramatically - “ten years of work” eroded in months. The temptation to seek institutional protection was real.
Instead, Basilico doubled down on what he considers a fundamental driver of trust: “skin in the game.” Leadership invested alongside clients, sharing risk and accountability. Transparency and conviction during the crisis ultimately strengthened the firm’s credibility. Within a few years, assets not only recovered but expanded significantly, as investors sought alternatives to traditional institutions.

The Ultimate Drivers of Success
When asked about selling Kairos, Mr. Basilico explained that entrepreneurship requires not only ambition, but discipline in exiting. He had long planned to build and transition around the age of 60. Letting go was emotionally demanding: leaving “your people, your clients, your friends” - but by preparing himself for the transition, he was able to move forward with clarity.

Several core drivers of success emerged throughout the discussion. Patience is essential, as career acceleration requires enduring difficult phases. Structural awareness allows professionals to recognize that the greatest opportunities arise during regulatory or technological inflection points. Independence and alignment, which are embodied in the principle of “skin in the game”, create credibility that branding alone cannot. Psychological resilience is indispensable, because markets enforce humility and “Mr. Market” is always stronger than any individual. Focus, too, is critical: diversification can dilute excellence, whereas mastery in one domain builds lasting impact. Finally, motivation must extend beyond money. While Finance offers exceptional rewards, long-term excellence is sustained by competitiveness, ambition, and the desire to build something respected. Wealth follows competence—not the other way around.
Today, through Samhita Investments and his philanthropic commitments, Mr. Basilico remains guided by the same principle that shaped Kairos: focus with conviction.

SDA Bocconi School of Management