At the SDA Bocconi Women in Business Club flagship event, leaders and faculty discussed how innovation is shaped through decision-making, accountability and the ability to build influence. 

Innovation rarely happens in isolation. It takes shape when leaders take responsibility for direction, set priorities when trade-offs are unavoidable, and decide not only what to pursue, but what to leave behind.

The event opened with introductory remarks by Megan Burkhardt (MBA 51), followed by a keynote by Paola Profeta (Dean for Diversity, Inclusion and Sustainability, Bocconi University) on women, innovation and artificial intelligence. Profeta emphasized that AI is already embedded in daily work and decision-making, and that outcomes are not predetermined. They depend on institutional design, governance and leadership choices.

In the fireside chat, Ebru Özdemir (Chair, Limak Group) spoke with Irmak Ozbek (MBA 51), President of the Women in Business Club, about what it takes to move from visibility to real decision-making power. Özdemir’s message was direct: being “at the table” is no longer enough. What matters is becoming one of the decision makers. She also pointed to confidence and “sisterhood” as practical levers in contexts where informal networks still shape access to boards and senior roles.

A second panel, moderated by Aleksandra Pancic (MBA 51), shifted the focus from innovation as a concept to innovation as influence. Milana Glisic (Managing Director, Amazon Ads Italy & Spain), Silvia Cappelli (Chief of Staff Smart Glasses, EssilorLuxottica) and Chiara Bacilieri (Marketing, Communications & Innovation Director, Mindwork) discussed how women leaders build influence without relying on formal authority. A recurring point was that influence starts with trust, earned through quick, visible delivery and strengthened through relationships and stakeholder alignment.
Panelists also highlighted behaviors that make influence durable: sharing context transparently, building a shared proposal, giving credit generously, and making progress visible beyond immediate teams. Authority can drive compliance, but a shared vision and a clear “north star” are what create commitment over time.
Across sessions, one thread connected the discussion on AI and leadership: innovation is not only about technological progress, but about how value is created and distributed. In that sense, inclusive leadership is not an “add-on”, but a strategic condition for transformation.

SDA Bocconi School of Management