This year, you won the first-ever Alum of the Year Award for BCG Italy, recognized for our purpose “Drive inspired impact”. How has the BCG experience influenced your journey?

As my LinkedIn bio says, "I come from BCG. I like action, well-crafted presentations, and numbers." I owe BCG my strong problem-solving skills and the ability to navigate complexity, which have helped me thrive in the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship. Interestingly, BCG is also the reason why I met my co-founder, Silvia, who was looking for a former consultant to launch Serenis with. Recently, as my company moved into offering employee assistance programs to corporates, I was able to tap into a strong network of former BCG colleagues who helped kick off and grow the new business.

Are there any key lessons learned or professional advice that you still carry with you?

One of the most valuable lessons I learned at BCG was to leverage the knowledge of others to accelerate your own development. Find the experts, reach out to them, and make the most of the 30 minutes you have with them. I still practice this today, frequently seeking out specialists to gain best practices, understand unfamiliar topics, and anticipate the challenges that come with the entrepreneurial path.

What drew you to the startup sector, and when did your passion for this path begin?

I’ve been a geek since childhood, always loving to build things, and I thrive in fast-paced environments (much like BCG was). As my career and life progressed, I became more involved in digital and innovation projects, then with companies, and eventually with the startup ecosystem. Initially, I approached the startup space with a job-seeking mindset, applying for senior roles at startups and scale-ups. Then, almost serendipitously, about three years ago, I met my co-founder, who was working on what would become Serenis. It felt like a sign, so I quit my job and here I am.

What’s on your mind? What are the big topics on your agenda? What keeps you up at night?

At the moment, it's my newborn child that keeps me up at night! But on a serious note, I often think about how to keep the company thriving in an increasingly uncertain world. The phrase “Only the paranoid survive” resonates with me. Major shifts—whether geopolitical, financial, or technological (AI, for example)—can present either massive opportunities or grave threats, especially for a startup. Being vigilant, and yes, a bit paranoid, is part of the journey.

What is the most important advice you would give to someone looking to make a significant impact, perhaps by exploring new professional paths as you did?

First, there are many ways to make a positive impact on the world, and it doesn’t have to be solely through your job; family, politics, volunteering, and nonprofits should all be considered. Secondly, even if the company you work for doesn’t have a grand social mission, you can still make a difference to the people around you. The world would be a better place if we all practiced kindness and worked on being better humans. Lastly, if you’re considering starting a company like I did, make sure you are solving a problem that you feel personally connected to—but also make sure it affects a large number of people. Small problems may not present big enough opportunities to be sustainable in the long run.