About
Connections that shape the future
Back in 2011, Ca’ Foscari Alumni was established as a network for all former students of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice - an important chapter that laid the foundation for long-lasting relationships and meaningful connections. Today, Venice School of Management Alumni continues this journey with its own identity, tailored to the specific needs of management graduates, serving as a key reference point for those who pursued their education in its classrooms.
Through exclusive events, networking opportunities, and collaborations with industry leaders and innovators, our community is a dynamic and inspiring space, where every connection can lead to new opportunities, and every encounter can become a stepping stone to success.
The Venice School of Management Alumni is a global and dynamic community where identity, connections, and innovation come together to create value.
Graduating from the Venice School of Management at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice is not only an important milestone; it marks the beginning of a lifelong journey. While top-tier skills and high-level experiences are crucial to building a successful career, having a strong network of connections is just as essential. It supports professional growth and opens the doors to extraordinary new opportunities.
Our roots lie in the Department of Management, which in 2024 officially became the Venice School of Management after achieving the prestigious EQUIS accreditation, one of the most highly sought-after international academic recognitions, awarded by EFMD. This major achievement was a defining moment that led to the official creation of the Alumni community, with the mission to inspire, support, and guide its members throughout their professional journeys.
In this phase of evolution, the historic Association ALEA (Association of Business Administration Graduates of the University of Venice) — active since 1985 and for decades a key point of reference for Business Administration alumni — has acknowledged the natural completion of its journey. With the establishment of Venice School of Management Alumni, which now represents the entire community of those who studied Management/Business Administration at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, ALEA believes that its original mission finds renewed momentum and continuity within this new network.
This transition thus marks a natural evolution that strengthens the bond between past and future: ALEA’s history and values continue to live on within a dynamic community, one that enhances a legacy rooted in belonging, commitment, initiative, and a spirit of sharing.
Our mission
To cultivate meaningful connections, nurture talent, and promote the professional and personal growth of our Alumni. We create a dynamic space where students, Alumni, faculty, and industry leaders come together to exchange ideas and collaborate on innovative projects that generate value for society.
Our values
Identity
Being part of Venice School of Management Alumni means being part of a legacy of academic excellence, contributing to shaping the future with vision, responsibility, and innovation. Our roots date back to 1868, with the founding of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice as Italy’s first School of Commerce, pioneering the launch of the Business Administration programme.
Community
Our network is a global community where shared values, ambitious visions, and authentic connections foster an open dialogue between talent and experience. We encourage knowledge exchange, promote meaningful relationships, and offer tangible opportunities to navigate the future with confidence.
Steering committee
Leading the Venice School of Management Alumni community is a Steering committee, composed, according to the Statute, of four VSM faculty members and four accomplished professionals, all leaders in their respective fields, deeply connected to the School’s values.
Chaired by Professor Anna Comacchio, Director of VSM, the Steering committee is not just a reference point for the community but also works with dedication to create meaningful opportunities, promote innovative initiatives, and strengthen ties between Alumni, institutions, and the professional world.
Thanks to the experience, strategic vision, and commitment of its eight members, the Steering committee aims to lead the Alumni network toward new achievements, ensuring that every member can benefit from authentic connections, exclusive events, and resources dedicated to professional and personal growth.
Anna Comacchio is the Dean of the Venice School of Management and Professor of Organization and Management. A visiting scholar at Warwick University, she has held international roles such as Italy’s delegate on the board of Euram - European Academy of Management and Vice President of the Edamba European Doctoral Network. She has held multiple institutional roles at Ca’ Foscari University, including launching and directing the Economics and Management (English-taught) and Digital Management (English-taught) degree programmes. She has also served as Director of the Master’s in Economics and Tourism, Vice President of Ca’ Foscari Summer School, Board member of the Challenge School, Coordinator for six years of the PhD programme in Management, President of the Scientific Committee of the Ca’ Foscari Competency Centre. Her research focuses on innovation and sensemaking, organization and language, and the future of work.
Marco Fasan is full Professor of Business Economics at Venice School of Management, where he teaches: Internal Control Systems and Internal Audit, Planning and Control, Business Economics. He is the Director of the Second-Level Master’s Programme in Risk Management, Internal Audit & Cybersecurity and the Scientific Director of the Training Course for Directors of Non-Listed Companies. His research interests include accounting, corporate governance, and sustainability.
Daniela Favaretto is an Associate Professor of Operations Research at the Venice School of Management. She earned her PhD in applied mathematics for economic problems at the University of Trieste in 1997. Her primary research interests include optimal control applications in marketing, mathematical models for logistics and supply chain. She has published in leading academic journals, including Optimization, Transportation Research, Annals of Operations Research, and Computational Management Science.
Vladi Finotto is an Associate Professor of Business Strategy and Business Model Innovation at VSM. His research focuses on digital and sustainable transitions in SMEs, interactions between startups and incumbents, enablers of innovation ecosystems. He specializes in the agrifood sector and is a co-founder of the Agrifood Management and Innovation Lab at VSM, coordinating teaching and training activities on food system innovation.
![Luca Parrella [ITA]](/web/fileadmin/user_upload/img/persone/senza_account/Parrella-Luca.jpg)
Luca Parrella [ITA]
Luca Parrella has extensive experience in human resources management and development, helping companies maximize and motivate their human capital. He has held senior roles as HR Director and Organizational Development Consultant. He has worked closely with Boards of Directors and General Managers to translate corporate strategies into effective HR policies. He is specialized in change management, supporting companies in organizational evolution and the implementation of innovative management practices.
Born and raised in Italy, Daniela Pavan built an international career in communication, marketing, and creativity, bringing her innovative approach from Europe to the United States. A Ca’ Foscari Management graduate, she has over 20 years of experience in digital innovation, marketing and communication, customer experience and strategic partnerships. She has worked in Milan, London, and New York, collaborating with Mediaset, Fastweb, Digitas LBi, and multiple startups. Many of her innovation projects have won international awards, including the Communicator Awards and the Retail Systems Awards. Currently, she collaborates with VSM and Ca’ Foscari University, focusing on cultural consultancy and corporate innovation, and teaches International Negotiation at IPAG Business School in Nice and Paris.
Stefano Rossi
A Ca’ Foscari graduate in Business Administration (Quantitative focus), Stefano Rossi built his career in prestigious fashion brands such as Benetton, Geox, and Replay, where he served as HR, Organization, and IT Director. After 25 years in fashion, he became COO of H-Farm, leading the growth of its Innovation and Education divisions. Since 2020, he has worked as an independent consultant, advisor, and temporary manager, collaborating on organizational, HR, and system transformation projects to drive growth and change. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Ca’ Foscari, teaching Human Resources Management and Organizational Studies.
Cinzia Scarbolo
Cinzia Scarbolo has extensive experience in telecommunications, currently serving as Head of Omnichannel, Trade Marketing & Digital Retail at Vodafone Italy. She manages retail communication strategy, digital strategy, training for Vodafone’s entire retail chain. She previously worked as Head of Digital at Vodafone Business, leading digital channels and advanced digital solutions. A Ca’ Foscari graduate in International Trade Economics, she is known for inspiring multidisciplinary teams and driving digital transformation.
Venice School of Management
EQUIS accredited
Located in the heart of Venice, the Venice School of Management at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice blends the cultural heritage of a unique city with an innovative approach to management education, creating a bridge between past and future.
Founded on August 6th, 1868, as the “Regia Scuola Superiore di Commercio”, Ca’ Foscari was the first Italian institution to offer advanced education in Economics and Commerce, and the second in Europe. In 1971, together with Bocconi University, Venice launched the first Business Administration degree programme in Italy, marking a new chapter in management education within the country.
In 1984, the Department of Management was established with the aim of integrating advanced academic research with theoretical expertise, while also providing practical training opportunities. Since its inception, its mission has been to prepare a new generation of managers, equipping them to face the emerging challenges of Northern Italy’s rapidly evolving economy.
Since 2004, the department has been housed in the San Giobbe Economic Campus, the academic hub for economic, legal, and managerial studies in Venice.
Renowned for its academic excellence and interdisciplinary approach, the Department of Management earned the prestigious EQUIS accreditation, awarded by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). This accreditation is a seal of quality, representing continuous commitment to high academic and organizational standards, ensuring that students receive an education on par with the world’s top business schools.
In 2024, the Department officially adopted the name Venice School of Management (VSM).
VSM Alumni community: bridging past, present and future
The VSM Alumni community was born from this legacy of excellence and innovation. Every graduate is a part of the School’s history, carrying with them high-level technical and managerial skills, as well as core values of responsible leadership, sustainability, and intercultural openness.
Today, VSM Alumni are leaders in companies, institutions, and international organizations, actively shaping a more innovative and sustainable future. The VSM Alumni network is more than just a professional network - it is a living community that strengthens the connection with the School and fosters ongoing dialogue between education, research, and the professional world.
A shared commitment to lasting impact
Choosing the Venice School of Management means joining a global network of leaders, innovators, and changemakers who share a common goal: creating impact through knowledge and responsible action.
Because at Venice School of Management, you never truly leave - you become part of a collective story of growth, collaboration, and strategic vision.
EQUIS accreditation
The EQUIS accreditation is one of the most prestigious recognitions awarded to business schools worldwide. Its rigorous peer-reviewed evaluation process signals to students, employers, and academic partners across the globe the school’s overall quality, commitment to sustainability, and continuous self-improvement.
Granted to only 1% of business schools worldwide, EQUIS is often a prerequisite for global rankings. With this accreditation, VSM joins the elite group of 215 internationally accredited institutions, recognized for internationalization, excellence in teaching quality and innovation in academic programmes, outstanding learning opportunities for students, research excellence, strong and deep-rooted partnerships with businesses, a global network of the School and its Alumni
As an EQUIS-accredited institution, the Venice School of Management is now part of an exclusive group of Italian business schools, including SDA Bocconi, Politecnico di Milano School of Management (SoM), Bologna Business School, LUISS Business School, The Department of Economics at the University of Padua.
This prestigious recognition is not just a symbol of excellence - it is a concrete commitment to offering students and Alumni an internationally valuable educational path, aligned with the highest global standards.
VSM and its alumni: a virtuous circle of mutual growth
The relationship between Venice School of Management and its Alumni is a dynamic, ongoing exchange that fuels mutual growth.
VSM Alumni are not just the outcome of the School’s excellence - they carry its values worldwide, strengthening VSM’s reputation through their professional successes and their dedication to promoting the School’s vision in leading international contexts.
At the same time, VSM remains a fundamental point of reference for its graduates, offering continuous education opportunities, networking events, mentorship programmes, access to a global professional network This relationship translates into real impact, benefiting both the School and its Alumni. Indeed, VSM thrives thanks to the active participation of its graduates in strategic development. And the Alumni community benefits from a strong professional community, providing valuable support for navigating career challenges. Every contribution - whether through new initiatives, sharing professional experiences, or funding scholarships - is a key piece in the continuous improvement of the Venice School of Management. Through this reciprocal exchange, VSM grows thanks to its Alumni, and its Alumni grow thanks to VSM.