Connections
Stories and ideas

Leonardo Moretti Polegato, Villa Sandi

Three keywords for innovation in a family business: understanding, method, responsibility

In the day-to-day life of a family business, there is rarely a precise moment in which “innovation happens.” Instead, there is a sequence of operational choices that, taken together over time, gradually change the way the organization works.
It is from this perspective that Leonardo Moretti Polegato, who holds a degree in Business Administration from Ca’ Foscari University and is currently Raw Materials Buyer at Villa Sandi and a Board Member of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Consortium, describes his professional path and his work at Villa Sandi, not as a series of innovations to be announced, but as a process structured around three keywords: understanding the business, the discipline of method, and taking responsibility for the consequences of decisions.
The first keyword is understanding: understanding the company’s history, the people who work within it, and the dynamics that hold it together. Without this understanding, any intervention risks being superficial or ineffective.
The second is method: reading data, comparing alternatives, structuring decisions, and dealing with uncertainty with discipline. Not as a purely technical exercise, but as a way to make change manageable and shareable.
The third is responsibility: because leading a family business means taking responsibility for decisions not only on an economic level, but also on a human and territorial one — towards people, the supply chain, and the broader context in which the company operates.

Massimo Grigolin, Natixis Investment Banking

A journey through financial markets and digital transformation

After graduating in Business Administration in Venice with a statistical–quantitative specialization, Massimo Grigolin built a successful international career in the Capital Markets across Italy, France, and the United Kingdom. The strong analytical background developed during his studies enabled him to enter the world of investment banking with solid technical foundations and a strong quantitative mindset.
After an initial experience in retail banking, choosing to pursue an MBA in Rotterdam opened the door to global and multicultural environments, which over time became the defining feature of his career path.
At Natixis, he has held roles covering the entire spectrum of markets: from credit to rates, from derivatives to securitizations, and ultimately the management of commercial teams operating in highly competitive environments. A keen observer of industry evolution, he has closely followed the digital transformation of the markets and the growing role of artificial intelligence in operational and decision-making processes.
Today, his strategic focus is on the new balance between traditional banks and private credit and equity funds in an increasingly disintermediated Europe, with particular attention to the intercultural and relational competencies required to lead global teams in a rapidly changing landscape.

Caterina Conte, KitchenAid

The endless paths of product

From the classrooms of the San Giobbe campus to the international teams of Safilo, Eastpak, Pandora, Reebok, and now KitchenAid, Caterina Conte’s career is the story of a professional who has turned her management education into a compass — one that guides her across industries, cultures, and perspectives, while keeping her passion for product at the center.
Each step in her journey tells a story of growth, change, and a new way of seeing things. After starting out in demand planning, Caterina realized that behind the numbers lay what fascinated her most: the chance to create value through the product and to understand what truly drives consumers’ choices.
From fashion and sportswear to design, a red thread connects every stage: curiosity for the product, the ability to read numbers with a strategic mind, and a constant desire to learn something new.
Changing industries, cities, or perspectives might seem risky — but for someone who loves what she does, it’s simply another way to grow, evolve, and discover new possibilities.

Matteo Fabbrini, Faba

Innovating to Educate: The Power of Ideas That Make Us Grow

Matteo Fabbrini, a graduate in Marketing and Business Management from the Department of Management – now Venice School of Management- at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, is an entrepreneur and innovator who has successfully turned vision into impact.
In 2007, he founded Exclama, a company specialized in promotional items, and a year later he launched Maikii, which became a key player in the market of customized USB drives and accessories. With Maikii, he also launched the brand Tribe, developing collaborations with international licenses such as Star Wars, Marvel, and Disney.

In 2019, he launched FABA , a startup that combines education and entertainment through screen-free audio devices designed to stimulate children’s learning and creativity.
FABA quickly gained international recognition, reaching over 10 million euros in revenue in 2024 and winning the prestigious iF Design Award - a testament to its unique balance between technological innovation and educational values.

Recently, Matteo returned to class to engage with the next generation of managers, as part of Experior, a project of the Venice School of Management. This initiative offers students a unique opportunity to learn and be inspired through direct dialogue between academia and the business world.
In Matteo’s case, the Experior project took place within the course “Integrated Marketing Communication: Digital and Physical Touchpoints” , taught by Prof. Francesca Checchinato - where the dialogue between academia and business becomes a tangible opportunity for learning and inspiration.

Serena Ricci, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)

Business schools of tomorrow with roots in Venice

After graduating in Business Administration at Ca’ Foscari and helping to create and grow the Reimagine Education Awards & Conference, Serena Ricci has built a career at the intersection of storytelling, growth strategy, data, and international partnerships. Today, she is Growth Marketing Manager at QS, a global provider of analytics and services for higher education, best known for the QS World University Rankings as well as for platforms and events that connect students and universities worldwide.

Her path, further enriched by experiences with UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) and by her role on the Learning Committee of OpenUK—the non-profit representing the UK open technology ecosystem (open source software, open data, open hardware) — shows how a management education in Venice can become a springboard to a global career. Looking to the future of business schools, Serena brings with her a perspective that blends quantitative skills, international culture, and a constant focus on social impact and sustainability.