Daniela Tonoli decided to pursue business education in her home country of Italy, graduating from the Milan-based (pictured above) Polimi Graduate School of Management’s MBA class in 2022. Alongside her career and educational pursuits, she loves to devote time to mentoring young students, writing novels and volunteering, something that includes providing consulting services for purpose-oriented associations and companies
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your career to date?
I am a technology industrial partnership and digital agreements specialist in the innovation team of the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group. I have 10 years’ experience in engineering consultancy firms on seismic hazard assessment in international projects worldwide for main players in the oil & gas, nuclear and renewable energy sectors.
Why did you want to study for an MBA in the first instance? And why did you choose to do an MBA at this particular School?
My initial career path was focused on developing a strategic vertical competency in earthquake engineering and seismology. Pursuing an MBA was an opportunity to enrich my profile with a broad know-how on business administration and to strengthen the soft skills essential for a leadership role. Moreover, the focus on sustainability issues and the purpose-driven approach led me to choose Polimi Graduate School of Management.
What is the most interesting thing you learnt from your MBA?
Summarising the MBA in one sentence, I would say: “It’s a journey to discover human potential and ourselves”. It acts as a meeting point for people who have decided to broaden their horizons and challenge themselves. The MBA was, indeed, a gym to test and train yourself; a place where you can experience how the world is changing so fast that disruptive innovations occur each day and how each of us can share our approach to shape the future.
It is an opportunity to learn from qualified teachers, but above all from classmates and alumni who are always ready to share different paths and experiences.
The development of a growth mindset, getting used to continuous learning, being resilient and being curious was the main achievement of my MBA year.
What were some of the challenges you faced when studying for an MBA?
At times, the MBA can create uncertainty and doubt about where you want to direct your career path. The variability of the courses, learning opportunities and activities offered led me to explore more and more topics, feeding my natural curiosity. The challenge was then to narrow down this range of options and opportunities to reorient the career path to one specific industry, a role, a company.
How has the MBA made a difference to your career path and leadership journey?
The MBA has allowed me to develop new skills and become a better and more well-rounded person day by day. The continuous confrontation with smart, competent, brave and friendly classmates has allowed me to improve myself day by day and discover my own leadership style. In addition, the year dedicated to the MBA has been a great training ground to interact with people with different seniority, culture, background and ambitions, getting out of my comfort zone and testing myself on new challenges all the time.
In what interesting ways have you incorporated what you have learnt in your MBA into your job role?
The variability of themes and topics being addressed is one of the most fascinating aspects of my current work. The openness and mental agility trained during the MBA assist me in my daily activities and help me in the pursuit of my goals. Curiosity about new things, calmness in facing new challenges and the desire to build something that is purpose-driven are peculiarities of the MBA that I love to bring to my current work.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about studying for an MBA?
I would recommend they take a deep dive into their higher goals and remain open-minded so as to surprised by the journey. As described by Konstantinos Kavafis in the poem Ithaca, my advice is to make the road long and full of experiences, to reach one’s own Ithaca, “Wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way.”
What are the next steps for you on your career journey?
l look forward to new challenges and getting involved in activities I have never done before to make a positive impact on the company, customers and society as a whole. Strategy and innovation are the cornerstones of the choices that will have the greatest impact on the future and it is in this directions that I want to develop my professional path, while remaining true to sustainability and social impact themes.
