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That day in the US, at the age of 15, Maria Laura Albini understood that she wanted to follow her dreams: after several experiences in company roles, at the age of 40 she fulfilled her wish to found her own, ARAD Digital

"I remember well the day when, at 15, I was in the United States for the 4th of July, Independence Day. The vibrant atmosphere, full of energy and optimism, conveyed a powerful message: with the right determination, anything is possible. It was an overwhelming experience that made me realize that there were no limits to my dreams, as long as I was willing to build them. I returned to Italy with a well-defined goal: one day I would create my own company. And from that moment on, I have lived every step and every experience as key elements for reaching that goal."

 

Maria Laura Albini turned this dream into reality after a 20-year career in Marketing, CRM and Business Development. It happened five years ago when she co-founded ARAD Digital, a consulting company that supports companies on their paths towards digital transformation.

"After graduating from ITIS with a specialization in computer science, I focused everything on admission to Bocconi. I didn't have a plan B because I was confident in my abilities and I had prepared myself as best I could," Albini says. "After I got in, I worked every day to build my future, doing internships in different sectors, learning new foreign languages, participating in events, initiatives and student associations. All without neglecting my social life. Every experience had a meaning: to prepare myself as best I could for what I wanted to achieve."

During her Management and Economics program with a specialization in information systems, Maria Laura had already started working: first at the Municipality of Milan, where she created its first digital newsletter, then at IBM in the Sales sector, and after that with Innext, a startup created by founding partners who were in JEME Bocconi. She finally ended up at Accenture, where she specialized in CRM and advanced technologies. "Understanding customers was a fundamental skill for me to acquire for any company I was planning to found." Her career has been marked by major turning points every five years. In 2010 she joined YOOX, where, as global head of CRM, she was in charge of multi- and single-brand projects. In 2015 she joined FC Internazionale Milano, where she created the new Marketing department and contributed to the launch of the Media House, an innovative hub for content creation and engagement for fans of the famous football club. Here Maria Laura became one of the youngest executives in the Serie A league.

In 2020 it was time for a big step: "When I entered my 40s I felt it was the right time to realize the dream of a lifetime. Together with partners who shared my vision, I founded ARAD Digital, with the aim of doing something different and innovative. It was not easy: we started the business in the middle of the pandemic, facing difficult challenges. But now the company is growing rapidly, with a young and motivated team, three offices and collaborations with major international brands." 

Today, the entrepreneur combines her business with a strong commitment to supporting young people and startups, while promoting gender diversity and empowering female leadership. "As an entrepreneur, I feel strongly about the issue of female empowerment," she says. "I experienced it firsthand, having built my career in male-dominated environments, such as computer science and football. I have always tried to create balanced teams and to promote the presence of women in contexts where it was scarce. Quotas for women do not excite me, but I believe that, at the moment, they are necessary, especially if I look at who sits on the boards of the more traditional organizations." Aware of the difficulties that many women face in balancing their personal lives with their careers, the Bocconi alumna has faith in the new generations: "I tell girls and young women that they can learn anything, including how to organize their time. At Bocconi there are time management courses that teach you how to balance personal life and work. You have to take advantage of these opportunities and never stop believing in your dreams. With the right amount of determination, anything is possible!"

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