Sharing Ideas to Unlock Interpersonal Potential
“Managing complexity to restore simplicity; I think this is the common thread of my career.” With her beginnings in consulting and management, and a professional path she deems “diverse”, today Stefania Gentile is CEO at Mooney — focusing on financial innovation while leading the fintech company presided by Enel and Intesa Sanpaolo.
She shares, “I came to Bocconi after attending classical high school, and — despite my background in humanities, along with initial difficulties in math and statistics — I came to love my university years. It was not just for the quality of the courses, but also for the strong sense of community. The environment was positive and inspiring, pushing me to become a university ambassador with younger students.”
Choosing to attend the Milan-based university led her to a degree in Business Administration at the age of 22 and her first work experience in consulting.
“I started at Accenture and stayed there for over five years, eventually becoming Senior Manager. Climbing the corporate ladder is momentous; you get thrown into the water and have to prove that you can swim. On my first day, I arrived at the office and recall that they gave me a ticket to Chicago for a two-week professional training course. I owe a lot to this industry because it accelerated my career by preparing me to join Intesa Sanpaolo.” Gentile remained at the bank for 14 years, working in various capacities until she was appointed Innovation Manager in Torino. Her next stint was at Setefi as General Manager, where she oversaw important business operations in the period between 2015 and 2021 — from the sale of the company to Bain Capital, Advent International and Hourglass, to its transformation into Mercury Payment Services and subsequent integration into the Nexi Group. She was immersed in the world of digital innovation, which also helped her in her next role as Senior Advisor at PWC before coming to the helm of Mooney.
“It was certainly a career path that was faced with a lot of stamina,” she says, “It helped me over the years to become more open-minded, curious and willing to look at competitors in an admirable way. Passion is also needed, and for me it means wanting to enjoy yourself while finding new solutions to constant challenges.” As CEO, Gentile explains why sharing ideas is fundamental: “It unlocks interpersonal potential to bring out the best in people. This detail is important; to innovate, you must know how to distribute the weight among the team, creating an environment conducive to change.”
She adds that she has learned a great deal, even from leaders who were by her side throughout her career. “They were enriching experiences, both in the good and the bad — they taught me a lot. Today I have the possibility to meet people in other industries, including managers and board members who perhaps have specific talents. You must reason with, investigate and understand that observed talent.”
She highlights that being CEO is inspiring because it is a job that offers the opportunity to make things happen. “For example, I wanted to give a clear message on the importance of gender equity in order for the company to operate smoothly.” Since 2023, in fact, the presence of women executives working at Mooney has increased to 50%, and the company has also obtained the gender equality certification. Gentile’s advice to young generations is to never give up. “Be bold, raise the bar, and say what you think — but with the right approach, always. Stay disciplined and driven, proving so when carrying out your projects. At my company, I am committed to supporting young people in their career and helping them be bold.”
