Unconventional Paths to Leadership

A corporate purpose is to be found at the intersection between what a company is good at and what the world needs, says Marco Alverà, CEO of gas utility SNAM in the latest installment of Executive Chats, in which Bocconi Rector Gianmario Verona meets top executives on the frontline in facing the challenges of the digital century.

A graduate in philosophy and economics at LSE, Marco Alverà says that an education in philosophy comes in handy when you have to consider different perspectives, as opposed to searching for the right answer, as in the case of negotiating or managing people. «An experience in banking after such an education, though, provides a training like nowhere else», says Mr. Alverà, who started his career at Goldman Sachs.

Mr. Alverà also talks about utilities' efforts in employer branding. «We started after a presentation at Bocconi, when we saw that the sector is not on top of students' desires. But I always recall that a stellar career in a dull sector is better than a dull career in a stellar sector and in utilities there is ample room for talent».

Finally, Mr. Alverà is very active and popular on LinkedIn (the video was filmed at LinkedIn's offices in Milan, as part of a collaboration on the series): «Social media allow us to talk directly to stakeholders», he says, «they are a powerful tool to communicate and motivate people».