When Values Are So Important
“I came to work in the social sector after graduating from Bocconi with a degree in DES, Economic and Social Disciplines. I started on my career path, which eventually led me to international institutions, from the ILO, the International Labour Organization, to the World Bank.” Born and raised in Venice, Silvia Paruzzolo now lives in the United States, in Washington DC, where she works for Save the Children as Managing Director, Evidence for Impact.
“After high school, I thought about becoming a veterinarian, but the idea of working with suffering animals put me off, so I changed my mind and decided to follow my father’s advice and go to Milan to study at Bocconi.” She goes on: “Thanks to a combination of fortunate events, I ended up working in the US as a researcher focusing on pharmaceutical policy and economic evaluations. There I had the opportunity to go to the World Bank to support the director of the department that developed projects for children. She needed a consultant to work with the chief economist’s office on impact assessments.” Paruzzolo now divides her time between Washington and Milan, where she is back at Bocconi, finishing her doctorate in public administration. “At the World Bank I was able to work in different units, always on projects dedicated to children and youth in different countries of the world, an experience that opened the doors of other institutions for me,” she adds.
From marketing to pure financial skills, Paruzzolo explains that the third sector and nonprofit organizations (as well as large public institutions that operate in the social sector) are in dire need of people with vertical skills. Having a profile that matches these needs can be a strategy for someone who wants to build this type of career.
“In my case, it worked, and I was also lucky enough to be the right person at the right time, and to be in Washington, where there are many opportunities to work in international development.
She went on to work as a researcher at the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), where she focused on gender issues and curated women’s empowerment projects. “I worked there for a few years, then I had my first child. After that I got a call from a former World Bank colleague who was working at the ILO.” The Geneva-based International Labour Organization hired her. During those years, Paruzzolo traveled extensively in Africa, specializing in issues related to poverty among youth and women.
“But I reached a breaking point when my second child was born and it became difficult to travel all the time. So, I took six months off to think about what I needed to do and what my priorities were in life. And considering that my husband was working for the World Bank, and still is, he also travels a lot. Together we decided to go back to Washington and I started thinking about staying home, at least for a while.” But then came the call from Save the Children, rekindling her desire to make a difference in the world. “What can I say? They’ve captured my heart, it’s an organization with strong values, true values. That’s why I’m still here,” she smiles.
