Giving Back, A Good Habit Paolo Has Committed To Three Times Over

A SDA BOCCONI MBA, PAOLO BARBANTI MADE THE FIRST OF HIS THREE DONATIONS TO THE BAA SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Paolo Barbanti earned his MBA in 1990 and is one of those alums who has embraced most enthusiastically the concept of giving back to his alma mater. He made his first donation at the 2015 Christmas Party in support of the BAA Scholarship Fund and now his giving his third round of donations supporting various Bocconi programs. Barbanti condenses his desire to support the University and its community in a single sentence: "Giving is not a duty, it is a kind of social engagement everyone should endeavor." A subtle difference, perhaps, but with a clear meaning: to turn a gesture of altruism into an habitual practice.

Paolo, who is now a consultant for the biotech and medtech industry, did his MBA thanks to a scholarship from the Marco Senepa Foundation. Since then, he has not forgotten the value of giving a chance to those who deserve it. "Transmission of values is fundamental to an institution of higher education," he continues. "A university must foster social mobility, it must ensure that at each generation the baton is passed, as is done in a relay race." The alumnus also devotes some of his time to Bocconi as BAA Class Leader and has put his heart into persuading former classmates to emulate his gesture. "It doesn't matter as long as you just donate."

by Andrea Celauro
Translated by Alex Foti