The Welcome Day Greeting to MSc Students from Silvia Candiani

We all have to face the challenge of the complexity that this new normal imposes: kicking off the new adventure of a Master of Science, if you are a student; or imagining new development strategies, if you are the CEO of a large company. This and much more emerged on the Bocconi stage when Silvia Candiani, Bocconi alumna and CEO of Microsoft Italy, gave her personal welcome to the students of the Bocconi Master of Science programs.

"It is wonderful to be able to welcome students with someone like Silvia Candiani," commented Antonella Carù, dean of the Bocconi Graduate School. "Silvia has carved out an extraordinary career in a company that has been a protagonist in addressing the issues of innovation, digital transformation, inclusion and diversity".

Before the event Candiani told us briefly about the impact that lockdown and post lockdown have had on Microsoft's work in Italy:

Silvia Candiani, how did a company like yours experience this period?
These last months have posed many challenges to all organizations globally. For us, the emergency situation has posed a double challenge. In addition to organizing our company to cope with prevention and protection measures for our employees, we have also made a significant contribution to help companies, public administrations and the educational world make better use of digital resources to continue to operate and stay connected.

How did you organize this new normal?
We have launched various activities from the earliest stages to encourage moments of sharing and updating with all colleagues, to guide emergency actions and continue to support customers to remain active during the lockdown. With great pride, Microsoft Italia employees have demonstrated resilience and ability to go beyond the obstacles to help thousands of teachers deliver remote lessons with students, support companies and the PA to continue to operate, and also contribute to the response of healthcare facilities and organizations in charge of managing the emergency. The cohesive and resilient response to this situation has been possible thanks to our corporate mission, which always guides us to find new ways and opportunities to achieve more with digital on all fronts. Not only that, the principles of extended collaboration and focus on the impact we can give have been important elements of our commitment in these months.

Digital has been the great protagonist of the last months
I am firmly convinced of the positive role of digital as a valuable ally to continue to do business remotely, as our employees have done. But it's not enough, you need to integrate digital solutions with opportunities to share with everyone the direction and vision of what you want to do and create a sense of teamwork even from a distance.

A message that also sounds crucial for those who today, in this world redesigned by Covid, are preparing to embark on a new university path
As CEO of Microsoft Italy, I recall several lessons learned during my years at Bocconi that have proved a guide for this period too: inclusion, creativity, 'can do' attitude and active involvement of everyone to leave an important mark in the work we do.