Here are the most interesting points we picked up from the interview with this remarkable woman!
1. Flavia spends a lot of time co-ordinating different business units. “I create interaction amongst different business units so that they can work together for the organization in a coordinated way," she says, adding that she spends a substantial part of every day on people and problem-solving.
”In the business of luxury, traditional metrics aren't always applicable. therefore all units of the business need to work together in a coordinated way. As part of this Flavia also has to come up with brilliant ideas to move the business forward.
2. She is an Italian woman who likes rugby. Flavia's penchant for uncommon ideas was demonstrated when the company entered an uncharacteristic partnership with the New Zealand rugby legends, the All Blacks, and created the new Endurer Chronosprint All Blacks special edition watch during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
She described this partnership as a chance to align the brand values of All Blacks with those of Bulgari, highlighting values such as fairness, teamwork and being number one.
3. In the luxury business, service is king: “Quality, service and a personalized relationship with clients are hallmarks of the luxury business. What you sell is very limited in terms of the number of products, and service must be of an unusually high quality. Traditional metrics aren’t applicable.”
4. She didn't start out in the luxury industry. Flavia's career started out in human resources for a company that builds and manages highways. There she gained experieince in business process development and decided to pursue her an MBA.
5. Flavia believes charity work makes people better leaders. She began running a foster home while at university and continuted co-parenting children in need for over ten years. She feels that respecting people and recognizing their potential are key values in both charitable work and professional life. She also believes that people who demonstrate stong personal values make better leaders.
6. She has high regard for her alma mater, and helped to drive SDA Bocconi's new luxury specialism within the MBA.
Last year, SDA Bocconi formed a partnership with Bulgari to introduce the Luxury Business Management Track. The programme integrates SDA Bocconi’s international MBA with a second semester in Rome, where the Bulgari headquarters serve as a classroom for luxury business leaders.
Students on the course will gain the managerial competencies required in luxury goods and services firms through three months of in-house learning at the Bulgari headquarters in Rome and a two-month in-company project in an international branch of the Bulgari Group or in another luxury firm.
7. Her MBA made her evaluate who she is as a person. The MBA programme allowed her to identify her strong points and being surrounded by healthy competition pushed her to excel.
More stories about students, alumni and programmes at SDA Bocconi School of Management here
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