"Learning from Leaders": the Career Service project has brought students from Scuola Sant'Anna to Brussels and the Motor Valley to meet institutions and excellent companies.
Two days in the Motor Valley and three in Brussels, in close contact with European institutions, offered students the opportunity to take part in the 2025 edition of the Learning from Leaders project, promoted by the Career Service Unit of the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna and included in the annual activity plan of the Third Mission Area.
The initiative provides a unique opportunity for direct engagement with outstanding institutional and entrepreneurial organizations, both national and international, aimed at inspiring reflections on future career paths and strengthening career guidance skills.
Brussels: European institutions and think tanks for the legal, economic, and political sectors
From March 11 to 13, a group of 25 students from the fields of Law, Economics and Management, and Political Science took part in a series of meetings and visits to some of the most prominent European organizations based in Brussels. Among them were International Crisis Group (an NGO active in conflict prevention and resolution), Bruegel (a think tank specializing in economic policy), as well as the three main institutions of the European Union: the European Commission, the European Council, and the European Parliament.
The experience gave students the chance not only to learn how institutions work in practice, but also to engage in direct dialogue with professionals and policy makers, including Lorenzo Mannelli, a former student of the School currently working at the European Parliament, who shared his career journey and offered valuable insights from a career mentoring perspective.
Motor Valley: excellence in Italian engineering and innovation
On March 18 and 19, 15 students from the Engineering program had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Motor Valley, the industrial district of Emilia-Romagna renowned for high-performance mechanics and automotive manufacturing. The visits took place at three leading companies: Dallara, famed for its race car design; Hipert, an innovative startup founded by former PhD student Dr. Marko Bertogna, now CEO of the company; and the iconic Ferrari, a symbol of Italian excellence.
These visits allowed participants to experience first-hand the application of cutting-edge engineering innovation, while also encouraging reflection on career opportunities within high-tech and dynamic environments, through interaction with key figures in the sector.
