Francesca Daverio, a Lawyer at the World Bank

Ten years ago, Francesca Daverio applied for admission to the PhD program in Law of Business and Commerce offered by Bocconi University. "Bocconi was renowned for being well organized and widely recognized abroad. After two years as a litigator I was missing the intellectual side of my job. I was a law school graduate looking for a higher education opportunity and I knew that the doctorate was held in high regard, especially abroad". It worked. Today Daverio works as a Counsel of the World Bank's Legal Vice Presidency. She owes it to her efforts, her farsightedness, and her educational training. "During the first five years at the World Bank I have done the job I studied for", she says.

After her doctoral thesis in bankruptcy law she became part of the unit that deals with insolvency and bankruptcy. Her assignment was to analyse the legal systems of developing countries: her team was on the field, studying the legislation, meeting judges, visiting the central banks, comparing the results with the best practices suggested by international organizations. "Some countries have changed their legal system for the better, and that's highly rewarding. But even now that I've changed job position, I recognize the importance of the PhD. I had a spendable qualification. I came in touch with excellent professors and brilliant colleagues. Bocconi backed me when necessary. My PhD gave me the chance to contribute to the academic-intellectual debate".