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Homecoming Bocconi: Returning Home, Building Tomorrow

, by Diane Orze
From October 16 to 18, Bocconi will welcome back its global alumni community for three days that feel like home: conversations with faculty, cultural events, celebrations, sports, reunions, and plenty of conviviality. These will be days to remember—for those who wish to relive their past within the classrooms while looking ahead to future generations, turning nostalgia into positive impact

For the first time, from October 16 to 18, the University will bring together alumni from all programs, years, and countries in a single ‘Homecoming’ on the Milan campus. The Bocconi Alumni Community is a vibrant network: 146,000 people in over 130 countries, supported by 75 territorial Chapters and 13 Topic Groups that organize more than 350 events each year.

And during these three days, the community will not just watch—it will take center stage: reunions, meetings, debates, guided tours, exhibitions, and sports activities will help strengthen existing bonds and forge new ones. Alongside the energy of reconnecting, there will also be a tangible gesture: with the campaign “Back Home. Impact the Future,” every participation can translate into a give-back initiative supporting deserving students and research.

“Homecoming is not just a symbolic return,” emphasizes Rector Francesco Billari. “It’s an invitation to contribute together to Bocconi’s future.”

“Our community is a precious resource,” notes Antonella Carù, Dean for Development and Alumni Relations. “We strengthen our bonds and inspire new generations.”

For Silvia Candiani, President of the Bocconi Alumni Community, “this is the moment to celebrate the diversity of our talents and look ahead with a sense of responsibility.”

The Heart: The Alumni Awards

The opening evening on October 16, in the Aula Magna, will host the Alumni Awards 2025, celebrating stories of excellence, innovation, and social impact:

  • Alumna of the Year – Elena Goitini, CEO of BNL and Country Head for Italy at BNP Paribas Group
  • Alumna Emerging Leader – Alisée de Tonnac, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Seedstars
  • Alumnus Changemaker – Adama Sanneh, Co-founder and CEO of Moleskine Foundation

One Program, Many Opportunities to Connect

The program - continuously updated - is already rich, with over 100 initiatives scheduled across the three days. Just to mention a few:

  • Inaugural Lecture of the Harvey Chaplin Chair in Distribution, Channel & Experience Management (October 16): exploring how distribution channels and customer experience can generate value through effective partnerships.
  • Research Celebration (October 17): honoring research excellence by recognizing recipients of competitive grants and presenting the Impact Award to the best paper of the year—selected for its significant contribution to society and scientific progress. Moreover, some researchers will be ‘challenged’ on the relationship between management and AI by a panel of distinguished alumni.
  • Launch of the Fundraising Campaign (October 17): outlining the goals and priorities for Bocconi’s future.
  • Bocconi and Milano Cortina 2026: A Platform for Olympic Impacts (October 18).
  • Future Talks – Numerous sessions on global issues featuring faculty, experts, and policymakers discussing economics and governance.
  • Culture, Campus, Sports: tours, exhibitions, leisure activities, and informal gatherings to experience today’s Bocconi.

A Farewell that Commits

On October 18, the Farewell Party will close the Homecoming with music and conviviality: not just a final celebration, but the seal of a bond that extends beyond graduation and turns into shared action.
This reunion is more than a celebration: it’s a conscious choice: the idea of meeting today to build tomorrow, with Alumni as active contributors - not spectators - of a community that grows, includes, and creates value.

Read the full program of the Homecoming

Campus life