New Delhi: Small Chapter, Big City
India: 1.2 billion people, 28 states and seven autonomous territories, one of which is Delhi, a metropolitan area that in 2001 already almost reached 14 million people. This is where, more specifically in the national capital of New Delhi, the BAA chapter with the same name is located, led by Federica Torgneur. She is a 29-year-old Bocconi alumna who helps Italian companies interesting in entering India's market through the consulting company she created.
Federica's group is still being developed: "The chapter was made official in September, though a group of people have been working since last spring. Now there are about thirty alumni involved," she explains. "We're still in the stages of creating and expanding the base of contacts, so the activities we've conducted so far have been mostly dedicated to networking."
The biggest difficulty, says the young BAA representative, is due to the size of the group's area, which, in addition to New Delhi, includes the cities of Noida and Gurgaon. And though the focus will be on expanding the base in the near future, Federica has ideas about collaborating with both the Mumbai chapter, which includes the strong presence of MISB Bocconi, and with Italian partners working in luxury and fashion. "These sectors," adds Federica Torgneur, "are among the sectors that are developing the most in India, as the middle class grows." Westernization, in fact, is visible in metropolitan areas, but certain habits are still rooted: "It's not easy to be accepted as a businesswoman. But when it's clear who the boss is, then there's respect."