Voices from Abroad: Alessandro Colnago
Shanghai (China), Campus Abroad, Fudan University
College Park, MD (USA), Exchange program, University of Maryland, College Park
New Delhi (India), Exchange program, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
New York, NY (USA), Internship Program Companies Abroad, ExportUsa
Wow, where shall I start? Trying to describe the academic and working experiences I experienced abroad thanks to Bocconi is almost like trying to sum up an amazingly enriching and Peter Pan-ish piece of my life in a page.
If, on the first day of my Bachelor, someone had told me that in five years I would have lived in five countries and on three different continents I would have laughed at him. But this is what eventually happened, and looking back I cannot express how glad I am that I joined Bocconi and took advantage of its international network.
 Singapore skyline |
The Campus Abroad in Fudan Univesrity, Shanghai in 2009 was my first timid step towards Asia. What I love about the Campus Abroad concept is the fact that it's an intense experience under every point of view: days go by without you realizing it as in-class morning lessons, followed by afternoon visits to the city, evening brainstorming sessions and late night explorations of the nightlife. There I met intriguing China together with wonderful people with whom I built long lasting friendship relationships.
Right after the Campus, it was time for the Exchange program: University of Maryland, College Park. I was literally projected into one of the most vibrant, stimulating academic and social environments in the U.S. There I learned to change pace, face challenging projects with strict deadlines, teamwork, network and, last but not least, party with amazing people from all over the world.
My next experience abroad was a working one, during the first summer of my graduate program in 2011, at G&B Asia, Singapore. I worked there as a business development consultant and had the chance to meet inspiring entrepreneurs and assist projects in the Indo-Chinese area. Those months wouldn't have been so exciting and fun-filled if it weren't for other fellow Bocconi interns and students with whom I share unforgettable memories and who became lifetime friends.
 Alessandro in New Delhi |
For whoever wants to visit Asia, be careful: it's incredibly intoxicating. I couldn't help but explore more of it during my second exchange program at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi. Passing from the high-tech, snobby Singapore to the humble and spiritual India was simply mind-blowing: studying, living and travelling with Indians is just one of the most humanly enriching experiences I can suggest.
The last stop of this sort of international rollercoaster ride was another work experience in the land of opportunities itself, New York. I worked at ExportUsa as a management consultant by helping Italian firms getting established in the American market. This experience, maybe more than the others, turned out to be pretty life-changing as after I graduated in International Management in October 2012, I was hired there.
Reading these lines I feel very lucky for having met incredible people and having had the chance to grow so much along the journey. Bocconi can bring you farther than what you ever imagined if you work hard and are motivated. So here's my advice: keep your curiosity alive and you'll never stop discovering.