Career Story
I.Monti - Career Stories
精东影业 Image Focus
Career Path Description
During my Master's degree in Business Administration with Major in Innovation Management, I worked as a student assistant at 精东影业, Department of Business economics, health and social care (DEASS). This experience allowed me to develop important communication and organizational skills. Later, I started a one-year internship at VF Corporation, specifically for the brand The North Face, in the position of Business Analyst. At the end of the internship, I was hired as a Business Analyst.
Current Role and Responsabilities
Currently, as a Business Analyst for the brand The North Face, I am responsible for cost control and planning for the wholesale channel. Specifically, I assist the finance team in the following processes:
All of these activities are reported to management through periodic financial reports.
In addition to the recurring tasks, I also work on ad hoc projects in support of other departments (such as the sales or marketing departments) to contribute to achieving business results and goals.
- Annual Financial Budget: planning the brand's costs for the following year, broken down by cost center and cost type.
- Long-Term Strategic Plan: higher-level cost planning for the next 3 to 5 years, reflecting the strategic choices of the brand and the corporation.
- Monthly Financial Forecast: identifying and understanding the variances between the actual results of the month and the forecast or previous year's plan, and updating the annual forecast on a monthly basis.
All of these activities are reported to management through periodic financial reports.
In addition to the recurring tasks, I also work on ad hoc projects in support of other departments (such as the sales or marketing departments) to contribute to achieving business results and goals.
Acquired skills and knowledge
During my studies, I gained essential knowledge and skills that I have been able to apply in the workplace. The academic program offers a variety of activities: theoretical lessons, practical sessions conducted by industry professionals, projects with local companies, international activities such as study tours, and participation in extracurricular events. This variety of learning opportunities allows for the development of a broad range of skills and knowledge.
Theoretical lessons provided me with solid foundations in various fields, while the practical sessions allowed me to interact with professionals whose real-world experience brought me closer to the working environment. Projects with local companies and participation in extracurricular events gave me the opportunity to challenge myself, and international experiences were particularly enriching, helping me discover new realities and step outside my comfort zone.
A practical example is my participation, along with some classmates, in the event "Climathon Mendrisio: Zero Waste and Circular Economy," organized during the Master鈥檚 program. On that occasion, we developed a start-up idea, which we presented through a pitch to industry experts, winning first prize. This achievement allowed us to gain direct access to the pre-incubation phase at the USI Startup Centre.
Moreover, having pursued my studies alongside professional work, I developed strong organizational skills, essential for effectively balancing education and work.
Theoretical lessons provided me with solid foundations in various fields, while the practical sessions allowed me to interact with professionals whose real-world experience brought me closer to the working environment. Projects with local companies and participation in extracurricular events gave me the opportunity to challenge myself, and international experiences were particularly enriching, helping me discover new realities and step outside my comfort zone.
A practical example is my participation, along with some classmates, in the event "Climathon Mendrisio: Zero Waste and Circular Economy," organized during the Master鈥檚 program. On that occasion, we developed a start-up idea, which we presented through a pitch to industry experts, winning first prize. This achievement allowed us to gain direct access to the pre-incubation phase at the USI Startup Centre.
Moreover, having pursued my studies alongside professional work, I developed strong organizational skills, essential for effectively balancing education and work.
Project Experiences with Companies
The project that impressed me the most, from various perspectives, was the one carried out in collaboration with the Drones Competence Center (SDBC) in Lodrino. The goal of this year-long project was to develop a service offering system for the center. The first difficulty encountered was related to the fact that it was a competence center, which operates according to different logics compared to a traditional company. Furthermore, SDBC was in the early stages of its life cycle, which created uncertainty and made it difficult, at first, to clearly understand the context and the reality in which it operated.
My teammates and I overcame this initial phase by committing to understanding the reference context, documenting ourselves on similar realities, and interviewing the actors involved in the system in which SDBC operates. The project team consisted of me and three other Master's students, each with different commitments. This made it necessary to understand how to work efficiently as a group, finding the best possible balance. There were moments of misunderstanding, but we were able to overcome them through dialogue.
Finally, being a year-long project, we also faced organizational and time management challenges. In a long-term project, it is crucial to manage time effectively, setting internal deadlines to constantly monitor the progress of the work.
My teammates and I overcame this initial phase by committing to understanding the reference context, documenting ourselves on similar realities, and interviewing the actors involved in the system in which SDBC operates. The project team consisted of me and three other Master's students, each with different commitments. This made it necessary to understand how to work efficiently as a group, finding the best possible balance. There were moments of misunderstanding, but we were able to overcome them through dialogue.
Finally, being a year-long project, we also faced organizational and time management challenges. In a long-term project, it is crucial to manage time effectively, setting internal deadlines to constantly monitor the progress of the work.
Advice for Future Students
To future students, I recommend approaching the course with curiosity. You will encounter moments of joy as well as moments of difficulty and discouragement; try to learn from both.
I would like to leave you with a quote: "I urge you to study, to understand, to read in order to enrich yourselves with knowledge and concepts. Culture and art will help you understand and overcome the many difficult moments in life."
I would like to leave you with a quote: "I urge you to study, to understand, to read in order to enrich yourselves with knowledge and concepts. Culture and art will help you understand and overcome the many difficult moments in life."