Camilla Bena, 17, shares how two weeks at ESCP helped her discover entrepreneurship, meet students from around the world and gain confidence in herself
Over two weeks, ESCP in Turin welcomed 139 students from 39 nationalities for an immersive Summer School experience. Through hands-on learning, teamwork and life on campus, participants explored entrepreneurship while connecting with peers from around the world. Camilla, 17, reflects on the experience and how it inspired her both academically and personally.
By Camilla Bena
When I applied to the ESCP International Summer School, I was hoping to learn something new about business. I didn't expect those two weeks to change the way I see myself as much as the way I see entrepreneurship.
I first discovered ESCP through my school, Collegio San Giuseppe, while following the construction of the new Turin Campus. After visiting the campus, I decided to apply to the Summer School. A few days later, I had written my motivation letter, recorded my video application and, fortunately, received my acceptance.
Even before classes started, the experience had already begun. Through the students' WhatsApp group, I met some of my future classmates for an ice cream the day before the programme. It was my first real conversation with teenagers from so many different countries. Hearing everyone speak English so naturally was impressive, but what stood out even more was how easy it was to start talking to people I'd never met before.
Learning business by doing
The academic programme was varied and engaging. We explored entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, interpersonal skills and artificial intelligence through interactive classes and practical workshops.
The entrepreneurship sessions with Professors Daniele Battaglia and David Reetz were particularly inspiring. Rather than focusing only on theory, we analysed successful companies and start-ups to understand how different business models solve real problems.
Marketing quickly became my favourite subject. Professor Gaia Giambastiani introduced us to the psychology behind branding, colours, packaging and customer behaviour. It completely changed the way I look at products, even though shopping has never really been one of my hobbies.
Finance was more challenging at first. Many of the concepts and formulas introduced by Professor Silvia Dalla Fontana were new to me, but after reviewing my notes, I realised that the subject became much more approachable. By the end of the week, I was able to complete our group assignment with confidence.
During the second week, we focused on interpersonal skills and innovation. Professor Marie-Catherine Mignault showed us that leadership is about much more than making decisions. Learning how to communicate, motivate a team and earn people's trust are essential skills for anyone who wants to become an entrepreneur.
In the Innovation Lab, Professor Alessandro Lanteri explored how artificial intelligence works, its opportunities and its limitations. I especially enjoyed understanding why AI sometimes produces inaccurate answers and how it should be used critically rather than blindly.
What made every class enjoyable was the teaching style. Professors encouraged discussion, questions and teamwork instead of long lectures. We were constantly asked to contribute our ideas and learn from one another.
Turning ideas into a start-up
One of the highlights of the programme was the Entrepreneurship Workshop, led by Simone Marino and Luca Tarasco.
Working in teams, we developed our own start-up ideas and learned how to build a convincing business pitch. We followed a clear structure that helped us communicate our ideas effectively while leaving plenty of room for creativity and problem-solving.
Presenting our project in front of the class was challenging, but also one of the most rewarding moments of the programme.
Discovering Turin together
Although I already live in Turin, experiencing the city alongside international students made me see it differently.
I enjoyed recommending restaurants, cafés and places to visit, and I loved watching my city through the eyes of people discovering it for the first time. One of my favourite places to share was Parco del Valentino, where the riverside walk offers some of the best views of Turin.
The Summer School also included sports and social activities that helped everyone get to know each other outside the classroom. We went rowing during the first week and spent an afternoon at the Motovelodromo, where students could choose between padel, volleyball and the swimming pool. These activities made it easy to build friendships beyond our project groups.
An international community
Perhaps the most memorable part of the Summer School was meeting 139 students representing 39 nationalities.
I spoke with people from every continent, from Guatemala to China, and quickly realised that, despite our different backgrounds, we shared many of the same interests, ambitions and concerns.
I'm naturally quite shy, but these two weeks encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone. By the end of the programme, I felt much more confident starting conversations, working in multicultural teams and expressing my ideas in English.
The friendships I made are something I'll carry with me long after the Summer School. I already know that when I travel abroad in the future, there will be familiar faces waiting in different parts of the world.
The biggest lesson I learned wasn't only about business. It was discovering that stepping outside my comfort zone often leads to the best opportunities.
Looking ahead
The ESCP International Summer School exceeded my expectations. It introduced me to entrepreneurship, challenged me academically and helped me grow personally.
Most importantly, it gave me the confidence to imagine myself studying in an international environment. I hope this is only the beginning of my journey with ESCP, and that one day I'll return as a Bachelor student.
If another student asked whether they should apply, my answer would be simple: absolutely.
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