A Bold New Start: ESCP Turin Opens Academic Year 2025–26

Institutional and student voices converge to celebrate community, vision and transformation

On 13 November 2025, ESCP Business School Turin inaugurated the 2025–26 academic year with a ceremony that brought together students, faculty, alumni, business leaders and public officials.

A shared moment of purpose and possibility

Hosted on campus, the Academic Year Opening Ceremony embodied ESCP’s core values of excellence, diversity and European identity, through a series of high-level speeches, a student-led roundtable, and an open reflection on the School’s evolving strategic direction — a vision that is already shaping programmes, partnerships and campus life.

With more than 1,200 students from 83 countries and over 70% of them coming from outside Italy, Turin continues to stand out as one of the most international and dynamic academic environments in the country, and a key driver of ESCP’s mission to educate globally responsible leaders.

Opening speeches: a collective vision for leadership education

The event was opened by Professor Francesco Profumo, President of ESCP Business School Turin, who invited the audience to pause and reflect on how this moment marks not only the start of a new academic year, but also the beginning of a personal and transformative journey for each student.

This was followed by Professor Léon Laulusa, Executive President and Dean of ESCP Business School, who reiterated the School’s mission to unite academic excellence with human values:
“We are not just teaching skills — we are forming mindsets. Preparing tomorrow’s world means educating responsible leaders who combine knowledge, creativity and a sense of purpose,” said Prof. Laulusa.

iStéphane Fratacci, Chief Executive Officer - Paris Île-de-France Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasised the strategic partnership between business and academia in shaping an inclusive and forward-thinking economy.

Michela Favaro, Vice Mayor of Turin and the Metropolitan City, emphasised the city’s close relationship with ESCP and its strong commitment to welcoming and supporting international students as an integral part of the local community. 

Dialogue in action: students, alumni and companies shape the future of work

At the heart of the ceremony was the roundtable “Bridging Generations: Students and Companies Shaping Tomorrow’s Workplace.” For the first time in the context of an institutional event such as the Opening Ceremony, ESCP invited two student ambassadors to take the stage and lead a dialogue with business leaders. Qi Lai (MSc in International Food and Beverage Management) and Angelina Suzan Steingraf (Bachelor in Management) moderated the roundtable, marking a significant step towards amplifying student voice in key moments of the School’s public life. Their role underscored ESCP’s commitment to fostering active participation and co-creation within its international community. 
The discussion featured three distinguished guests:

• Cécile André Leruste, Director of Priscus Italia, Vice-President of ESCP Business School Turin and Chair of the School’s Audit Committee
• Licia Mattioli, CEO of Mattioli S.p.A. and Board Member of ESCP Business School Turin
• Matteo Romano, Director for Micro & Small Business at TeamSystem and alumnus of ESCP’s Master in Management

Together with the student ambassadors, they explored themes including financial literacy, youth entrepreneurship, and intergenerational collaboration. Their insights bridged the gap between professional experience and academic ambition.

Closing remarks: the value of diversity and learning across cultures

Following the roundtable, Professor Francesco Rattalino, Executive Vice-President and Dean for Academic Affairs & Student Experience, addressed the audience. A key figure in the development of ESCP’s Turin campus, he reflected on the School’s learning environment:
“At ESCP, education is a collective journey. We learn from each other — across disciplines, generations and cultures. This is how we prepare students to lead with both impact and integrity,” he shared.

The ceremony concluded with a speech by Professor Alberta Di Giuli, Dean of ESCP Turin Campus, who underlined the importance of diversity as a pedagogical strength:
“Each student brings a unique point of view. This plurality is our greatest asset. At the Turin campus, we grow by engaging with new ideas, cultures and ways of thinking — every single day”.

A European strategy with global resonance

Recognised by Poets&Quants as Business School of the Year 2025, ESCP, with its “Bold and United” strategy, is committed to reshaping business education around innovation, sustainability and multi-campus collaboration.

As noted in Il Sole 24 Ore, La Repubblica and La Stampa, the Turin Campus will play a pivotal role in this transformation — as a laboratory for new ideas, where educational innovation is not only taught but lived.

ESCP continues to strengthen its position as a leading institution in global business education. Turin’s Opening Ceremony reaffirmed this — not only as a celebration, but as a shared commitment to shaping the future of leadership and learning.
It all starts here.

FAQs

Who spoke at the 2025-26 Opening Ceremony in Turin?

Speakers included Francesco Profumo, Léon Laulusa, Stéphane Fratacci, Michela Favaro, Francesco Rattalino, Alberta Di Giuli, and panellists Cécile André Leruste, Licia Mattioli, and Matteo Romano.

What is “Bold & United”?

“Bold & United” is ESCP’s strategic plan for 2026-2030, grounded in two core axes — Bold (renewal, technology, sustainability) and United (community, inclusion, European identity). The plan commits the School to equip future leaders with hybrid skills, foster ethical and human-centred leadership, expand flexible learning pathways and deepen its global reach while reinforcing its European roots.

What are the key milestones of the “Bold & United” strategy?

The strategy is structured around a clear timeline of major phases:

• 2026: Launch of the plan itself. 
• 2027: Establishment of a new School of Technology. 
• 2029: Launch of a new School of Governance and attainment of full European University status. 
• By 2030: ESCP is expected to be fully operating as a European University of Management, with expanded programmes, global reach and solidified community.

What are the key academic areas of ESCP Business School Turin?

The Turin Campus focuses on four strategic sectors aligned with Italy’s areas of excellence: Luxury, Food & Beverage, Entrepreneurship, and Finance. These fields are supported by strong faculty expertise, applied research and deep industry collaboration.