BOARD MEMBER INTERVIEW

Stefanie is a former CEO and current Independent Director with a background in international business, corporate law, and finance. She began her career as an attorney and investment banker, later leading her family’s 100-year-old coffee company through a successful turnaround. Today, she manages a family office, serves on corporate boards, and speaks on leadership and family business at institutions like Cornell and Bocconi University.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote or mantra that you live by?
“An education is something no one can ever take away from you.” Wise words from my grandmother.

Q: What does philanthropy mean to you, and how does it guide your role on the board and beyond?
As a Greek, I am proud to share that the word “philanthropy” is a Greek word derived from philos (friend) and anthropos (mankind). In Aeschylus’s, 2,500-year-old play, Prometheus famously became the first philanthropist when he stole fire from Zeus to save humanity. Needless to say, things did not work out too well for Prometheus, but the ancient story underscores the deeper message that philanthropy means more than giving money. Philanthropy is aimed at improving the human condition.

Q: What inspired you to join the board of Friends of Bocconi?
Giving back to higher education is my way of recognizing the impact it had on my life and to help provide that same transformative opportunity to others.

Q: You served as Co-Chair of the 2024 Friends of Bocconi Benefit Gala. What did the success of that first edition of the event reveal to you about the strength and purpose of the Bocconi Alumni Community?
The vision and drive of Bocconi’s leadership and the passion and pride of its Alumni came together in perfect form for the 2024 Gala. It was a night to celebrate an exceptional community and expand its philanthropic impact through the funding of scholarships.

Q: How do you see the organization growing in the next few years?
Since joining the board, I have learned that Friends of Bocconi had humble beginnings as a small group of Alumni. Today, it has grown into an organization that supports Bocconi’s mission in the US. In the future, I see Friends of Bocconi as a unifying force bringing together a broader community that values excellence in higher education and Italian culture and their impact on society.