The Business and Economics Division, with support of the Next in Management team, had the pleasure of welcoming Angelica Morrone, a prior Olympic skier, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist. From early on, Ms. Morrone knew that she would be an entrepreneur. Later, down the years, she grew her own asset management office, which ultimately led her to her current role as a partner of Privilège Ventures, a company based out of Lugano, Switzerland. There, Ms. Morrone and her team work on finding startups and guiding, financing, and managing them. Privilège Ventures bridges entrepreneurship, management, finance, and governance in order to ensure growth to success.
During her presentation at the Meet the Manager event, Ms. Morrone shared insights into the foundational elements that shaped her journey to success in a highly competitive industry. She began by reflecting on how she built a strong professional foundation and identified the key factors that enabled her to grow and persevere despite the challenges.
Beyond academics, she emphasized the profound impact that sports have had on her career. According to Ms. Morrone, engaging in sports from a young age fosters discipline, motivation, and resilience—qualities that translate directly into the workplace. She expressed a strong belief that individuals with an athletic background tend to be more driven and goal-oriented. In fact, she actively seeks to hire employees who have a connection to sports, convinced that they make dedicated and reliable team members. Ms. Morrone explained the importance of teamwork and further expressed, “Alone, we can reach distances, but together, we can go further.”
Continuing her presentation, Ms. Morrone offered Franklin students valuable advice on how to navigate their professional journeys. She emphasized the importance of being proactive and having the courage to ask for what one wants. To build a strong foundation for their careers, she encouraged students to attend business events, seek out student programs, and start networking as early as possible. She also stressed the need for hands-on experience, urging students to immerse themselves in the realities of their chosen fields through internships and shadowing opportunities. According to Ms. Morrone, exposure to real-world environments is crucial in preparing for future careers. Her key message was clear: “Be curious and always say yes to opportunities; what opportunities you do not take, you will not do.”
With that, Ms. Morrone introduced one opportunity for students to get real-world experiences– Privilège Student Ventures. This program, created by Fondazione Privilège, helps students to gather knowledge and to feel empowered to expand their knowledge base, starting from a formative age. Exposing students to companies and teaching them the ins and outs of venture capital helps build a strong foundation before they enter the venture capital workforce. Students have the chance to look at startups and learn how to select the right one for investors.
Next in Management is a dynamic program designed for Franklin’s most promising student leaders, offering them a unique opportunity to shape and enhance their academic community. Participants actively engage in a diverse range of activities that prepare them for leadership roles in a globalized world. These activities include designing and managing impactful events, conducting insightful market research, spearheading innovative digital initiatives, and fostering strong connections within the Franklin community and beyond.
Guided by experienced faculty mentors, students in the Next in Management program develop valuable professional skills and make significant contributions to the university’s academic affairs. Through their efforts, they help to create a more vibrant, inclusive, and forward-thinking academic environment, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations at Franklin.
Read more about the achievements of these student leaders and explore how the Next in Management program continues to empower Franklin’s brightest minds to lead with purpose and creativity. Stay tuned to discover upcoming Meet the Manager events as well as the evolution of the Hugo Boss case study.
By Alexandria Fraser and Vitória Gomes Araújo