Emma Davis

SDA Bocconi School of Management

Home City and Country: Traverse City, MI, USA (Honolulu, HI, USA)

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Catapult Learning, Program Supervisor

How has studying business in Italy enriched your learning experience? Studying business in Italy has deeply expanded my perspective, both academically and personally. Before the MBA, I had lived my entire life in the United States and never studied abroad. My closest exposure to international diversity came from spending eight years as a high school teacher in Hawaii. It sparked my appreciation for different cultures and viewpoints and ultimately pushed me toward an internationally focused MBA.

That international dimension shows up every day in the classroom. Even in technical subjects like accounting, the focus isn’t limited to U.S. systems: we constantly compare how different countries report, regulate, and approach financial decisions. Working through cases using euros or British pounds may seem like a small detail, but it subtly trains you to think beyond a single-market mindset. It makes the international perspective feel natural and embedded, rather than theoretical.

Beyond academics, the friendships and network are invaluable. I now have close friends from every continent, and that kind of personal and cultural exchange goes far beyond professional networking. It’s something I know I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.

What has been the toughest transition to living in Italy so far? What have you done to overcome this difficulty? The language was (and continues to be) the biggest challenge. I thought I had started learning Italian early enough, but quickly realized I had much further to go. What made the difference was the environment: the school offered language opportunities, and my Italian classmates were incredibly patient and encouraging. They pushed me to speak Italian until I ran out of words—and then helped me bridge the gap. Those small, everyday interactions became meaningful learning moments.

A smaller but surprisingly impactful adjustment was the familiarity of everyday products and systems. Simple things like grocery brands, medicine, or even how customer service works, were suddenly unfamiliar, which added friction to daily life at the beginning. It forced me to slow down, ask questions, and become more resourceful and adaptable. Over time, what felt inconvenient became empowering, as I built confidence navigating a new environment independently and discovered local alternatives I now prefer. It was a reminder that growth often happens in the mundane moments, not just the big transitions.

Another adjustment was adapting to Italian routines, especially around food and schedules. In the U.S., stores are almost always open, and meals often fit around work. In Italy, eating is more structured and deeply social. At first, it felt limiting, but over time I came to appreciate how it forces you to pause, connect, and value rest. The fact that many shops close on Sundays was also an adjustment, but it reflects a cultural respect for work-life balance that I’ve grown to admire.

What school service has been the most helpful in transitioning to living in Italy How has it helped you adapt? The International Student Office played a crucial role in my transition. They organized initial language classes that not only helped me accelerate my Italian, but also facilitated early friendships with classmates. Those early connections made settling in much easier.

They were also incredibly supportive with bureaucracy, which can feel overwhelming in Italy—especially since I was accepted late and moved from Hawaii to Italy within a very short timeframe. Knowing there was a team guiding me through documentation, visas, and administrative steps provided real peace of mind.

Academically, the program and faculty teams are very intentional about building diverse cohorts. Every term, I’ve worked in groups that included Italian students alongside classmates from different countries. That structure naturally creates peer support systems and strong relationships within the class.

What has been the most interesting cultural nuance of people living in Italy? Why has this struck you? One of the most striking aspects of Italian culture is the value placed on rest and social time. Meals are moments for connection, not something to rush through while working. That mindset was new to me, but it’s taught me to slow down and be more present.

There are also the small, unwritten rules—like when it’s acceptable to drink a cappuccino or how meals are structured—that Italians joke about, always in good spirit. Learning these nuances has been both amusing and eye-opening.

More deeply, as I’ve started to learn the language, I’ve noticed how Italian expresses responsibility and action differently from English. The structure of the language itself seems to reflect a different way of viewing life and relationships, and that realization has been one of the most fascinating parts of my experience.

Are you seeking a Visa to work in Italy after graduation? If so, what obstacles have you faced and how did you overcome them? I’m hoping to stay in Italy or elsewhere in the EU after graduation. I’m fortunate to have Irish citizenship through my grandmother, which gives me EU work authorization and removes the need for a visa.

That said, before this was finalized, I spent a lot of time thinking about visas and job market realities. The Career Development Center helped set realistic expectations, especially around how nationality and work authorization affect hiring. My biggest takeaway—and the advice shared among classmates—is the importance of perspective and flexibility.

Everyone talks about the “triple jump” (role, industry, country), but the key is prioritization. You can’t maximize all three at once. Understanding which jump comes first – and thinking in terms of short- and long-term goals – makes navigating these challenges much more manageable.

Beyond that, understanding the role that networking plays is essential. Making connections with people already working in the country you’d like to be in is often what opens doors that formal applications never will. This ranges from learning which companies are realistically open to international hires to getting referrals that help you bypass initial screening barriers. Events organized by our Career Development Center or variety of Clubs provide opportunities for informational conversations with alumni, classmates, and professionals in roles I’m interested in. These involve not just asking for jobs, but understanding the market dynamics and hiring realities firsthand. In many cases, those insights have been far more valuable than any job posting, and they’ve helped me target opportunities more strategically and realistically.

What have you done to make it easier to make friends with people from outside your home country at business school? I made a conscious effort early on to learn everyone’s name. That habit comes from my background in education, where building personal connections is essential. Knowing names and a bit about each person made conversations easier and helped me feel comfortable engaging with anyone in the class.

I also joined activity groups—sports, trips, and hobbies—which created natural points of connection. Being selected as a class fellow further deepened my relationships, as it pushed me to think about inclusion and how the class was feeling overall.

That said, it hasn’t always been easy. Leaving behind established friendships at this stage of life can be isolating. What helped most was being vulnerable—initiating activities like game nights and inviting others into things I love. That openness created a cycle of connection: by doing for others, I found myself receiving the same in return.

What piece of advice would you give to an international student looking to study in an Italian graduate business program? My biggest advice is to know your “why.” Italy meant something personal to me—I wanted to better understand my heritage and immerse myself in a culture that values beauty, history, and connection. Having that deeper motivation makes the experience far more meaningful.

I would also say: take the leap. Living in Italy—not just visiting—allows you to fully absorb the culture, the language, the food, and the pace of life. Take advantage of everything the program and the country offer, from academic experiences to trips like visiting Lamborghini, skiing in the Dolomites, or exploring different regions of Italy.

The combination of culture, travel, learning, and community is hard to beat. It’s a privilege, and one that rewards curiosity, openness, and full participation.

DON’T MISS: 2026 MBAS ABROAD: LIVING & LEARNING ACROSS EUROPE

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