Beatrice Gosio

Undergraduate School and Major: WU Vienna 

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: McKinsey & Company – Consultant 

Fun Fact About Yourself 

I grew up on a farm, and for a while my horse was basically my pet. Some days I would come back from school with my bags still in the car, and the horse would already have its head inside, waiting. Looking back, it’s a small detail, but it definitely made my childhood feel a little different from most. 

What makes Milan such a great place to earn an MBA? 

Milan feels incredibly alive. There’s always something happening, whether it’s cultural events, exhibitions, or simply the rhythm of the city itself. Even outside the classroom, the experience continues. One weekend you’re visiting a museum in Brera, another you’re surrounded by the energy of Fashion Week, and in between you’re discovering neighborhoods, restaurants, and places that quickly start to feel familiar. 

What I also appreciate is how well connected Milan is. You can easily reach other Italian cities or travel across Europe, which adds an extra layer to the international exposure. Living here doesn’t feel like a pause from learning. It feels like an extension of it. 

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of SDA Bocconi’s MBA curriculum and programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? 

Three elements really distinguished SDA Bocconi’s MBA for me. The first was the structure of the concentrations. They allow you to build a clear narrative on top of the MBA, almost like a rebranding. For me, finance was an obvious choice, as I wanted to deepen my knowledge and make that interest visible and credible.

The second was the breadth of exchange opportunities. Very few programs offer such a wide selection of partner universities, and even fewer actively encourage students to take that step. Finally, the Entrepreneurship Project stood out as something genuinely distinctive. The School doesn’t treat entrepreneurship as a side topic, but as a mindset that runs throughout the program, which aligns strongly with my long-term goals. 

What course, club or activity excites you the most at SDA Bocconi? 

I’m currently the President of the Consulting Club and also part of the Healthcare Club board, so I may be slightly biased. One event that stood out for me was “Find Your Path in Healthcare,” which we organized with the Healthcare Club. We invited professionals with very different backgrounds, not just traditional medical profiles, to talk about careers in life sciences. 

What made the event particularly valuable was the small-group format. It allowed for real conversations and one-on-one exchanges with industry experts, which is something I’ve found to be a recurring strength of the Bocconi experience. 

The Bocconi MBA is known for striking a balance between core business knowledge and skills that emphasize vision, judgment, and innovation. What area do you hope to strengthen during your year of business school and why? 

I want to strengthen both dimensions. On the core business side, despite having a master’s degree in international management, I realized through my career that I still had gaps in areas like accounting and finance. The MBA has given me the opportunity to address those gaps in a structured and in-depth way, especially as the courses become more specialized over time. 

On the leadership side, my experience in consulting showed me how critical communication, interpersonal skills, and people management become as you progress. These skills often matter even more than technical expertise, and being part of such a diverse community at Bocconi provides a constant opportunity to develop them. 

What makes you unique in the Class of 2026? 

I think it’s my pragmatism and problem-solving mindset. I moved abroad when I was 18 and have lived in five different countries since then. That experience taught me how to adapt quickly, stay calm in unfamiliar situations, and focus on what really matters. 

Consulting reinforced this approach. Breaking complex problems into manageable pieces and asking the right questions is something I naturally bring into team work. Even when challenges feel overwhelming, I tend to see them as solvable once you approach them methodically. 

The Bocconi MBA is also known for its strong emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship. How does the program’s focus on STEM insights and mindful leadership appeal to you? 

Today, having an innovative and technology-aware mindset is essential in almost every industry, not just in tech. In my consulting experience, many of the projects I worked on were tied to digital transformation, innovation, or technology-driven change. 

What I appreciate about SDA Bocconi is that these themes are embedded into the program. Exposure to topics like AI, innovation strategy, and digital transformation, combined with a strong focus on leadership, reflects the skill set that organizations increasingly look for. For me, this combination represents what modern management really requires. 

When you think of SDA Bocconi, what is the first word that comes to mind? Why? 

Inspiration. That comes from many directions. The guest speakers we host are remarkable, from C-level executives in luxury and industrial companies to leaders working on cutting-edge technologies like nuclear fusion. 

At the same time, the professors bring a level of passion and depth that is genuinely motivating. And finally, inspiration comes from the cohort itself. Being surrounded by people with such diverse and often extraordinary backgrounds pushes me to think bigger and keep raising the bar. 

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far. 

My last promotion at McKinsey stands out as a major milestone. Working in a highly competitive environment like consulting, across multiple industries and geographies, was demanding. Being recognized for my growth after that experience was incredibly rewarding. 

Coming from a small town in Italy, with parents who didn’t have the opportunity to study, being able to work daily with senior executives is something I still approach with a strong sense of pride and gratitude. 

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into SDA Bocconi’s MBA program? 

Show what truly makes you unique. Of course, academic results and professional experience matter, but what really distinguishes SDA Bocconi is the attention given to the individual during the admissions process. You feel seen as a person, not just as a profile. 

My advice would be to focus less on trying to fit a standard MBA mold and more on expressing who you are, what you value, and what you bring to a community. That authenticity is something the admissions team genuinely recognizes and values. 

 

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