ESE Turns Purple: Leadership, Dreams and Sport with Fiorentina Women

What can a top international business school learn from professional football? At the European School of Economics Florence, the answer is: everything. From discipline and teamwork to handling pressure and the power of a single vision, the world of sport is a living classroom for leadership.

ESE proudly turned purple as our Florence campus welcomed two stars from Fiorentina Women – Serie A: goalkeeper Cecilie Fiskerstrand and defender Emilia Woldvik, for the special event, “Inside the World of Fiorentina – Marketing, Leadership and Women’s Football.”

Organised in collaboration with ACF Fiorentina, the event was masterfully presented by ESE’s own students: Santiago Romero (from our MBA programme) and Julie Lokken (from the BSc in Global Political Science). This was not a typical lecture; it was a unique opportunity, offered by our private university, for students to meet professional athletes and engage them directly on the topics that define the ESE philosophy: determination, resilience, and the value of women’s leadership in a competitive arena.

During the discussion, the two Norwegian players shared their personal and professional journeys in Italy. A particularly meaningful moment was the discussion on balancing education and sport. Both players emphasised how essential it is to combine learning with passion, and how the support of educational institutions can make a real difference in the life of a student-athlete—a belief that sits at the very heart of the ESE model.

Following the players, Sarah Conigliaro, Senior Marketing Specialist at ACF Fiorentina, led a masterclass on the business of sport. She explored the investment strategies and communication tactics that are crucial for developing women’s football, explaining, “At the heart of everything is always the audience: when interest grows, sponsors, broadcasters, and investments follow — it’s a virtuous circle.”

The event concluded with the donation of a personalised Fiorentina Women jersey to ESE—a symbol of a powerful partnership that bridges the gap between professional sport, world-class education, and shared inspiration right here in Florence.

This was an engaging and inspiring event that perfectly reflects the philosophy of the European School of Economics. As a business school always committed to nurturing leadership, ethics, and personal fulfilment, we believe that every student must have impeccable faith in their dreams. With determination, commitment, and vision, anything is possible.

“The only key to success is the impeccable faith in your dreams.”
— Elio D’Anna, President and Founder of the European School ofEconomics