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Read moreESE Florence continues to strengthen its commitment to experiential learning through meaningful collaborations with leading international brands. A recent example is the masterclass developed in partnership with Il Bisonte, the historic Florentine leather goods brand renowned worldwide for its craftsmanship, timeless design, and sustainable approach to production.
As part of the MBA programme’s E-Business & E-Commerce module, led by Prof. Andrea Secci, students took part in a multi-session project designed to connect academic theory with real-world business challenges.
The collaboration began with an in-depth in-class presentation by Marianna Tomassi, Head of the Digital and Marketing Department at IL BISONTE S.p.A., whom ESE Florence had the pleasure of welcoming to campus. During the session, students gained valuable insights into the brand’s heritage, values, and digital strategy, which laid the foundation for the project work.
The challenge: thinking outside the box
Students were invited to think creatively and strategically by exploring a potential new business opportunity for Il Bisonte. Rather than simply proposing a superficial idea, they were asked to conduct a rigorous assessment to determine whether the concept was realistic, strategically aligned with the brand’s core values, and ultimately worth validating through structured market and financial analysis.
The specific project focused on the idea of launching a premium, artisanal pet accessories line. This allowed students to deeply reflect on how Il Bisonte’s established pillars—craftsmanship, authenticity, ethical sourcing, and sustainability—could be meaningfully extended into an adjacent lifestyle category. The core challenge was ensuring that this expansion remained entirely true to the exclusive and heritage-rich identity of the brand, appealing to the existing customer base while capturing a new, high-end niche market.
From classroom to brand showroom
The project concluded with a final pitch session held at Il Bisonte’s elegant showroom in Palazzo Corsini, Florence, where students presented their comprehensive proposals directly to the brand’s executive team. This immersive, high-stakes experience served as a crucial capstone, marking the definitive transition from theoretical classroom learning to practical, professional practice in the luxury goods sector.
ESE Florence is sincerely grateful to Il Bisonte and Marianna Tomassi for their exceptional openness, invaluable mentorship, and collaborative spirit throughout the masterclass. This impactful initiative fully embodies ESE’s core Learning by Doing philosophy, providing students with the unique opportunity to engage deeply with a real business scenario and develop practical, highly industry-relevant skills that are immediately transferable to their future careers.
Through hands-on, high-profile experiences like this masterclass partnership, ESE Florence steadfastly continues its mission to prepare future professionals not only to think critically, creatively, and strategically but also to thrive and innovate in the constantly evolving and dynamic global business environment.
