After leaving the Italian Navy, Michele Sancricca, director of business transformation at Mediterranean Shipping Company, made the commitment to never stop learning. Four years after earning his MBA, he was ready for another challenge—our General Management Program (GMP). Michele recently spoke with us, where he shared how the program exceeded his (admittedly high) expectations and accelerated his personal and professional growth.
I spent the majority of my career in the Italian Navy, retiring five years ago with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. When I was deployed to Somalia—where I countered piracy and protected merchant vessels—I worked very closely with shipping companies and was instantly drawn to the industry. Ocean transportation is at the core of the global economy, so becoming part of the maritime industry seemed like an interesting opportunity. I first earned an MBA in shipping and logistics from the Middlesex University of London, and then was hired by my current employer.
Education is a pillar of my professional and personal life. I was considering dozens of executive education programs around the world, but GMP stood out for three reasons: Harvard Business School's reputation for unrivaled excellence; the geographical, cultural, and industry-related diversity of attendees; and the value of the Harvard network and prestige of alumni status.
During my first three years at Mediterranean Shipping Company, I worked hard to implement an effective governance structure. As I result, I was able to focus on GMP, knowing that my team was capable of managing our U.S. headquarters during my absence. The key was creating a team dynamic based on the delegation of responsibilities, task ownership, and mutual trust.
The open dialogue, business acumen, and diverse backgrounds of my peers made each interaction a micro learning experience within the overall program. It's not common to get business advice from 140 different executives from top-notch companies. It's almost like a best-in-class consultancy service, brought to you free of charge.
One of the most impactful lessons I learned at HBS is that balancing financial objectives, organizational structure, and control systems is the key to long-term business sustainability. Now, my top priority is to set up a system within my team and company that encourages behaviors that promote business sustainability, no matter how big the project.
Before GMP, I considered myself a well-rounded leader. But the program acted as a catalyst, taking my leadership skillset and self-awareness to a different level. Now I see myself as a transformational leader, able to set and implement a vision on a global scale and shape the future of my company.
I had very high expectations for GMP and HBS, but the program went above and beyond. It was a transformational experience that rewired my brain and changed the way I think about both my professional and personal life. Before GMP, I was looking at the world, my career, and my lifelong goals from the trenches. Now I feel like I'm flying at 30,000 feet, able to see the big picture.
