About us
Made in Italy Community is a non-profit cultural and collective project dedicated to promoting Italian talent, creativity and excellence.
The brainchild of Roberto Santori, entrepreneur and expert in business training and consultancy, the project, launched in 2021, aims to highlight the success stories of Italian companies, highlighting their propensity for innovation and ability to transform an idea into a successful brand, both in Italy and abroad.
Being part of Made in Italy means joining a dynamic network of entrepreneurs and professionals passionate about excellence. Through our community, we offer companies the chance to tell their own stories, inspire other entrepreneurs, and show the world the potential of Made in Italy.
The project is developed through a series of exclusive events, thematic seminars, and collaborations with institutions, creating concrete opportunities for networking and the exchange of ideas between industry leaders. We promote dialogue between the institutions and businesses, spurring shared growth and strengthening the image of Made in Italy in the world.
In 2024, our book ‘Storie di Successo: L’Italia dell’Ingegno e dell’Eccellenza nel Mondo’ was chosen as an institutional gift for the G7 Summit, a tangible sign of our contribution to promoting Italian companies and inspiring new generations.
The Team
A group of experts whose governance and leadership skills guide and support the Made in Italy project.
Roberto Santori
Founder & CEO
Roberto Santori is CEO of Challenge Network, a leading international corporate training company founded in 2000 with offices in Rome, Milan, Madrid and Dubai. An expert in Leadership, Change Management and Business Development, he has worked with Ministries and Institutions to spread the culture of training.
He was President of Unindustria’s Training Section until 2023 and is now on the Board of CICERO Digital Innovation Hub and the Advisory Board of Politecnico di Milano.
He founded the Made in Italy community dedicated to Italian entrepreneurial excellence and edited the book Stories of Success, which was chosen as an institutional gift to the Heads of State attending the G7 in 2024.
Patrizia La Daga
International Network Development
Patrizia La Daga is a journalist, host, and event organizer. With experience in print media and TV, she has lived in Barcelona since the late 1990s and supports Italian companies in the Spanish market. She is also the Ambassador for Spain and Head of International Development for the “Made in Italy Community” project.
Founder of the online magazine ItalianiOvunque.com and the motivational storytelling event Leadership Arena, she develops networking and communication projects working with institutions and businesses.
Giuliana Mancini
Project Development
Giuliana Mancini is a professional with over 20 years of experience in designing and managing institutional events, conventions and training courses.
She has worked with leading organizations such as Fiera Milano and Challenge Network, developing a solid experience in the design and management of institutional and convention events, trend analysis, innovative format design and operational management of complex events, with particular attention to the corporate, management training and Made in Italy sectors.
Valeria Polcino
Network Development Manager
Valeria graduated in Law and qualified as a lawyer, with solid experience in civil, corporate and commercial law, both Italian and international. Parallel to her legal career, she has developed skills as an Executive Coach and Professional Counselor. At Challenge Network she is in charge of developing relationships with speakers and testimonials and she designs training events. She brings her experience to Made in Italy with the aim of developing a network that reflects the value and importance of Italianness.
Ilaria Santori
International Business Development
Ilaria Santori is a professional with solid international experience that she gained over a decade-long career in multinational contexts, especially in the luxury sector. Her decades of experience in the United States, where she served as a Business Unit Manager for the Consumer Goods sector, allowed her to develop a deep knowledge of the American market, develop institutional relationships, and build a network of high-level contacts.
With a degree in Work and Organizations Psychology and a Master’s degree in Marketing and communication, she is currently in charge of International Business Development for the Made in Italy project.
Paola Zegretti
Head of Institutional Relations
Paola Zegretti has over 25 years of experience in institutional relations, business development, consulting and corporate training.
She is currently Head of Institutional Relations at Challenge Network SpA and has held senior roles in private companies, public agencies, and foundations, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Alitalia.
A law graduate, she has strong skills in strategic relationship management, problem solving, and coordination of complex projects, gained in national and international contexts.