The cycle of six workshops organised by the "Young Entrepreneurs Group' of theUnione Industriale Biellesein cooperation with the Business Awareness Institute (BAInstitute).

The training initiative "Being Young Entrepreneurs... today and tomorrow"was launched in January with the aim of responding to the realisation that both large and small companies, as well as individuals, will face structural changes that will require adequate knowledge and foresight to meet the new demands that will emerge. The working culture will evolve, both in terms of the skills required and in terms of working conditions and modalities. In addition, there will be a further acceleration of technological development and the emergence of new professions. The training course therefore aimed to develop new managerial skills, both cognitive and interpersonal, digital and self-leadership skills.

In particular, the workshops addressed the following topics in collaboration with Pierangelo Pollini e Sofia Crespi:

• transformations in the world of work: the post-pandemic, the great resignationdigital transformation and the interaction between man and machine;
• ways, habits and new values in the process of changing the world of work;
• the Millennials, GenZ and Alpha Gen: who they are, what their aspirations are and what motivates them;
• skills and professions of the future;
• leadership in the Biella region: characteristics, behaviours, values and visions.

The words of Stefano Sanna, GGI President

"Stefano Sanna, president of the Gruppo Giovani Imprenditori dell'Unione Industriale Biellese (Young Entrepreneurs Group of the Industrial Union of Biella), comments: 'There have been many very interesting insights that have emerged from the path that the Young Entrepreneurs have undertaken with BAI in recent months, from the richness of the comparison with other entrepreneurs, to the value of comparing different points of view that start from manufacturing or service realities; from the stimulus to reflect on one's own leadership model, to the overall and analytical reading of the variables that define scenarios. This path is part of the handover I received from Christian Zegna: the elements that emerge will be integrated into the 'Manifesto'. with the priority lines of our Youth Group and will enrich the activities that we will develop for businesses, people, and the territory'.

Comment by Christian Zegna, GGI past president

"This unprecedented training course was an initial experiment that we chose to join,' recalls Christian Zegna, past president of the Gruppo Giovani Imprenditori dell'Unione Industriale Biellese (Young Entrepreneurs Group of Biella Industrial Union). 'The goal we set ourselves and achieved was to be able to read and interpret the new trends taking place in the human resources management and business attractiveness with respect to new talent is a necessity, especially today, after a pandemic period that has accelerated changes already underway and triggered new dynamics in the world of work. We dealt with more than topical issues, highlighting strategic insights, starting from the assumption that people and skills are at the centre of this reflection and that entrepreneurs are the first interpreters of change“.

The views of Pierangelo Pollini and Sofia Crespi

Drawing up the 'balance sheet' of the training cycle is Pierangelo Pollini, founder and managing partner of BAI, an advisory boutique specialising in Business & Human Innovation: a new advisory model that combines neuroscience and cognitive science with the more traditional people development tools and makes the individual able to cope with the managerial and organisational innovation required by next-generation business. 

"The experience we had with the group of young entrepreneurs from Biella was particularly stimulating and rich. The purpose of this project is twofold: on the one hand disseminate and share global market trends with entrepreneurs in terms of work, change of business perspective and workforce behaviour; on the other hand assessing the territorial situation in Biella which is a benchmark for certain sectors and a starting point for new ways of working. At the same time, we wanted to collect points of view, comments and direct observations from the participants with the aim of a sharing that would enrich both the participants and us, who are carrying out a project to educate young people in the world of work, NextGen@Work, in the Biella area thanks to the collaboration with Filo da Tessere, Fondazione Zegna and Fondazione CRB'.

Sofia CrespiBAI partner, ICF member coach, psychotherapist and trainer and lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology of the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, adds: 'We noticed a great desire on the part of these entrepreneurs to promoting the value of the Biellese territorytrying to overcome a certain traditionalist mentality that, despite being fuelled by solid values and principles, requires more flexibility and innovation to open up to global markets. We also observed the desire to update and evolveincreasing digitisation, adapting to Industry 4.0 and devoting great care to training and retaining people in the company. Among the most significant values noted and shared are responsibility, proactivity, networking, cooperation, the desire to put people at the centre, integrity, respect and love for the territory. The evolution of entrepreneurial family traditions towards a more advanced world has become a key theme. From the perspective of human resources, the difficulties being experienced throughout Italy and Europe regarding theattractionto theeducation, to the motivation and the preparation and the training of people'.

A new leadership model

"At the end of this first part of the project we wanted to propose to the participants a leadership model dedicated to the new Biellese entrepreneur - conclude Pollini and Crespi -. This model implies the attention of the leader/entrepreneur to the world around him, a great attention and responsibility to his own company/industry, it requires the leader to consider the effects of his decisions and actions on people and society, as well as on himself as a person, leader and entrepreneur. To do this, fundamental soft skills such as vision, knowledge, creativity, a strong focus on performance and goals, strategies and people, a great sense of community and sharing, attention to the territory, self-awareness, courage, passion and trust are required". 
 

This article originally appeared on the Unione Industriale Biellese website. Click here to read the original.