BAIAblog

BAIA Mix: Interview with Nicola Farinetti of Eataly

After many successful initiatives, BAIA launches BAIA Mix in Italy, a monthly appointment for the BAIA network of professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators that offers an opportunity to meet in an informal setting and connect and network, Silicon Valley-style.

Enabling the creation and exchange of business relationships in key industrial and commercial sectors are key objectives of BAIA's activity as they help members of the community to meaningfully discuss and share their ideas with professional peers.

BAIA Mix is not only a networking event, but also an opportunity to explore specific business topics and current issues thanks to the contribution of BAIA's guests and speakers. BAIA Mix is able therefore to present great and novel content thanks to new experts and speakers each month.

BAIA Mix events take place every third Tuesday of the month at Eataly. BAIA is honored of this partnership with Eataly, a successful Italian brand in the world and an organization that shares BAIA's value of "taking what's good in a country and promote it."

Nicola Farinetti, CEO of Eataly Roma, after having spent two years in New York to manage the US launch of Eataly, tells us about his experience and about the bridge tea has built between Italy and the US.

Q: How do you manage your days to manage the business in different countries?

A: We opened in New York two years ago. I lived there in the beginning, but now after two years of work, they can go on autonomously. I try to travel to New York every couple of months, but I talk with the store director on the phone. Our manager there is Alex Saper who manages the store in New York City. He takes decisions in full autonomy. I think it is important avoiding to concentrate all the work in one's hands and instead share responsibility, it is important to move forward.

Q: What is your advice to Italian entrepreneurs who would like to go international as you did?

A: When you go in "foreign" country, it is important to find a local partner. Someone who knows the local environment and that is able to teach you how business is done there. You should never make the mistake of assuming you are so good that you can go somewhere and teach in someone else's home. With a local partner everything becomes easier and more exciting.

Q: What are the most important business lessons you learned in the US?

A: I learned a lot. Americans are great at business (fast, courageous,) excellent in developing business. They are not afraid to take risk and invest. They are apt at building a team and give responsibility to people so that they can delegate a lot. At the same time, they place too much value on money. Business is not just about profit. It is something else.

Q: Do you think that "Made in Italy" has a role/meaning in a world of global sourcing of products?

A: We certainly should focus on our natural strengths. Food, fashion, tourism. Not always "Made in Italy" makes sense because it is actually made in Italy. I'd like to see massive investments in local production with the objective of global export, to reach all across the world and create movement that helps also the tourism industry.

Q: What can we still export int the world competitively?

A: The usual things: Food, Culture, Fashion, Design, creativity... A lot of creativity!

Many thanks to Nicola Farinetti on behalf of BAIA for taking the time to share his experience with the BAIA community.

Flavio Notari

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Dopo il successo delle prime iniziative, BAIA propone in Italia il BAIA Mix, un appuntamento mensile in cui BAIA offre al proprio network di professionisti, imprenditori, ricercatori ed innovatori la possibilità di incontrarsi in un ambiente informale e svolgere attività di “open networking” in stile Silicon Valley.

La creazione e lo scambio di relazioni nei principali settori commerciali ed imprenditoriali sono pilasti dell’attività di BAIA, e consentono, a chi partecipa alle attività del network, di condividere e discutere le proprie idee con interlocutori di elevato profilo professionale.

BAIA Mix rappresenta non soltanto una opportunità di networking ma anche una occasione di approfondimento su tematiche di interesse e attualità grazie agli interventi di ospiti qualificati. In questo modo il BAIA Mix si arricchisce di esperienze diverse e si caratterizza per la presenza di sempre nuovi interlocutori.

Gli incontri dei BAIA Mix si terranno ogni terzo martedì del mese, presso Eataly. BAIA è particolarmente orgogliosa della sinergia con Eataly, poiché Eataly, come BAIA, condivide il valore di “prendere ciò che di buono si trova in un Paese e propagandarlo”.

Nicola Farinetti, Amministratore delegato di Eataly Roma, dopo aver seguito per due anni lo startup della filiale newyorkese di Eataly ci racconta la sua esperienza ed il “ponte” tra l’Italia e gli Stati Uniti che ha costruito.

Come organizza le sue giornate per gestire il business in diversi paesi?

A New York, abbiamo aperto due anni fa. Sono stato lì nel primo periodo, e ora dopo due anni di lavoro vanno avanti autonomamente. Cerco di andare a New York ogni due mesi ma comunque ci sentiamo con il responsabile del negozio al telefono per dei feedback. Il nostro uomo di fiducia è Alex Saper che si occupa del negozio di New York City. Le sue decisioni le prende in autonomia. Penso che sia importante non accentrare il lavoro nelle mani di una sola persona, ma condividerlo, è importante per andare avanti.

Quali suggerimenti ha per imprenditori Italiani che vogliano fare un simile passo di internazionalizzazione?

Quando si va in un paese “straniero” è importante trovare sempre un partner locale. Che conosca il territorio e ti insegni il business dei paesi ospitanti. Non bisogna mai cadere nell'errore di credere di essere cosi bravi da poter andare ad insegnare a casa degli altri. Con un partner locale è tutto più semplice e più interessante.

Quali sono le cose più importanti che ha imparato sul business negli USA?

Sono tante le cose che ho imparato. Gli americani sono bravissimi a fare businnes (veloci, coraggiosi, ) fortissimi nello sviluppo. Non hanno paura di rischiare ed investire. Abili nel creare team nel responsabilizzare le persone in modo da poter delegare molto. Allo stesso tempo hanno un valore dei soldi troppo alto. Il business non è solo guadagno. Il business e' un altra cosa.

Pensa ancora che il Made in Italy abbia un senso/ruolo in un mondo di sourcing globale?

Certamente dobbiamo insistere sulle nostre vocazioni. Cibo, moda, turismo. Il made in Italy non sempre ha senso perché fatto in Italia. Mi piacerebbe vedere grandissimi investimenti nella produzione locale con l'obbiettivo di una esportazione globale, per coinvolgere tutto il mondo e creare movimento aumentando così anche il turismo.

Cosa possiamo ancora esportare nel mondo in modo competitivo?

Le solite cose: Cibo, Cultura, Moda, Desing, creatività...tanta tanta creatività!

Da parte di BAIA ringrazio Nicola Farinetti per la cortesia e la disponibilità dimostrata nel condividere con il nostro network la sua esperienza.

Flavio Notari

Event Recap: Europe and the US: The Next Four Years

On February 5th, 2013, BAIA held the much awaited Europe & The US: The Next Four Years panel event with Consul Generals in San Francisco Mauro Battocchi (Italy), Priya Guha (Great Britain), Jorge Montealegre (Spain), and Peter Rothen (Germany) and moderated by Dana King, award winning broadcast journalist.

More event photos: http://on.fb.me/UswrGT

With a record attendance of nearly 200 attendees and supporters, the event was a great success, held at the offices of Squire Sanders in downtown San Francisco and sponsored by Sotheby’s International Realty, Squire Sanders, and Bank of the West. The evening was a unique opportunity to meet and get to know the four Consuls with ample time for quality networking and a nice prelude to the panel discussion.

Panel Agrees: EU-US Relations Are Getting Stronger

The lively panel discussion was primarily focused on the economic relations and trade agreements between the European Union and the US in the next coming years. A key highlight from the panel was that the bilateral relations between the EU and US are getting stronger – not weaker – even despite the fact that developing countries, namely BRIC, are also building stronger relations. The panel’s view was unanimous: the EU-US ties in the next years are going to grow and the effects from developing countries should not be looked as subtractive to EU-US bilateral relations. In terms of foreign trade, Germany, the UK, and Italy all rely substantially on the US market both in terms of imports and exports. So much so, that the four Consuls stressed on the importance of establishing a free-trade agreement between the European Union and the US for the future.

For a synopsis, view the evening highlights:

On behalf of BAIA, I’d like to thank Consul Generals Mauro Battocchi, Priya Guha, Jorge Montealegre, and Peter Rothen. Consul General of France, Romain Serman, was unable to attend. A special thanks to Dana King and Grazia Bennett for making this event a success!

 

Sergio Mandrone

 

Additional References:

• View Event Photos
• View Event Video
• Read Consul General Battocchi's blog post & comments
• From the press: Italiani all’estero, l’Europa vista da qui: dibattito tra diplomatici europei della Bay Area - di Serena Perfetto
• BAIA Upcoming Events: http://link.baia-network.org/events

BAIA Dinner: Meet Three Owners of Self-Funded Businesses

The third BAIA Dinner #3: All about Self-Funded Businesses will take place in San Francisco on Tuesday January 22^nd, at 7:00 pm. 

We often hear about large amounts of investment capital that enable a business to take off and become profitable. This is however just one scenario: sometimes entrepreneurs found and grow a business without that kind of investment, but through determination and ingenuity, using only the resources at hand. We will hear from Cristiano Sacchi about how he started and grew Novedge, to become the leading online reseller of software for design professionals. We will hear from Shelley Costantini  about how she followed her passion and grew BellaPelle Skin Studio into a retail space in Union Square and from Cheri Larsh Arellano how she founded the first certified green business in San Francisco, Conscious Creative.

The price to attend the BAIA Dinner #3: All About Self-Funded Businesses is $51.67 per person. This includes the meal, tip and tax and a glass of Prosecco and the wonderful Amarena Italian Restaurant. It doesn’t include other drinks.  And the entire amount can be used towards purchasing or renewing a BAIA Membership at the Individual Level or higher. There are only 6 highly sought-after seats, so send in your request to attend right now!

The Experts: 

• Cristiano Sacchi has always been passionate about science, engineering and technology. In his quest to make complex technology accessible to the largest possible number of people, he co-founded Actify in 1997, followed by Novedge in 2003. At Novedge, he leads a team of dedicated professionals, going to great length to find complex design software products and making them available to design professionals in North America.  Cristiano Sacchi has a Ph.D. in Information Engineering from the Polytechnic of Milan and, when not at work, he can be found skiing, and sailing in the San Francisco Bay Area.

• Shelley Costantini  began beautifying the world one face at a time as a make-up artist in the Washington DC area. After becoming a licensed Cosmetologist and Esthetician, Shelley chose skin care as her focus and developed a cult-like following and clientele that included politicians, actresses and CNN on-air talent. She also diversified her experience, participating in the product development for a cosmetics line. After relocating to San Francisco, Shelley rapidly established a diverse and loyal following. As a result she founded BellaPelle Skin Studio in 2002 and then, topped her achievements in 2004, by launching the BellaPelle Skin Care line of products focusing on anti-aging and acne treatments, incorporating botanically-based and pharmaceutically-purified products. BellaPelle Skin Studio has been acknowledged in Allure, InStyle and Lucky magazine.

• As the founder of Conscious Creative, Cheri Larsh Arellano  primarily serves as its creative director and photographer. After several years as a professional photographer in Miami, she moved to Los Angeles where she attended UCLA for graphic design while working as a freelance designer, mostly on entertainment and corporate design. She has been a graphic designer and a photographer for over a decade, and has worked for and with such companies as Warner Brothers, DreamWorks, Universal, Disney and AT&T. Upon realizing that these corporate markets did not satisfy her soul, the idea for Conscious was born. In 2001, Cheri moved to the Bay Area and started Conscious Creative. Today, she enjoys helping organizations like Marin County Parks, Midpeninsula Open Space, Hosteling International and NeighborWorks America.  She is committed to increasing awareness around sustainable business practices, saving trees and is an avid animal lover. You can view her personal photography website at cherilarsh.com

How do I attend? Send us a request! 

Anybody can request to attend a BAIA Dinner. The price to attend the BAIA Dinner #3: All About Self-Funded Businesses is $51.67 per person.  (And the entire amount can be used towards purchasing or renewing a BAIA Supporting Membership). This strictly covers the cost of the meal, tip and tax. It does NOT include drinks, except a complimentary glass of Prosecco. The dinner will take place in San Francisco on January 22^nd, at Amarena Italian Restaurant. Tickets are non refundable.

If you'd like to request to attend, please send an email to Aurora at ameneghello@baia-network.org  with the subject line "BAIA Dinner #3" answering succinctly to the following 3 questions: 

1. Why do you want to attend this BAIA Dinner?
2. Your Linkedin profile or link to your online bio.
3. Describe yourself in 140 characters.

What Next?

We will process your request and confirm your invitation on a first-come, first-serve basis. Because there are only 6 seats available, make sure to not wait! Participants will be selected with the objective to maximize the mutual learning and mentoring value of BAIA Dinners to all participants. Finally, priority will be given to current BAIA Supporting Members.

Do you have a topic or industry in mind for the next dinner? Let us know, email Aurora Meneghello at ameneghello@baia-network.org with your ideas.

 

Event Recap: Italian Community Services Honors BAIA at 96th Anniversary Dinner

We at BAIA wish to express our deepest appreciation to Italian Community Services (ICS) for honoring our business association at their 96th anniversary dinner on Sunday Nov. 4th at the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. A special thanks to Executive Director Anna Maria Pierini and Elena Angeli for acknowledging how both BAIA and ICS maintain a strong commitment and passion for strengthening the Italian community, “from new immigrants to those who are Italian at heart.”

(Left to right: Matteo Daste,BAIA Co-Founder, Lugi E. Pinotti, ICS President, Romana Bracco, ICS Chairman, Giorgio Ghersi, BAIA Co-Founder)

For the past 7 years, BAIA has strived to establish an active business community of Italian professionals and entrepreneurs in the Bay Area thanks to the gracious goodwill and dedication of co-founders Matteo Daste, Giorgio Ghersi, Michele Ursino, our Board of Directors and Governance, our interns, and all our volunteers. We share this same dedication with ICS. For nearly a century they have improved the lives and welfare of Italians and Italian-Americans through “communication, cooperation, and commitment” as Donald (Don) Parachini, ICS Executive Committee member, said during his anniversary dinner speech. Our association also embraces Don’s 3 Cs.

Communication: Social Media, Networking, and Insights

Today, BAIA has multiple touchpoints, both online and offline, for our community to network and share ideas and opportunities. Through our online community, BAIA Link, the geographical barrier is lifted and anyone in Italy, in the US, and worldwide, can openly contribute. The same is true with BAIAbase, a business directory of Italian companies in the US and American companies in Italy. With close to 1,500 fans on Facebook, 1,000 group members on LinkedIn, and 1,100 followers on Twitter, social media truly allows us to communicate with our community in a matter of seconds and build relationships across borders.

In addition to year-round content-rich events, BAIA Aperitivo, held every first Wednesday of the month at different San Francisco locations, is the place for Italians to network, from Italian-Americans, Italians working in the Bay Area, to Italians visiting for business or pleasure.

Cooperation: The Italian Way

The way in which BAIA operates, both within the Governance and Board of Directors, is such that we strive toward cooperation and decisions are taken collectively, weighed on each member’s area of expertise. BAIA, along with its Italian counterpart BAIA Italy in Rome, cooperates with numerous other business associations, Italian and European, in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Italy to organize events and better serve our community.

Commitment: It’s Not Enough To Rely On Our Culture

As Consul General of Italy in San Francisco, Dr. Battocchi pointed out, it’s “not enough to rely on our culture, we must continue and strive forward.” Both ICS and BAIA know this well.

Since 1916, when it was founded by A.P. Giannini, founder of Bank of America, Marco Fontana of Delmonte Corp., Andrea Sbarbaro of Italian Swiss Colony, and Domingo Ghirardelli of Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory, Italian Community Services has renewed itself throughout generations thanks to the commitment and hard work of its members.

BAIA shares this same commitment. Every two years, our governance elects a new Executive Director. With a new executive director come new projects and a new chapter is written. Giorgio Ghersi, our first Executive Director, took on the challenge to build the foundations of present day BAIA. Following Giorgio, Matteo Fabiano achieved to grow BAIA’s visibility to new heights. In September of 2010, through Elisabetta Ghisini’s leadership, BAIA’s core mission to create an open, professional business network for Italian expats was achieved.

Introducing BAIA’s New Executive Director: Veronica Rosso

For 2012 and beyond, our association has broadened its vision to expand our network beyond the Italian and the Italian American community and include more proactively the local community of American professionals in the Bay Area.

 

With our renewed mission, we at BAIA are very pleased to introduce Veronica Rosso as BAIA’s Executive Director. Please join us in congratulating Veronica! Since 2008, Veronica has shown her commitment to BAIA and, under her leadership, we see a bright future ahead.

 

Through communication, cooperation, and commitment, both BAIA and Italian Community Services maintain a passion for helping and furthering the Italian and American community. In closing, please consider supporting BAIA, a non-profit organization, as we rely completely on the goodwill and support of our volunteers, members, and sponsors, as well as on the generosity of our donors. Your donation goes a long way in helping your Italian community strive.

Feel free to comment or contact us at membership@baia-network.org and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Sergio Mandrone & The BAIA Team

BAIA Dinners: Meet Three Recruiting Pros

The second BAIA Dinner #2: All About Recruiting will take place in San Francisco on Tuesday October 23rd, at 7:00 pm.

Few people realize the complexity of the recruiting ecosystem: who better to share their knowledge on the topic than three veteran recruiters. We'll ask Lou Sarto, Robert LoPresto and Mike Loscavio about the different models of recruiting and their best practices. This dinner will appeal to many people including managers who use recruiters to fill critical positions, executives who are contacted by recruiters in their career progression and other recruiters comparing evolving methodologies. Join us to discuss the complex practice of talent acquisition.

The price to attend the BAIA Dinner #2: All About Recruiting is $53.65 per person. This includes the meal, tip and tax. It doesn’t include drinks. And the entire amount can be used towards purchasing or renewing a BAIA Membership at the Individual Level or higher. Because there are only 6 seats available, make sure to reserve you seat fast! See below.

• Since 1999, Lou Sarto has served as president of Sarto Associates Inc. Prior to founding Sarto Associates, Mr. Sarto joined a prestigious Silicon Valley executive recruiting firm as Partner in 1995. Previous operational roles in high technology include Director of World Wide Marketing for a subsidiary of Pacific Scientific, a $250 million NYSE company whose products included multiple lines of test and measurement instrumentation for semiconductor fabrication. Mr. Sarto also served as Director of Executive Recruitment for NexTag, a web comparison shopping startup which had an $850 M liquidity event in 2007. As an active member of his community, Mr. Sarto has served on the Board of Directors of the Telegraph Hill Dwellers, a prominent San Francisco neighborhood organization as well as Treasurer and subsequently President of the historic Upper Grant Avenue Fall Art Fair, the successor to the oldest outdoor art event in San Francisco. Mr. Sarto holds a Doctorate in Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
• Robert L. LoPresto is Managing Partner of the Retained Executive Search Practice at Duran Human Capital Partners. Duran HCP has been ranked among the top 300 Hispanic owned businesses in the United States. Bob serves clients in a broad range, from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. He has participated in placing over 1,000 senior executives in his 50 years in executive search and corporate human resources management. He was formerly President of the High Technology Practice at Rusher, Loscavio & LoPresto. Bob was a co-founder and past President of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), Silicon Valley Chapter and has been honored with lifetime membership and Board Emeritus. He is also on the Board of Directors of Silicon Valley FACES. He previously served on the boards of the Institute for Research on Women and Gender at Stanford University, the Career Action Center (formerly the Resource Center for Women), the National Consortium for Black Professional Development, and chaired the board for the Committee for Jazz at Stanford University. He has served on the Advisory Board of the Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs. Bob was a founding member of the Employment Management Association (EMA) in 1969 and served on EMA’s Board of Directors and as President. In 2002, he was honored by EMA and SHRM granting him lifetime membership for his leadership roles in both organizations. In 2005, Bob was also granted lifetime membership for his 18 years of leadership in NCHRA. Bob is co-author of the Reference Checking Handbook for SHRM and the Handbook of Human Resources Administration by McGraw-Hill. Bob received his B.A. in Business from Rutgers University and his M.A. in Psychology from Seton Hall University.
• As President at Rusher Loscavio executive search firm, Michael Loscavio conducts searches in the financial services, high technology, venture-backed staffing and nonprofit practice areas. He has participated in placing over 300 senior executives domestically and internationally. Michael has completed searches for chief executive officers, chief operating officers, chief financial officers, vice presidents in most functional areas and board members. Michael co-authored Strategic Board Recruitment: The Not-for-Profit Model, an examination of the changes taking place in board development and a model for board-building for not-for-profit organizations. Prior to joining the firm in 1977, Michael began his search career as a consultant in 1974 with Spencer Stuart in Chicago. In his previous career in the U.S. Navy, Michael served as Commander and aviator. He was a strategic planner and project manager for the National Scientific Advisory Group where he consulted on domestic and foreign nuclear systems. He also served as the United States representative and foreign liaison officer to the United Nations Command in Tokyo where he interfaced with the Japanese Foreign Office and major foreign embassies. Michael has a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from San Diego State and a Master's degree in Management from the University of Nebraska. A faculty member in Golden Gate University's Executive MBA program for over 20 years, he was the program's Director in San Francisco from 1994 to 1998. Michael coordinates and leads the University's EMBA International Study Tours with businesses and government agencies in Europe, Asia and South America.

How do I attend? Send us a request!

Anybody can request to attend a BAIA Dinner. The price to attend the BAIA Dinner #2: All About Recruiting is $53.65 per person (And the entire amount can be used towards purchasing or renewing a BAIA Supporting Membership). This strictly covers the cost of the meal, tip and tax. It does NOT include drinks. The dinner will take place in San Francisco on October 23rd at 7 pm, and the restaurant and exact location will be communicated to participants only.

If you'd like to request to attend, please send an email to Aurora at ameneghello@baia-network.org with the subject line "BAIA Dinner #2" answering succinctly to the following 3 questions:

1. Why do you want to attend this BAIA Dinner?
2. Your Linkedin profile or link to your online bio.
3. Describe yourself in 140 characters.

What Next?

We will process your request and confirm your invitation on a first-come, first-serve basis. Because there are only 6 seats available, make sure to not wait! Participants will be selected with the objective to maximize the mutual learning and mentoring value of BAIA Dinners to all participants. Finally, priority will be given to current BAIA Supporting Members.

Do you have a topic or industry in mind for the next dinner? Let us know, email Aurora Meneghello at ameneghello@baia-network.org with your ideas. 

BAIA Dinner: Meet top industry professionals in an intimate setting

Have you ever wished you could sit down for dinner with an experienced professional in your field, to ask them how things really work? Welcome to BAIA’s new series of events, BAIA Dinners.

While BAIA Aperitivo is a monthly networking event open to all professionals and free to attend, BAIA Dinners is an exclusive way to connect with three top experts in a given field for just six members of the BAIA Community, while dining at one of the great restaurants San Francisco has to offer.

BAIA Dinner #1: Meet Three Advertising Pros

Our first BAIA Dinner: Meet Three Advertising Pros is scheduled to take place in San Francisco, on Tuesday September 18th. We have invited three amazing professionals to be our guides:

• Luca Penati is the Global Managing Director, Technology Practice at Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide where he oversees teams around the world and provides strategy and counsel to global and regional clients such as Intel, LG Electronics and BMC Software. Luca has spent 25 years assisting companies – from Fortune 1000 to start-ups – shape their image, tell their story, build their brand and protect their reputation. He has experience providing counsel in different technology industries, such as enterprise software, hardware, consumer tech, wireless, networking and semiconductor. Additionally, having worked in Europe for 13 years before moving to California in 1998 and being fluent in three languages, Luca brings an international perspective that is critical in today's global market. Luca has been a speaker at several industry events and business schools in three different continents.
• Lydia Kim is the VP, Strategy Director at DDB. Now that's she's been at it a while, Lydia is surprised to find that her current career in advertising is so similar to her last gig as a high school literature teacher. She's lived and worked in the South, Philly, Chicago, and Los Angeles, and worked on brands like Gatorade, Safeway, Visa, Nissan, and recently, her two professional lives dovetailed when she was TBWA’s strategic on Mrs. Obama’s Let’s Move initiative.  She is a well-intentioned if casual practitioner of yoga, loves movies and bento lunches, will try any health fad once. 
• Michael Brady is the VP, Director of Studio Services at Y&R California. He has worked on campaigns for clients such as Google, Lenscrafters, NVIDIA and Ray-Ban among others. He started out in advertising as a production artist in the studio of Goldberg Moser O’Neill, which became Hill Holliday, then joined Butler Shine & Stern as their studio manager before rejoining former colleagues at Chiat\Day in San Francisco to build and manage their studio and put together a formidable group of digital artists. At work he makes lives easier and things look better. He likes to say that he realizes ideas and I fights fires.  Outside of work Michael can be found checking out live music and hanging out with his wife, Kim, and their children, Caoilinn and Oisín.

How do I attend? Send us a request!

Anybody can request to attend a BAIA Dinner. The price to attend the BAIA Dinner #1: Meet Three Advertising Pros is $53.65 per person (And the entire amount can be used towards purchasing or renewing a BAIA Supporting Membership). This strictly covers the to cost of the meal, tip and tax. It does NOT include drinks. The dinner will take place in San Francisco on September 18^th at 7 pm, and the restaurant and exact location will be communicated to participants only.

If you'd like to request to attend, please send an email to Aurora at ameneghello@baia-network.org  with the subject line "BAIA Dinner #1" answering succintly to the following 3 questions: 

1. Why do you want to attend this BAIA Dinner?
2. Your Linkedin profile or link to your online bio.
3. Describe yourself in 140 characters.

What Next?

We will process your request and confirm your invitation on a first-come, first-serve basis. Because there are only 6 seats available, make sure to not wait! Participants will be selected with the objective to maximize the mutual learning and mentoring value of BAIA Dinners to all participants. Finally, priority will be given to current BAIA Supporting Members.

 

Do you have a topic or industry in mind for the next dinner? Let us know, email Aurora Meneghello at ameneghello@baia-network.org with your ideas.

 

BAIA Open: another opportunity to meet BAIA

Curious about BAIA? Visiting San Francisco? Want to talk with BAIA volunteers and board members? 

It is that time of the year and we know that many visitors from Italy take advantage of their vacation time to visit San Francisco and maybe learn more about BAIA. BAIA has already several occasions for anyone to come in contact with the BAIA Community, especially through our events, but to make it even easier for folks to connect with BAIA and learn more about its organization we have decided to launch BAIA Open. 

BAIA Open is a monthly appointment during which BAIA governance members are on hand at the BAIA office to meet those of you who are interested in learning more and meeting the people behind BAIA.

What to expect:

• Our first BAIA Open will take place on July 16, 2012 from 5 to 7 pm. 
• Due to the large number of visitors expected in August, we will hold two BAIA Open slots in August, on August 6 and August 20, 2012. 
• BAIA Open appointment details will be posted on the BAIA event calendar going forward.
• There is no agenda, no speaker, no event; just questions and conversation.   

Where is BAIA Open:

• The first BAIA Open on July 16 will take place at the Hatchery, 625 2nd Street 2nd floor, San Francisco in the Rebel Base meeting room. 

What you should do: 

• If you plan on visiting, we ask you to RSVP on the specific BAIA Open event page on BAIA Link and let us know at least 48 hours in advance by email at info@baia-network.org

Look forward to meeting you in person.

The BAIA Governance team 

Event Recap: A Talk on Digital Privacy

Last Thursday, BAIA held one of its most engaging panel discussions with guest speakers Alessandro Acquisti, Andrea Vaccari, and David Cooke. At the Palo Alto office of Squire Sanders law firm, the evening’s topic on digital privacy was elegantly presented and moderated by Mary Trigiani, a corporate marketing consultant and a close friend of BAIA.

Thanks to the vast expertise and unique perspectives from the speakers, the audience was able to leave with an enhanced view of the online privacy debate and how online privacy is interconnected with technology, economics, and to our own perception.

(Left to Right: Mary Trigiani, Alessandro Acquisti, Andrea Vaccari, David Cooke. Photo courtesy of Aurora Meneghello Productions.)

The Greater Good in Data Collection

As Prof. Acquisti pointed out, “data accrues over time in a database just as capital accrues over time.” As we collect more data, the quality of the data also improves. On the surface of the issue, data collection has always been seen as negative, limiting, and intrusive to our daily lives. In reality, as Mr. Cooke told us, both marketers and consumers can benefit from data collection. The more marketers know about the consumer, the greater the consumer experience, the greater the service, value, and interaction. We have all experienced this and there are spectacular examples on how effective this approach can be. One incredible story is how Target, through customer analytics technology, was able to figure out that a young teenager was pregnant before her father knew.

In addition, as Mr. Vaccari explained, people leave “digital footprints,” data that is collected and left behind. This data can be very useful for developing smarter cities, roads, and can be used to evaluate the mobility of individuals. For example, Mr. Vaccari at MIT took part in The Obama – One People project which mapped out the movements of people during the 2009 Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C.

The underlying issue of data collection and privacy is that most of what is technically feasible has not been legislated or regulated. It is therefore left at the discretion of companies to self-regulate and, as Mr. Cooke believes, “companies have an ethical responsibility” to decide how to best manage and protect the data of consumers, businesses, and individuals.

The Brave New World is Profitable. Big Brother is Not!

In economic terms, a delicate balance exists between privacy protection and profit. The reason marketers self-regulate and set privacy boundaries is because they fear of the negative effects of consumer backlash. As the speakers suggested, these privacy boundaries are in part due to our society’s norms and, as a society further develops, certain privacy boundaries of now may become mainstream in the future. In analogy, a conformist, homogeneous society depicted in the Brave New World is a perfect example of how profit would rule over privacy. In contrast, today’s society strives for privacy over profit and Big Brother is a current example of the need for privacy boundaries. As Ms. Trigiani points out, “it is an accomplishment in itself that we are having this conversation on digital privacy.”

Perceptions of Privacy

The way in which we perceive privacy is also very important. Is privacy a commodity or a right? The answer may be both, that is why privacy protection triggers just as much heated debate as the health care debate. Moreover, how privacy is perceived depends largely on our subjective preferences, on our societal constructs, and on our generational values. In sum, the universal truth lies in the fact that we must individually and collectively decide how to balance our online presence and digital presence with our real life.

 

A special thanks to Mary Trigiani, to our guest speakers Alessandro Acquisti, Andrea Vaccari, David Cooke, and to Squire Sanders for a truly great event location in Palo Alto, CA.

Sergio Mandrone

Additional References:

• Event video
• Event photos
• Mary Trigiani, Corporate Marketing Consultant at Spada, Inc
• Alessandro Acquisti, Associate Professor of Information Systems and Public Policy at the Heinz College, Carnegie Mellon University, and Member of Carnegie Mellon CyLab
• Andrea Vaccari, CEO of Glancee (News: Glancee was recently acquired by Facebook)
• David Cooke, Vice President, Analytics at First Rain
• BAIA Upcoming Events

Event Recap: International Relocation, Banking Tools and Practical Suggestions

Last Thursday, BAIA, in collaboration with Bank of the West, BNP Paribas Group, brought together a panel of experts to address common questions on personal finance, real estate, taxes, and immigration law that many European residents face when moving to the US.

With guest speakers Elizabeth Shwiff, Randy Delima, Grazia Bennett, James Mayock, and Karen Mayfield, and moderated by Thierry Gabadou, Head of International Clientele at Bank of the West, the event was a big success with more than 100 attendees, all of whom got to try authentic gelato bites from Bacetti, our event’s in-kind sponsor (photo: guest speakers and moderator in order of left to right).

Photo courtesy of Aurora Meneghello Productions

For our international audience in Europe, we have chosen to report on a few select questions and answers which provide a general overview and practical advice on the first steps of the international relocation process to the US.

What’s the best way to transfer funds from Europe to the US?

For this question most of us know the simple, straightforward answer: to send an international wire transfer in US Dollars from a European bank account to a newly opened US account. As Randy Delima, AVP and FX Advisor at Bank of the West, pointed out, a more efficient way of transferring funds is to open a Euro account at a US bank. This means that the currency denomination will remain in Euros and the advantage is that you can decide when to convert Euros into US Dollars.

How do I establish a credit history in the US?

In the US, every time you ask for a loan, be it a bank loan, car loan, or mortgage, the lender will ask you for your credit history and more specifically your FICO score. As Karen Mayfield, SVP and National Sales Manager at Bank of the West, advised us, nowadays lenders and banks have established different methods to establish the credit worthiness of foreign residents who have no prior credit history in the US. In most cases, the bank will ask to see your monthly expenses and evaluate if you pay your bills regularly and on time. As Ms. Mayfield informed us, the best practical advice before leaving Europe is to ask your bank for a letter of credit in English that you can later show to a bank/lender in the US.

How do I choose a realtor and decide when to buy a home in the US?

According to Grazia Bennett, Realtor at Sotheby’s International Realty, the real estate market in San Francisco improved for 2011 and the market accelerated in Q1 2012, soon to become a seller’s market. For a European resident moving to the US, Ms. Bennett advised us that the best solution is to rent since it takes time to assess the “when, where, and why” questions of buying real estate. As Ms. Bennett explained, the next step is in choosing a real estate broker, who should be from a reputable agency, is someone you can trust, is compatible with your communication style, and is willing to do the work for you and go beyond the standard MLS listings.

What’s the difference between a non-immigrant resident and a tax resident?

Yes, there is a difference! The USCIS and the IRS have different definitions for ‘resident.’ In simple terms, for tax purposes one can become a tax resident and still be considered a nonresident in terms of immigration status. On the matter, a follow-up conversation with Elizabeth Shwiff, Managing Partner at Shwiff, Levy & Polo, and with James Mayock, Managing Partner at Elliot & Mayock, is recommended since both taxes and immigration law require specific depth of knowledge. For more information, check out this IRS webpage.

How long does the green card process take?

According to the USCIS, “the steps to becoming a Green Card holder (permanent resident) vary by category and depend on whether you currently live inside or outside the United States.” As Mr. Mayock informed us, the average wait for a European with an undergraduate degree who applies through employment is about 10 years. To put this in perspective and with all else constant, for an Indian resident the process would take an average of 70 years, and for a Chinese resident more than 80 years. However, this is only a narrow example with given inputs. The wait time can be reduced, for example, by obtaining a Master’s degree.

For more information, check out this USCIS webpage.

Moving from Europe to the US has its added complexities. We, therefore, have to make well thought-out decisions and plan accordingly. A special thanks to our speakers and to Bank of the West for organizing this event with us.

If you have any additional questions on this topic, write us a tweet on Twitter at @baianetwork or add a discussion on BAIA Link.

Sergio Mandrone

Links and Resources:

• Official Event Photos on Facebook
• BAIA Upcoming Events
• Bank of the West, BNP Paribas Group Website

Italian Consulate in San Francisco launches Business Event Contest

We are pleased today to host a special guest writer: Mr. Stefano Mancini, Commercial Attaché of the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco.

Dear fellow Italians and American friends,

I have recently been appointed as the new Commercial Attaché in San Francisco, with responsibility for an area of primary importance for the US economy and the business relationships between Italy and the USA.

I am committed to help, in my role, the Italian business community in my jurisdiction. I would be happy to welcome event proposals from the scientific and business associations that traditionally cooperate with the Consulate. I would also be happy to consider advertising messages of Italian companies and events within our district. More specifically, I would like to take this opportunity to inform you about our latest initiative: Business Event Contest.

Beginning in February 2012, the General Consulate of Italy will launch a new initiative. The Italian companies and professionals that operate within its district will be able to send proposals of economic-commercial-related events (as well as scientific events with a business component) to be held at the Consulate to the email address of the Commercial department, commerciale.sanfrancisco@esteri.it).  The General Consulate will select the best proposal and will host the event at its office at no charge, cooperating in order to achieve the success of the initiative. (Please note that insurance expenses, as well as cleaning and possible catering expenses are borne by the proposer).

We also have launched a commercial newsletter of the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco. If you are interested in being added to the list of recipients please send a request via email to commerciale.sanfrancisco@esteri.it.

Thank you for your support and look forward to working with you.

Stefano Mancini
Commercial Attaché
Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco