BOARD MEMBER INTERVIEW

With over 14 years of experience at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, most recently as Executive Director in the Client Service Business and responsible for the institutional business in Italy, Marta brings deep expertise in the Asset Management industry. Her career began at UBS Global Asset Management, laying a strong foundation in financial services. She holds a degree in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Accounting and Financial Management from Bocconi University. From 2022 to 2024, Marta served on the Board of the Sustainable Finance Forum in Italy, a non-profit organization promoting sustainable finance across European markets and a member of Eurosif. In September, she relocated to New York following her husband’s transfer—and quickly developed a deep passion for the city.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote or mantra that you live by?
No, but in my personal and professional life I have constantly sought a balanced approach, so my mantra could be to “seek the golden mean in all things”!

Q: What does philantrophy mean to you, and how does it guide your role on the board and beyond?
To me, philanthropy means having the chance to give back some of the opportunities that I have been given, but also to promote institutions that play a key role in our society, especially around such an important topic as education. One way of giving back for me is promoting Bocconi University abroad and fostering a cultural exchange between Italian and US academic and business communities: it’s a privilege to be able to give my contribution, especially by connecting local corporations with my Alma Mater and the Friends of Bocconi.

Q: What Inspired you to Join the board of Friends of Bocconi and how long have you been a board member?
I joined in February 2025, so I am relatively new to the Board. When I met Mariafrancesca and heard about Friends of Bocconi, their approach seemed very consistent with two topics that are close to my heart, access to education and access to opportunities:
1. First of all I owe a lot to Bocconi University and I have always felt fortunate to have been able to study in such a high caliber institution: in the middle of my University years I was looking for a 3 months internship and the Bocconi Job Gate connected me with UBS, which ended up hiring me, and provided me with a work study opportunity up until my graduation. I graduated during the 2008 financial crisis and I felt lucky to work for a major bank like UBS, with a full time contract and a well-established role, at a time when banks were not hiring anymore: if it wasn’t for the Bocconi Job Gate my career would have probably been very different!
2. During my US experience I had the chance to appreciate the importance of education in shaping a country’s culture and future. The school system and universities, play an crucial role in preparing new generations to face future challenges in a fast-paced world.
So Friends of Bocconi to me means giving back a bit of what I received!

Q: How do you see the organization growing in the next few years?

The USA are at the forefront of philanthropy and charity institutions are heavily relying on contributions by private donors.
Friends of Bocconi is very well structured to take advantage of that, thanks to the great work accomplished so far, and is becoming increasingly visible on the heels of initiatives like the Friends of Bocconi Benefit Gala. The aim is to share ideas and initiatives coming from the US chapter with our counterparts in the European regions, increase connectivity and favor the creation of other fundraising opportunities.