BOARD MEMBER INTERVIEW

Michael Del Nin was recruited by Salomon Brothers while still studying at Bocconi University and moved to New York to work as an analyst in the firm’s investment banking division. After a couple of years in the media group, he joined New Line Cinema, marking the beginning of his career in the entertainment industry. He then spent several years at Time Warner in various roles before relocating to Prague to serve as Co-CEO of Central European Media Enterprises, a NASDAQ-listed company and one of the largest television broadcasters in the region. Following the sale of the company in 2020, Del Nin returned to New York, where he has spent the past four years as Head of Media Partnerships and Investments at Soros Fund Management..

Q: What is a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?
Working at a film studio in my late twenties and early thirties came with a lot of fun perks — perhaps the best of these was being able to attend the Oscars.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote or mantra that you live by?
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” Attributed to Churchill, it’s a reminder that both triumphs and tragedies are temporary and that what really matters is perseverance

Q: What does philantrophy mean to you, and how does it guide your role on the board and beyond?
Philanthropy is really about a genuine commitment to giving back and making a positive impact on the community and the causes you care about. It’s not just about writing a check; it’s about being actively engaged, lending your time, your voice, and your expertise to foster meaningful change. In terms of my role on the board, it’s about nurturing a culture of giving back to the university that gave us so much. And beyond the board, it’s about inspiring fellow alumni to engage, to mentor, and to contribute in ways that help the next generation of Bocconi
students thrive.

Q: What Inspired you to Join the board of Friends of Bocconi and how long have you been a board member?
My years in Bocconi were some of the happiest of my life and I joined the Friends of Bocconi board to give back to a community that had a significant impact on my personal and professional growth. Serving on the board allows me to help strengthen the connection between alumni, students, and the university, and to contribute to initiatives that support future generations of Bocconi graduates. I believe strongly in Bocconi’s mission of fostering innovation, leadership, and academic excellence. By contributing my professional experience and network, I can help drive forward initiatives that align with these values — from scholarships and research funding to mentorship and the development of a more meaningful engagement between the global alumni community and current students.

Q: How do you see the organization growing in the next few years?
The growing presence of American students on campus offers a real opportunity to grow Friends of Bocconi and the profile of the university in the United States. In future years, I would hope to see an increased focus on global expansion, connecting more alumni and supporters worldwide. Another possibility is deeper engagement with current students, offering more mentorship programs, internships, and collaborative projects. Additionally, there’s the potential for more innovative events and networking opportunities that can bring everyone together and strengthen the community even further.