In May 2025, students from UCL School of Management’s MSc Entrepreneurship programme, along with Programme Director Simon Hulme, headed to Milan for the annual Trek. Throughout their 5-day visit, students visited a number of internationally renowned organisations based in Italy, including The Walt Disney Company and Ferrari, while also developing their understanding of local Italian businesses through visits to LaCimbali, Ykone Milan and Parmigiano Reggiano.
In addition to its reputation for high-end fashion, Milan is also the centre of business in Italy. With more than 51% of the country’s publishing firms based in the city, Milan also finds itself home to a number of the country’s startups, offering an experimental space for organisations in the fields of health, sustainability and social innovation. Culturally, the city offers 90 museums, over 190 art galleries, 107 cinema screens, as well as 60 theatres and concert halls and 11 universities and academies.
Kicking off their Trek, students first headed to the beautiful Lake Como and enjoyed a panoramic walk through the historical Como city centre before heading to a welcome dinner at a local restaurant to enjoy the breath-taking views. For their first visit of the trip, students attended the Walt Disney Company Italia offices alongside Vice President Francesco Magini. Exploring the theme of global brand strategy and market adaptation, students received valuable insights into brand management, content localisation and strategic marketing expansion.
After lunch, the group were introduced to Senior Manager at Deloitte Milan Marco Colandro, who helped students to develop a stronger understanding of the Italian economy as well as the bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and Italy. On Day 3, students enjoyed their first visit to a local Italian firm, receiving an exclusive behind-the-scenes visit to Parmigiano Reggiano Latteria Santo Stefano, a historic dairy cooperative producing Parmigiano Reggiano DOP for more than a century. They explored the cheese-making processes and developed a sound understanding of the company’s business model and the ways in which an artisanal producer competes in a modern market.
In addition to Parmigiano Reggiano, students were delighted to visit family-owned business LaCimbali, a coffee machine producer operating in Italy for more than a century. The visit was joined by several leading figures in the company, including Silvia Ruggiero, Head of Communications, Chiara Caldarola, Sustainability Manager, and Jacobo Bambini, Group Marketing Director. The session provided a unique opportunity for students to witness the ways in which technological advancement and innovation is incorporated into a long-established family-owned business. The group also visited influencer marketing agency Ykone Milan, where they heard from Managing Director Angela Masiero.
Finally, a significant highlight of this year’s MSc Entrepreneurship Trek was a visit to the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, which included a track tour and visit to the panoramic factory. Students explored the rich history of the Prancing Horse through iconic models, interactive exhibits, and Formula 1 memorabilia.
Find out more about UCL School of Management’s MSc Entrepreneurship programme.
