Business Maverick

Elena Pallotta’s Journey

Elena’s parents disapproved, wanting her to follow in her father’s footsteps as a lawyer. Disagreement over her destiny drove her to leave home soon after turning 19. “Neither of us got our way; I went to school for civil engineering,” Elena says, “I worked at a bar at the same time. You don’t do this in Italy. Leaving home, bartending, and studying engineering because it’s one of the toughest things you can possibly think of.” Elena began falling out of love with engineering around the same time she had a conversation with the soon-to-be husband of one of her best friends.

Her curiosity was piqued as the man, a consultant at Arthur D. Little, began to paint a captivating picture of his work - diverse projects, interactions with various clients, and an ongoing journey of learning and growth. Interested, Elena inquired further about these intriguing ‘consulting’ firms, and in response, he generously penned down a list of potential employers on a disco napkin, adorning each with a star rating based on his personal preferences. The top-tier firms, such as BCG and McKinsey, received four stars.

Upon graduating, Elena wasted no time in contacting these star-studded organizations. Despite her impressive academic record and full-time work commitments, Elena’s understanding of the corporate recruiting process was minimal. It was an era before email, so she faxed her CV, hoping for an immediate response that never came.

Undeterred, she contacted them, offering to resend her CV, suspecting a technical glitch in the fax transmission. Yet, the silence from the four-star companies remained deafening. Elena then lowered her sights on the three-star firms but met the same result. Elena, however, was not one to be easily defeated. As an engineer seek- ing to transition to another field, she discovered additional options while searching through the Chamber of Commerce for companies working with German clients. So, instead of sending her CV, she picked up the phone and offered to do an internship.

Her unusual approach seemed to strike a chord with the secretary, who transferred her call to a senior partner at one of the world’s biggest consulting firms at the time - Arthur Andersen. Elena’s sheer enthusiasm and motivation were undeniable, leading to an immediate invitation for an interview. Without time to prepare a CV, she hopped on a bicycle and headed straight to the interview. That led to a second, followed by a thrilling call - she was in - without even submitting a CV.

Her initial experiences in business were intense, akin to drinking from a fire hydrant while strapped to a rocket. But, starting as one of the firm’s lowest-rated employees, she rapidly learned and improved. She was rated one of their best by the end of her second or third year. Eager for further growth, she decided to pursue an MBA.

Elena’s time at INSEAD, a globally focused business school, was pivotal. She recalls, “INSEAD, it made me. I became a different person. This is really what shaped me, what made a big difference in my life.” Next, she made it into one of those 4-starred firms on the disco napkin.

“In BCG, we were at the very beginning of our cooperation with the United Nations. And we did quite some exciting and experimental projects with them. But, you know, that was the World Food Program.”

New Frontiers

The World Food Program is a vital entity, stepping in when lives are threatened by hunger due to circumstances such as tsunamis or civil wars. One of the program’s most significant challenges is the urgency in delivering food supplies, as any delay can cost lives. During Elena’s tenure, she was tasked with reducing response time in these emergencies, a project with immense logistical challenges due to the unpredictability of disasters and, often, the crippling of local infrastructure.

Elena’s team devised a model to enhance delivery time, subsequently executing a global rollout. This involved travelling to remote locations, from Uganda to Zambia, for extensive on-ground training.

Initially, the fruits of their labour weren’t apparent, leading Elena to express her frustration and even contemplate leaving the World Food Program. Yet, years later, she learned that her project was hailed as one of the best executed by the organization. This recognition shed light on her professional immaturity, overlooking the complex nuances of initiating change in a large organization.

Pivot

Transitioning to real estate development, Elena worked on luxury developments with brands like Four Seasons and Bulgari. Despite her successful career, she questioned her path and faced a personal crisis. With the help of a coach, she confronted the fact that she had been living a life projected onto her by others’ expectations.

Upon realizing that the corporate path was not what she wanted, Elena was left at a crossroads. Despite not knowing her destination, she yearned for a role that provided direct impact and accountability. With this newfound insight, Elena decided to become an entrepreneur.

Nhu Quynh Tran Digital Media Team

UBC Sauder BCom student hailing from Vietnam who’s developing a specialization in digital marketing. With an intriguing perspective comparing marketing trends between Vietnam and Canada, she is keen on leveraging cross-cultural insights to shape effective digital strategies.

As the geographical border is getter blurred by the rapid development of technology, global knowledge becomes more and more accessible. And one of Horizon Search’s core values is to bring diverse perspectives to our audience through our digital platforms.

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Delivering global insights and sharing inspiring stories from professionals in different disciplines is a journey with many new opportunities to learn and expand. As a business student, Nhu Quynh is excited to apply her knowledge to the development of Horizon Search and our community while learning from the professionals’ stories. As a global citizen, she hopes to be part of Horizon Search’s journey to blur geographical borders and bring international knowledge to the audience.