Francesca Bruna Pipino, Graduate Student in Columbia Business School

Hi, I’m Francesca, originally from a town near Turin, Italy. Welcome to #ISSOstories.

Which Columbia program/department are you in?

I’m a student at Columbia Business School who just completed the MBA program.

Tell us about your research or projects at Columbia.

One of the best parts of CBS is the freedom to take classes across campus. I enrolled in courses at Teachers College on learning disabilities, which inspired an entrepreneurial project aimed at making learning-disability assessments ten times more affordable. Students from Columbia Engineering, Teachers College, and Almaworks have helped move it forward. Exploring other parts of the main campus was an unexpected bonus!

What has been your experience moving to NYC?

I love that you can walk almost everywhere - through Central Park, around Midtown, even to outdoor meetings. Between world-class museums, Broadway shows, and endless activities, the city never stops surprising me. In quieter moments, I write; I’ve published a book and essays on topics from Italian politics to micro-finance. New York’s diversity fuels that creativity. It’s “New York or nowhere,” really.

What do you like about living in the U.S.?

The breadth of career opportunities and the pace of innovation are thrilling. You can literally watch progress happen, and be part of it. The city’s multicultural energy makes it even more inspiring.

What do you know now that you wish you knew before?

I’ve learned that embracing uncertainty is critical for both personal and professional growth. Some of the most meaningful decisions I’ve made, whether taking on new roles in unfamiliar industries or relocating from Europe to the U.S., came with a level of risk and ambiguity. But by staying adaptable and focused on learning, those moves created opportunities I couldn’t have predicted. In fast-moving environments, waiting for perfect clarity often means missing the real opportunity.

Are you (or do you know) an international student, scholar, or alumni?

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