Daniela Castegnaro

I graduated in electronic engineering from the Politecnico di Milano; I later earned a master’s in business coaching. I have a long career behind me in sales and management roles at B2B multinationals (Dow Chemical, Dupont, Akzo Nobel), up to Monsanto Italia, where, in addition to the role of Business Director Seed&Traits Southern Europe and Middle East, I also held the role of CEO Italy.

Afterwards, I remained in the agro-tech field: first I was called by the German industrial group SARIA (€3 billion) to manage as CEO an Italian company it had just acquired in the circular economy sector (processing animal proteins as secondary raw materials for pet food). I left the company once the process of efficiency improvement and modernisation of the company was completed. I then managed as General Manager an industrial group in the portfolio of a Private Equity fund, where, in addition to the growth of the top line and of operational efficiency, I handled the acquisition and integration of two add-ons. I now put these experiences of managing more mature companies to use by helping scaleups structure themselves in the process towards exit, at Mamazen, and as an “investment readiness” mentor at TEF Bridge (formerly Polihub).

I am also a mentor and champion of women’s empowerment in the Inspiring Women programme of the French Chamber of Commerce.