An Interview with Mario Paterlini
“Clear and shared objectives, Teamwork, and commitment in the execution – these are the three essential ingredients for a company that aims to grow to its full potential”, according to Mario Paterlini, CEO of the Sapio Group, an Italian company which works in technical and medicinal gases.
His story is an example of brain drain on the contrary: from France to Italy. Mario Paterlini was born in France from Italian parents. After graduating in engineering, Mario Paterlini matured a 20 years experience between Europe and the United States in an international company, inside which he quickly reached the top. In 2010, the Franco-Italian manager decided to cross the Alps and bet it all on a historical Monza company.
What made Mario Paterlini return to Italy?
I knew that a business experience in Italy would be challenging and exiting. I felt like a kind of pioneer. Four years ago, when I was offered the chance to become CEO of the Group Sapio, I didn’t have to think twice about accepting the proposal. It was as well an opportunity to return to my roots. My grandfather, in fact, left Italy in the early twentieth century to build his life in France.
Is it possible to do business in Italy?
In Italy, it is possible to grow, even if national media continues to assert otherwise, labeling companies that choose to stay here as dead, old or even crazy. We have been able to demonstrate this growth with the Sapio group, a company that gains 95% of its turnover from Italy. It’s possible to grow in any kind of market, but first, you must believe in what you do, be innovative, define clear goals and determine how to implement them, all the while building core competencies. The secret lies in the “execution”, that is pursuing your goals effectively.
What are the strengths of Italian firms for Mario Paterlini? Do you think there are particular point of strength?
I like the Italian entrepreneurship and particularly, I believe in the business model that I like to call “social capitalism”, where profit is the result of doing well and not the only objective to be achieved at every cost. I believe in Italy and in it’s people and that’s why I’ve always wanted and still wish, even with my work with the Sapio group, to give my contribution to bring Italy to its full potential.