In the period I was acting as Vice President of Confindustria Alessandria with the delegation of 'Events and cultural activities - Public relations', I was called to Rome, directly appointed by the national President, Emma Marcegaglia, to the Presidency of SFC - Sistemi Formativi Confindustria, the company controlled by Confindustria which oversees the training of the Association System. I approached this experience first with curiosity, then with an increasing level of passion and commitment.

I found an important reality because it was well structured, professional, well managed and organised; but also little known - and therefore little valued and exploited - by the Confindustria system. I tried to place myself in an 'associative' perspective, starting from the grassroots, and to imagine refocusing SFC ‘s activities at the service of the Presidency areas; on the other hand, I tried to address territorial and category Associations, as if they were a large market of users.

To the Areas chaired by the members of Emma Marcegaglia's 'team', Sistemi Formativi immediately offered, with simplicity and willingness, the possibility of effectively conveying the Presidency's strategic lines to the peripheral areas: with road shows, ad hoc meetings, flexible and qualitative tools. On one hand, we focused on business networks and safety in the workplace, as well as helped the School Commission and the Education Committee to talk to high school students, by promoting in the national territory the innovative experience of 'latuaideadimpresa' which started in Alessandria.

At the same time, while observing what was being done in terms of training (a lot - but sometimes in a unbundled way), we developed a modular structure of courses and meetings, called "Altascuola", which could be used by each Association with maximum flexibility, and always with a view to a (contained, and virtuous) investment in "training" of its member entrepreneurs.

Courses for New Presidents (which have been practised for some time) and courses for Young Entrepreneurs (which is a new concept and a strategic priority for the System) and Small Entrepreneurs were flanked, for the first time, by other more specific, 'tailor-made' or sector-specific initiatives. All this was immediately understood and accepted by the national association.

It is a ‘work in progress’, which is still incomplete and needs to be consolidated, but which offers real satisfaction. Confindustria is a wealth of resources and ideas. Contributing to enhance them and spread them repays many sacrifices and probably, in their own small way, makes a contribution to the country.