Driven by a zest for discovering new approaches to life through international experience, Michele Manghi has led a globe-spanning career in finance. Now, as Group Credit Underwriting Manager at Allianz Trade in France, he’s leveraging that mobility to work with people around the world — all while earning an MBA.
Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
Growing up in a small town in Italy, I always had a natural interest to explore. During university, this curiosity led me to an internship in Argentina, where I would later briefly live to improve my Spanish. I also ventured to California to take a course at UC San Diego.
After graduating with a business degree, I returned to Italy and worked in insurance and banking. Having accumulated these experiences in finance and insurance, my career took a turning point when I moved to Milan to join Allianz Trade in 2014.
When I was offered a position at Allianz Trade Group in Paris, it seemed like a great opportunity to meet the company’s top management and rise to a new adventure. I was also excited to discover different approaches to life, not only by living in Paris but by working in a team of seven different nationalities. Now, as Group Credit Underwriting Manager, I lead underwriting strategy in the MMEA region (Italy, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Israel, the Middle East and Africa).
How has mobility been important for your career development?
Mobility has been essential in priming me to perform well in a team dynamic. Living abroad teaches you to transcend cultural barriers and listen to other people without bias: you learn to see everything not in black and white, but in a scale of gray – or to find another color.
The ability to be adaptable and receptive is especially crucial in my current role. I find that communicating with people across such a broad variety of countries takes a considerable amount of compromise and sensitivity. Therefore, when proposing a certain strategy, for example, I strive to remain receptive and avoid imposing my worldview while still drawing from my experience.
This give-and-take is part of my daily job and, the way I see it, it’s a process of constantly building upon my perspective. In fact, the discussions I have with individuals from one region often give me insight that help me in my business with clientele from others.
What are your personal goals?
I’m looking forward to continue to grow within Allianz Trade, to extend my network, and to welcome new people and cultures into my life. I’m also in the process of strengthening my skillset with a Masters in Business Administration and Management at the School of Advanced Commercial Studies (HEC) in Paris. While it’s been challenging to balance work with this MBA, it’s allowed me to develop my expertise alongside fascinating people from around the world as well as from different industries.
Do you have any advice for people considering mobility as a factor in their career decisions?
International experience is undoubtedly the best way to grow professionally. It gives you an opportunity to expand your personal and professional network, discover different approaches to life, and open your mind to new ways of thinking.
I think it’s also important to cultivate a willingness to enjoy life while working abroad. For instance, in my spare time I love to test different pizzas in Paris and bring my colleagues to the best pizzerias! Yes, you’ll face challenges working abroad. But my suggestion is to make the best of every situation, step out of your comfort zone, open your mind to new stimuli and challenge your way of thinking without prejudice. You’ll be surprised by how much you can learn from the good things.
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