In celebration of Italian Heritage Month, Fellows of Politecnico di Milano US (FPM US) recently hosted a series of events and activities in the United States. This nonprofit organization, with a focus on supporting and promoting the vision of Politecnico di Milano, marked its mission for the first time, showcasing its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as nurturing future generations.
FPM US, with a network of over 2000 alumni across the United States, is dedicated to fostering cultural alliances and industry partnerships between Italy and the U.S. The organization’s mission centers around expanding its presence in North America, leveraging its brand, educational platform, and creativity, while also promoting a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
One of the highlights of these celebrations was a private launch experience at the House of Sound, a luxurious showroom townhouse located in New York. The event took place on October 26th and was in partnership with House of Sound, known for hosting McIntosh and Sonus Faber, which had its grand opening on September 21st. The evening featured a lineup of guests, including Consul General Fabrizio di Michele, FPM US President Mauro Porcini (Head designer at PepsiCo), and FPM US VP Patrizio Sbaragli. Additionally, a preview of FPM US’s 2024 Talk series was presented, dedicated to the excellences in design, architecture, and engineering.
The evening’s experience included conversations about the future of listening, led by Federico Foli, Stefano Fontana, Roberto Baldi of Beat Identity, along with David Mascioni, McIntosh Group Global Marketing Director, Sam Ward, Lincoln Center Audio Engineer, and Fabrizio Sotti, International Music Producer.
The day after, the FPM US “World of Excellence” 2023 Gala took place at the iconic venue of the first Bank of New York, which was founded by Alexander Hamilton in 1784, located at 48 Wall Street. One of the key moments of the dinner, prepared by Lucciola’s chef Michele Casadei Massari who was also awarded as an FPM Ambassador, was the participation of Politecnico di Milano Chancellor Donatella Sciuto, who opened the event. Sciuto is the first woman President of Politecnico di Milano, and she shared her thoughts on the institution’s rich history and its commitment to technology, creativity, and innovation. She also introduced one of the primary projects that FPM US’s 2023 fundraising efforts supported: Girls@Polimi, a scholarship program aimed at encouraging women to pursue careers in STEM fields.
In her own words, Donatella Sciuto highlighted, “Politecnico di Milano is the thrill of discovery, the wonder of accomplishment, the ability to look into the future.” She emphasized the university’s impressive track record and international ranking, making it a global leader in design, architecture, and engineering.
The gala also featured a video conference interview with Horacio Pagani, the owner and founder of Pagani Automobili, conducted by FPM US President Mauro Porcini. The event allowed for an insightful conversation about innovation and excellence in the automotive industry.
Other distinguished speakers included Andrea Sianesi, President of Fondazione Politecnico, Enrico Zio, President of Alumni Politecnico di Milano, and Annalisa Conti, President of Alumni Politecnico di Milano NA and FPM US VP. They all shared insights into various projects and missions related to Politecnico di Milano and FPM US in the United States.
The gala also marked the honor of FPM US’s first 2023-2024 Ambassadors, including figures like Fabio Novembre, Horacio Pagani, Lisa Ackerman, Beth Paretta, Carlo Ratti, Giuseppe Cataldo, Luca Borsa, Heather B, and Paolo Sacchetto. These ambassadors play a vital role in supporting FPM US’s fundraising efforts in 2023-2024, contributing to fostering a culture of innovation and excellence that paves the way for the next 160 years of progress.
During the gala, FPM US launched an online silent auction and presented several projects and missions included in its 2023 fundraising campaign. These projects include Girls@Polimi, aiming to support women in STEM, 1000MAD, an engineering-design project by Polimi focused on self-driving cars, and trainee programs designed to facilitate the integration of Polimi excellence into the U.S. market.
Columbus Citizen Foundation, a key partner of FPM US, also played a significant role in these efforts. Lisa Ackerman, CCF Executive Director, was named one of FPM US’s 2023-2024 Ambassadors, recognizing her commitment to raising funds for scholarships and supporting programs like FPM US’s Girls@Polimi scholarships, which promote women in STEM.
