Alex Caselli, Co-Founder, Vision Lab

To help current students and recent graduates navigate the world of work, several USI Alumni shared their career paths and career story. Here the story of Alex Caselli,
Co-Founder of Vision Lab in Milan (I). USI Degree: Master in Informatics, 2020.

How did you start your career?

I have been lucky enough to be part of the double-degree program between USI and University of Milano-Bicocca in 2019/2020. Shortly after my Master's graduation in Informatics, in the middle of the covid pandemic, I started working as a data scientist for a consultancy company based in Milan. My first work experience has been mainly fully remote. I think I can count on my finger the number of times I have been in the office in almost 2 years. During that time, I worked mainly on a data-on-cloud project for one of the larger paytech companies in Europe. Less than one year later, I found myself questioning my future as an employee. Together with three friends, suffering for the same reason, we decided to craft our way out and try another path founding Vision Lab, a full-service digital marketing agency.

Why Vision Lab?

We founded Vision Lab to find a way of working more suitable for ourselves, combining personal interests with our own strengths and expertise developed in our academic, working, and personal experiences.

What is your current role/duties?

My role as a co-founder is to work closely with my co-founders to drive the success and growth of the company, while also taking on specific responsibilities that align with my strengths and expertise such as data, creativity, and tech-related duties. We establish our shared vision for the future; work to develop business plans, coordinate the team and determine the best strategies for growing the company.

In your opinion, what are the qualities necessary for a successful career in Vision Lab?

In order to build a successful career in Vision Lab is required to:

• Identify problems, analyze data, and develop solutions.
• Communicate clearly, actively listen, and convey ideas effectively.
• Continuously look for innovation and learning opportunities.
• Work well with others, contribute to a positive work environment, and support colleagues.
• Be creative and think out of the box.

What positive aspects and qualities meant most to you during the study programme you attended?

To me, the key aspects of my study programme have been the close relationship with professors, made possible due to the small-sized classes, and their expertise; The outstanding number of students from all around the world; The high amount of practice and hands-on exercises which characterize all the courses. Last but not least, the broad number of courses I have been able to pick from, letting me a high customization level of my study programme.

What competences and/or skills acquired in your USI Study Program have been useful/are useful to your professional career?

Mainly, the ability to effectively research, comprehend, and learn new things in order to develop new solutions by combining different skills and knowledge.

What is your advice to USI students entering the job market?

As USI Master's students, we have the luxury of having numerous opportunities available to us. It's okay to not have a clear idea of the career path you want to pursue, but don't let the fear of making the wrong choice hold you back. Remember that there will always be new opportunities to explore and with each experience, you will develop your skills and gain valuable insights that will guide you toward your career goals.