Article that talks about how the leadership of Italian small and medium-sized enterprises has allowed them to overcome the worst moment of the covid emergency

1. Andrea Mennillo
Leadership and resilience: an example from Italian SMEs
Article
4th
August, 2021
www.andreamennillo.org

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In the last few weeks, we've been experiencing a constant back and forth between
concerns about a pandemic surge and expectations for recovery, supported by
sufficiently positive economic data.
As I had occasion to examine some time ago, the emergency has, at a global level,
brought uncertain reactions and untimely interventions, highlighting the
ineffectiveness of many leadership models, which turned out to be obsolete and
unable to adequately address the changes taking place. However, the excellent
data on Italian exports allow me the opportunity to observe how small and
medium-sized Italian companies have dealt with the situation strategically,
demonstrating very forward-looking leadership. Above all, I was struck by how
they managed to transform the forced production slowdown into crucial time to
reflect and behave, developing actions to be promoted both immediately and in
the future.
Small and medium-sized enterprises, the backbone of our economy and the
banner of "Made in Italy" - always undisputed for excellence and appreciated by
the international market - have taken advantage of this uncertain period with
lucidity and discernment for self-improvement and development, which makes
their attitudes more and more flexible, backed by experience and competence.
Italian leaders have prepared for the impending change by investing in customer
loyalty, communicating their production chain and adopting ethical and
transparent policies aimed at increasingly eco-sustainable growth. They are also
committed to increasing the development of alternative business models that can
adapt to the multiple market fluctuations, promoting technology and
disseminating it internally by profitably using Smart Working. From the
internationalization standpoint, the protection of "Made in Italy" has also moved
in guaranteeing the product's origin and enhancing its geographical origin.
The result of so much effort and forward-looking strategies can be seen in the
Italian export statistics for last April, which recorded important figures.
According to ISTAT1
, on an annual basis, exports to the United States grew by
112.5%, to France by +116.6% and to Spain by 120.8%. It's true that after the
shock of 2020 an economic rebound was foreseeable, but achieving certain results
still necessitates working well, without improvisation and with great
determination.
1 https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/258679

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The captains of Italian enterprise have always done this, constantly seeking to
create and promote their products and services with originality, creativity and
innovation. A legacy that we have from a strong identity 2,500 years old in history
and culture. It is not by chance that a product "Made in Italy" is synonymous with
"beautiful and well made."
Italian companies and the "Italian System" therefore are confirmed as an example
to be emulated: they have always been appreciated in the world for their ability to
maintain good commercial relations also, thanks to a refined and effective quality
of dialog with foreign counterparts.
Europe also believes in the efforts made by Italian SMEs to safeguard their brands
in this period of crisis. In fact, Ecofin has recently given its final approval to Italy's
"National Recovery and Resilience Plan" submitted by the Draghi government,
which will soon produce an initial "injection" of 25 billion euros into our
economy.
I trust that the leadership of Italian entrepreneurs will continue to be an example
of credibility and reliability. Certainly, the intelligent use of its creative and original
talents can direct our SMEs towards a more and more eco-sustainable future, one
more technologically innovative and in continuous relationship with the world.
Andrea Mennillo
Founder and Managing Director, International Development Advisory
Chairman Fordham University London Centre Advisory Board