Executive Master in Sport Management

Carlo Alessandri is a professional with over 15 years of experience in the sports, entertainment, and communication sectors. He currently lectures at the Rome Business School and is a subject matter expert in "Governance and finance of sports entities and companies" at Link University. He is also the president of CMA – Creative Management Association, an organization active in consulting and training in the sports and cultural fields. He has held managerial roles in film distribution, including Commercial Director at Microcinema SpA and Distribution Director for Altrestorie Srl. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of AIC – Italian Football Players' Association and of the Technical Committee of Federesports. A graduate in Forms and Techniques of Spectacle from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, he completed a Sport Management program at LUISS Business School. He has published articles on audiovisual and theatrical archives, combining academic and operational expertise in the world of sport and media.

Edoardo Busala has over 20 years of experience in the sports and institutional sectors. He currently serves as Head of Management and Control at Lega Nazionale Professionisti B and represents affiliated clubs on the Executive Board of the FIGC's Paralympic and Experimental Football Division. A graduate in Sociology from Sapienza University of Rome, he earned a Master's in Sports Mediation from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and specialized in Work and Organization at the Pontificia Università Gregoriana. He has taught at various institutions, including the Business School of Il Sole 24 Ore. His career includes managerial roles in football clubs (A.C. ChievoVerona, Portogruaro Calcio) and in organizing bodies for international sports events. He has coordinated complex national projects and collaborated with leading institutions and companies in the sector. He is the author of several publications on the relationship between sociology and sport and has received accolades for his contribution to the promotion of sport.

Fabio Santoro has over 25 years of experience in the sports sector, with a significant portion in executive positions. He is currently the Managing Director of Lega Pro (Serie C) and a lecturer at various institutions. A graduate in Managerial Economics from LUISS Guido Carli and with a postgraduate specialization in Sport from the University of the Republic of San Marino, he has accumulated over 15 years of academic teaching experience. He has held top-level roles at FIGC, Lega Serie A, and Lega Calcio, leading teams of up to 50 professionals in strategic areas such as media rights, marketing, and commercial planning. He has worked as a consultant in the sport business sector, collaborating with national and international organizations. He is considered an expert in audiovisual rights management and in managing development strategies for sports entities.

Fabio Verga is a senior executive and lecturer with over 35 years of professional experience in the industrial production, logistics, and sports infrastructure sectors. He has solid expertise in sales, business development, and operational strategy. He currently serves as Commercial Director at Gotaway S.r.l. and teaches in second-level university Master's programs in the sports field at institutions such as Politecnico di Milano, MasterSport Institute, Rome Business School, and the Business School of Il Sole 24 Ore. He holds a degree in Law from the University of Milan and has more than 13 years of teaching experience at the university level, with a focus on the commercial dynamics of sports facilities, event logistics, and infrastructure management. Throughout his career, he has held executive positions in companies such as Adecco Italia, W Group, and Best Union Company, where he was responsible for national commercial strategies, international development in the Middle East, and governance activities as a board member. Previously, he served as Deputy Commercial Director of San Siro Stadium and Marketing Manager at FC Internazionale Milano.

Federico Smanio has over 25 years of professional experience spanning sports, innovation, and entrepreneurship. He is currently the CEO of Wylab and Program Director of the WeSportUp accelerator, as well as a lecturer at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore within the Master's program in Sports Communication. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Bologna and completed further specializations in Digital & Mobile Marketing and Unconventional Marketing at MIP Politecnico di Milano. Since 2018, he has been active in university education, focusing on sports marketing, digital transformation, and innovative business models. He held key positions at Lega Serie B, serving as Head of Digital and Marketing Manager, where he contributed to the league’s digital transformation and commercial growth. He also collaborates with FIFA and international startups, actively promoting open innovation in the sports sector.

Geo Ceccarelli has over 25 years of professional experience in marketing, communication, and digital innovation. He currently teaches Strategy and Planning at NABA – Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti and previously taught at Talent Garden Innovation School. He holds a degree in Communication from IED – Istituto Europeo di Design. Throughout his career, he has held executive roles at leading agencies such as TBWA, Leo Burnett, and McCann Erickson, and is currently Chief Information Officer at Marimo, where he focuses on artificial intelligence integration and digital transformation. He has collaborated with global brands including Adidas, McDonald’s, Mercedes-Benz, PlayStation, and Disney+. As a strategic advisor, he contributed to the development of Ailyn, an AI platform based on the concept of man-chine learning. His work has received international recognition, with awards such as Cannes Lions, ADCI, and Effie Awards. Author of numerous publications, he actively explores the intersection of creativity, data, and new technologies.

Marcel Vulpis is a professional journalist and lecturer with over 30 years of experience in sports economics and communication. He currently lectures at the Universities of Perugia, IULM, Tor Vergata, and Rome Business School, and is a member of the Strategic Advisory Board of the Academy of Sport Management at Pegaso University. A graduate in Political Science from LUISS Guido Carli, he has accumulated over 15 years of academic experience. Founder and CEO of Sporteconomy.it, he has held managerial roles in international projects such as the FIFA Fan Fest and the Olympic Games. He has collaborated with organizations like FIGC, CONI, FIFA, and UEFA, and was a member of the Ethics Commission of the Ukrainian Federation. Author of two books on sports economics, he has participated in hundreds of media appearances on Sky, Rai, Bloomberg, and La7. He is recognized as one of Italy's leading voices on sport business.

Marco Gessini is an international development professional with over 15 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, program management, and humanitarian action across Europe, Latin America, and Africa. He currently serves as Country Director. He holds both a Bachelor's and a Master’s Degree in Political Science and International Relations from Roma Tre University and earned a Master’s in Conflict, Security and Development from King’s College London. He also completed the Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and received specialized training in international election observation. Throughout his career, he has led major projects for institutions such as ActionAid, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the European Union, with a strong focus on social inclusion, arms control, and electoral integrity. He has designed and managed initiatives for global events such as the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and has carried out diplomatic and consulting assignments in Uruguay and Kosovo. An active contributor to the academic field, he has published studies on humanitarian response, armed conflict, and civic education, and has participated in international panels on development cooperation and governance.

With over 18 years of professional experience, he has held academic roles across Italy and internationally, including appointments in the United States, Colombia, France, and China. He holds an LL.M. in International Cooperation Against Transnational Financial Organized Crime (Università degli Studi di Teramo), an M.A. in Economic Security, Geopolitics and Intelligence (SIOI), and a B.A. and M.A. in Political Science and International Relations from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. His general expertise is in geopolitics, diplomacy, and international organizations. He worked for the National School of Administration – Presidency of the Council of Ministers, and in 2022 he received a letter of commendation for his service at the SNA.​ He has collaborated with leading institutions (UNODC, UNICRI, MAOC-N e OCSE), contributing to urban security, anti-counterfeiting, and transnational crime prevention initiatives. Dr. Mancini serves on the scientific board of *The Market: International Journal of Business* (Cyprus Business School) and is a visiting lecturer at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law. He is a published author in fields including international relations, criminology, and geopolitical analysis, with recent works such as *El Gran Juego* (Alta Marea, 2024) and *Arte, moda, geopolitica* (Egea, 2023), “Football and Geopolitics” (Mondo Nuovo, 2021), a book awarded at the 56th CONI Literary Competition. Director of Divulgative Research Center of Rome Business School where his research was recognized in the 2025 Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings. He is also Adjunct Professor and lecturer at several Institutuins, such as Rome City Institute, Unicollege SSML, University of Rome “La Sapienza”. Currently starting a PhD at the Westcliff University.