Irene Rivolta, Founder & CEO, RIVO&friends

In order to help current students and recent graduates to find their way in the working world, many of our alumni shared their career story. Here the story of Irene Rivolta, Founder & CEO at RIVO&friends in Como (I). USI Degrees: Master in Management, 2014 and Bachelor in Economics, 2012.

How did you start your career?

I started my career in marketing within the beauty and luxury industry, first at L’Oréal and later at Coty and Wella Company, where I worked on international brand development, consumer experience and strategic marketing projects. These experiences gave me a strong corporate and global perspective, while allowing me to develop both creative and managerial skills.

At the same time, I began supporting my family business, Magi Spirits, operating in the beverage industry. We launched one of the first craft gin projects connected to the Lake Como territory, at a time when the Italian craft spirits scene was still emerging. Working on the development and positioning of the brand gave me my first real entrepreneurial experience and strengthened my passion for storytelling, hospitality and local culture.

This journey eventually led me to found RIVO&friends, a boutique experience company focused on creating highly tailored and authentic experiences around Lake Como, combining my background in global marketing with a strong connection to the territory where I grew up.

Why did you found RIVO&friends?

After several years working in international corporate environments as a marketing manager, I decided to leave my corporate career to found my own entrepreneurial venture, RIVO&friends. It was not an “escape” from corporate life, those years taught me an incredible amount about strategy, creativity, leadership and working in international environments. But at a certain point, I felt the need to build something that truly reflected my values and my personal vision. I wanted to create a project with meaning: something connected to the territory where I was born and raised, Lake Como and capable of creating genuine emotional connections between people, places and local culture.

Therefore I founded RIVO&friends with my brother and I'm totally dedicated to this project. Today, what inspires me most is creating experiences that feel authentic and memorable, while also supporting local artisans, producers and communities.

Looking back, I think one of the most important things I learned is that careers do not always have to follow a linear path. Sometimes the experiences that shape you the most come from having the courage to build something that genuinely feels like your own.

What is your current role/duties?

As an entrepreneur, my role today is extremely multifaceted, which is probably one of the most stimulating aspects of building my own company :)

At RIVO&friends, I am involved in almost every part of the business: from business development and client relationships to creative concept design, sales, supplier partnerships and event operations. Depending on the day, I can move from designing a tailored experience for an international client to coordinating logistics on-site, managing local collaborators or working on financial and accounting activities.

What I enjoy most is the diversity of the role and the possibility of combining strategic thinking with very hands-on execution. Entrepreneurship taught me to be adaptable, curious and comfortable stepping outside of my comfort zone constantly.

In your opinion, what are the qualities necessary for a successful career at RIVO&friends?

In my opinion, one of the most important qualities for building a successful career in entrepreneurship is resilience. Things rarely go exactly as planned, especially when building something from scratch, so learning how to adapt, stay positive and keep moving forward is essential.

I also believe it is very important to surround yourself with the right people, people who inspire you, challenge you and share similar values. Building meaningful relationships has been one of the most valuable parts of my journey so far (this is why we called our company RIVO&friends ;) ) Flexibility and curiosity are equally important. In a fast-changing environment, being open to learning, evolving and stepping into different roles makes a huge difference.

And finally, courage and a strong willingness to make things happen. Sometimes opportunities come from simply starting, experimenting and not being afraid to take initiative, even when the path is not perfectly clear yet.

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

What meant the most to me during my studies was not only what I learned, but how I learned it. The programme helped me develop an international mindset, adaptability and the ability to work with different people and perspectives.

More than technical knowledge, I believe it helped me build the “muscles” that are essential in any career: curiosity, resilience, critical thinking and the confidence to take initiative. In the end, attitude is everything and that is probably the most valuable thing I took away from the experience.

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

During my time at USI, I learned how to work on multidisciplinary projects, collaborate with people from different backgrounds and present ideas in a clear and effective way.

The strong connection between the university and real business cases was particularly valuable, because it made learning much more practical and dynamic. It also helped me develop a more international perspective, which has been extremely useful throughout my career.

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

My advice would be not to focus too much on finding the “perfect” career path immediately. Very often, opportunities come from experiences you did not initially plan for.

Be curious, say yes to projects, meet people, travel if you can and do not underestimate the value of human relationships. Skills can always be learned, but attitude, energy and the willingness to grow make the real difference.

At the same time, be prepared to work hard and make sacrifices before reaching your goals. Building a meaningful career takes time, patience and consistency. And even when you achieve something important, I believe it is essential to never feel “arrived” there is always something new to learn, discover and aspire to.
Sometimes the most beautiful opportunities come exactly when you stay open to evolving :)