Daniele Cozza

How did the master help you acquire tools that enabled you to face the everyday challenges in your organisation/industry? 

The SDIT Master fundamentally changed the way I approach innovation. Rather than looking for solutions too quickly, I learned how to reframe problems, challenge assumptions and align different stakeholders around a shared vision.

The combination of Design Thinking, Meaning Innovation and Business Design gave me practical tools that I still use every day in my company, InnoSigna. These tools have been particularly valuable when working in traditional industries such as transportation, logistics and environmental services, where innovation is often constrained by established practices and regulations.

One concrete example is the development of Rifiù first App in Italy, a digital platform for waste management compliance. The methodologies and mindset acquired during the Master enabled me to transform a regulatory obligation into a new business opportunity, helping a traditional environmental consultancy client’s company evolve towards a scalable digital business model.

More than a set of tools, the Master provided me with a new way of thinking: innovation starts when we challenge the meaning of what already exists.

How has the specialising master helped you cultivate your capital of human connections with professionals and companies?

One of the most valuable outcomes of the SDIT Master has been the network of relationships built with professors, professionals and fellow participants coming from different industries and backgrounds.

Beyond individual collaborations, my classmates have remained a continuous source of learning and inspiration. What started as classroom interactions evolved into meaningful professional relationships that continue to influence my entrepreneurial journey today.

A particularly significant example is my collaboration with Roshni, whom I met through the SDIT first edition. Her support and expertise have been instrumental in helping me navigate some of the early challenges faced by InnoSigna and its first clients. Having trusted peers with whom to exchange ideas and explore opportunities has been invaluable.

The broader POLIMI GSoM Alumni ecosystem has been equally important. Through Alumni Clubs and networking initiatives, I have had the opportunity to meet outstanding professionals, and establish valuable connections that would have been difficult to build otherwise.

As founder of InnoSigna, I continue to draw on the relationships established through the Master and the Alumni community, whether to validate strategic directions, exchange insights or create new ventures. In many ways, the SDIT and POLIMI GSoM network remains an active part of my professional life and a catalyst for future innovation initiatives.