Professor Oldani

4 pm, this afternoon, Davide Oldani has just left the classroom at HEC in Paris, a sort of Bocconi in the Ville Lumière (the best Business school in Europe according to the Financial Times, offering the best Executive Education programme in the world). The chef from Cornaredo illustrated his case-study to the students of the Master of science in strategic management, within the “Strategy in creative sectors” course. During around two hours, he covered topics such as creative talent management, the creation of a successful business model and growth strategies.

The lesson was focused on his concept of Pop Cuisine, the result of the desire to merge essentiality and good work, good flavours and accessibility, innovation and tradition. Students asked the chef lots of questions on his past choices and his future strategies. Another important moment for the chef from D’O, one year and a half ago after the lesson held at Harvard.

«It was really thrilling», he quickly says on the phone, «Twelve years ago, when I opened D’O, I would have never imagined that one day I would hold a lesson in two extremely prestigious classrooms». A golden moment for him, at work with new important projects. Which he reveals in advance: «By October we will open a restaurant in Manila, in the Philippines. We have just signed [the contract], I’m very happy. It will be called Food, with the d written back to front». Besides, even the famous “Ferrari” in Cornaredo is ready, the fine dining restaurant I’ve always dreamt about. «Don’t let me say anything, a few more weeks and you’ll know».