When Erica Macchiavelli began her journey at Macron, she was the only one in the sales department, handling everything. “It was still a growing company, but that’s precisely why I had the opportunity to grow with it,” says Erica, now Country Manager for Italy, also overseeing Greece, Malta, and Cyprus. Her journey coincides with the 23-year partnership between Macron and Bologna FC 1909. “I joined right when the sponsorship with Bologna began, and since then, my curiosity about how far we can go has never changed.”
A constantly evolving role
Today, Erica coordinates the commercial sector for her markets, managing the sales force, store managers, and relationships with high-level clubs and federations. “I’ve always had a commercial mindset. Initially, I handled back-office tasks and international development. We didn’t yet have a network of agents, so I learned on the job, acquiring essential skills.”
Mutual trust and professional growth
“My journey at Macron? Tumultuous and exciting. A great, great experience that has taught me so much professionally while also enriching me on a personal level. At the core of everything, there has always been a strong bond of mutual trust.”
She adds, “I completely feel the trust of the company, and I fully trust the company.”
In any workplace, ideas don’t always align perfectly, but discussion and sharing corporate strategies are crucial to achieving great goals. “I have always blindly trusted the company—where it wants to go, and where it wants to take my professional role. At the same time, I must say I have always felt that my opinions and perspectives were highly valued.”
Teamwork and young talent
“At Macron, we work in unison: everyone has a role, but we all move in the same direction.” Collaboration is essential, and over the years, Erica has refined her management skills. “We are a young company, and we need to pass this mindset on to new hires. It’s a continuous challenge but also a great motivation.”
Growing with the team
For Erica, it’s not just about achieving market goals but also about helping those who work with her grow, making the work increasingly scalable. “Macron is growing rapidly, and developing people is essential.”
This is where the Macron Sales Academy comes in: “If I wanted to continue growing, I had to help those working with me grow. The Sales Academy, now in its second year, is the perfect project: we train young, sports-passionate, motivated individuals with a team spirit. We provide them with comprehensive training to become true sales professionals, equipping them with practical tools and instilling Macron’s values. At the end of the program, they have the opportunity to be hired in our MSH stores across the territory.” Erica hopes this model will soon expand to all markets where Macron operates.
Changes, motivation, and a sense of belonging
Twenty-three years at Macron represent many chapters of a long professional story. Erica has witnessed the company’s growth firsthand:
“When I arrived, the company was still led by its founder, who later chose to entrust its future to a competent and motivated management team. That was a big change. I have always trusted Gianluca Pavanello’s decisions, and the results prove it.”
Such a long career requires strong motivation. “I am naturally loyal: if I feel good in an environment, I don’t feel the need to change. And then there’s the trust the company has always placed in me.”
Alongside loyalty, curiosity is also crucial: “Watching a company and a brand grow from the inside is stimulating. If I could change anything? Maybe getting angry less—it’s possible to work just as well without it. And perhaps exploring new markets to learn about different cultures and people.”
Personal life and career: finding the right balance
“Finding a balance between work and family wasn’t easy, but I managed with flexibility and a sense of responsibility.” Today, her goal is to lead the team and ensure harmonious growth for everyone.
And challenges are never lacking:
“I’ve had movie-like experiences, like spending a night in a car after a flight due to a mix-up with calming drops or discovering a non-existent B&B in Naples’ Spanish Quarters. Traveling alone, especially as a woman, has taught me a lot.”
Macron: energy and positivity
If she had to describe Macron in three words, Erica would choose: “Adventure, energy, positivity.” “It proves that with optimism, perseverance, and a desire to grow, great achievements are possible. A lesson to apply every day, in every aspect of life.”
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