Cristina Pinazza, a career in continuous evolution

Yours is a constantly evolving path. Let's start from the beginning...

I graduated in Law in Padua and then continued with a specialization in international law at the University of Trento. After being enrolled in the register of lawyer, I started my career in an important law firm in Milan, dealing with labor law. 

When did you decide to change?

When I felt the need to find a different balance. At the time, I had two children and I was looking for a compromise between work and personal life.

So, I arrived at Politecnico di Milano, a choice for which I am very grateful. I found an environment capable of listening to my needs and, at the same time, offering me a satisfactory professional path, without ever giving up the family, which has expanded over time.

What were your first steps in University?

For thirteen years I have been involved in financial aid, following the processes for the assignment of scholarships and other support tools, which are essential to allow students to access university and complete their academic careers. 

The passion for the law, however, has always remained a constant.

In 2021 you joined the University Legal Department. What prompted you to get back into the game?

I have always been a curious person, looking for new stimuli. With my children now older, I felt it was the right time to invest again, with greater intensity, in my professional growth. 

I expressed the desire to return to dealing with what I felt closest to: interpreting and applying laws. 

And then a new leap: the leadership of the General Affairs, Institutional Regulations and Collegiate Bodies Unit.

It was an opportunity that came at the right time, which I accepted without hesitation. It was a completely new role for me, but also a stimulating challenge. 

The team support was fundamental: from the very beginning, a positive osmosis was created, which made it more natural to face the change.

What do you do?

My task and that of my team is, essentially, to ensure the correctness and legality of the main university processes, as well as to provide legal advice and assistance to the governing bodies and structures of the University.

We support the drafting of acts and regulations, in accordance with the University's policies and strategies, and we oversee the processes related to the establishment and operation of the bodies provided for by the Statute, including electoral procedures.

A strategic and great-responsibility function. What complexities does it entail?

Certainly, the number of activities and relationships. We work transversally with the whole University: this is an aspect that I really appreciate, because it allows you to meet many people and learn continuously. At the same time, it is a role that requires great precision, organization and interpersonal skills. 

Today I am working hard to simplify and speed up processes, clarifying responsibilities and operational flows, strengthening coordination with the different University structures and promoting digitalization.

You talked about osmosis with the team. What kind of leader are you?

Being a leader, for me, is a great responsibility. Our job is an element of identity, which also deeply affects people's personal lives. This is why I believe it is essential to listen to different points of view before making important decisions, building a shared vision in which everyone can identify with.

I try to define clear expectations and leave room for autonomy, creating a serene environment, where even mistakes become part of the growth path. At the same time, I place great value on precision, preparation and continuous training.

Do you notice any affinities with your way of being a mother?

In some ways, yes. There is a strong osmosis between these two dimensions: what I learn in my personal life is reflected in my work, and vice versa. 

Taking care of five children is beautiful, but it is certainly not easy: it implies knowing how to respond to different needs, listening, mediating, managing conflicts. As at work, even at home I try to give confidence and autonomy, promoting growth through mistakes.

How do you live the balance between work and personal life today?

Over time I realized that perfectionism is not the right way, neither at work nor in private life. You can't always be perfect in everything, and trying to be perfect only risks to create frustration. 

I learned to clearly define my priorities, in my personal life as well as in my work, and to distinguish the different moments, trying to be really present in each of them. It is not something that is achieved once and for all, but a balance that is built day after day. 

And how do you spend your free time, outside of family and work commitments?

I am a mountain lover. I love running outdoors and riding a bike.

Thank you, Cristina.

Thank you.