Quick facts
Age: 42
Family: Married, one child
Education: PhD in Historical Linguistics and a Master in Business Administration
Background: I have been in the information industry since 1994. Among other things I’ve worked at the Italian business paper Il Sole 24 Ore launching the fist internet-based business information database in 1995. At the Italian Exchange, I launched and managed the electronic business operation. We offered both free and paid stock exchange information products on the web. I’ve also been Marketing Director for the internet business at the Italian publishing group Mondadori.
Nationality: Italian, lives in Slovenia
Maria Anselmi
Competence Centre Director of Business Information Solutions and Managing Director for Bisnode Slovenia
Maria likes to have challenges and to bring innovations that make a difference
When and why did you join the Group?
It was pretty easy for me to find a job when I moved to Slovenia. Since I had been active in the European business newspaper association, I already knew people here. I told them “I’m here, please have you got a job for me, and I got one!” In 2002 I was appointed Managing Director of EGV, which was owned by Bonnier Business Information.
Describe your career path and the choices you made.
From my dissertation in 1989 (in which an ancient Persian encyclopaedia was built and structured as a database), two elements have been present in all the phases of my career: identify and structure information in an easy-to-access form. I was taking a chance when I started in Slovenia, which was a relatively new market for business information.
When I started as Managing Director of EGV, my task was to develop a business unit into a real company. I’ve maintained the Managing Director role and, instead of changing jobs, we have been launching new products every year and founding new companies.
What is important for you at work?
The most important thing is to have challenges, to bring about innovation and to have the possibility to influence and make a difference. I like to share challenges, I’m not a lone runner, and I like to have people around me who think practically when we take on new challenges.
Why have you chosen to stay within in the group?
Bisnode has allowed me develop my ideas, and I’ve hade the possibility to influence decisions and to work in an entrepreneurial way. Of all the companies I’ve worked for, the Bisnode Group is the one that is best at leveraging and positively exploiting initiatives and competences.
You can decide to take on tasks and challenges around you. Bisnode operates in a multinational environment; the exchange of experiences is not strictly formalised but still very efficient. You get lots of ideas and practical examples that help you to avoid making mistakes.
How would you describe the “Bisnode culture” in a few words?
It’s very entrepreneurial, always exploiting new possibilities.
Bisnode is a practical company and the way people approach the business in the organisation is not so standardised as in many other information companies.
It’s not formal, it’s open and transparent and very respectful of people.