Internship REVIEWS

Tiago Chammas

Project Associate, 2023

Tiago’s internship experience:

Having already completed a strategy consulting internship when I was in Brazil, I was looking for another internship in consulting, but related to my field of study and interest: the energy transition. Apricum seemed like the perfect fit for me and at the end of my internship I can say that it was indeed.

During my 3-month internship I had the opportunity to work across multiple industries related to the energy transition with different project scopes and diverse teams. The high-quality deliverables and high-level expectations made the experience even more valuable; I could learn a lot in a small amount of time.

Moreover, being the first intern at the Paris office, I was exposed to several business development tasks that made me better understand the firm’s growth strategy and experience entrepreneurial aspects first hand.

Now that I am back at university to finish my engineering degree, I’m sure that I made the right choice, and I couldn’t be more thankful for having been a part of Apricum.

 

Work experience:

  • Oliver Wyman, Sao Paulo, Brazil 

Education:

  • Master’s degree in industrial engineering, École des Ponts ParisTech, France
  • Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, Escola Politécnica USP, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Languages:

  • Portuguese
  • French
  • English

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Matteo Turri

Project Associate, 2023

Matteo’s internship experience:

Working in the transaction advisory team as a Project Associate has been an extremely rewarding experience and a tremendous learning opportunity. The London office is structured to put new joiners at the heart of the projects, helping them to achieve excellence.

It has been a milestone in my career and an exciting journey.

 

Work experience:

  • Tulane University, Burkenroad report, New Orleans, USA
  • UniCredit Group, ESG Strategy & Implementation, Milan, Italy
  • Algebris Investments, Investment division, Milan, Italy

Education:

  • MSc Finance, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
  • BSc Economics & Finance, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy

Languages:

  • Italian
  • English

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David Bigorra

Project Associate, 2023

David’s internship experience:

As part of my MBA internship, I was looking for an opportunity where I could create a positive and lasting environmental impact while gaining top-notch management consulting experience. In this regard, Apricum proved to be the perfect choice.

Over the course of my 11-week tenure at the Berlin office, I was immersed in two end-to-end projects: one focused on solar PV and the other one on green hydrogen. In both, I was entrusted with consultant-level responsibilities from day one, e.g., analyzing and validating a financial model, taking ownership of market forecasts of two major European regions, presenting findings to client top management, and even interacting with C-level executives in one-on-one interviews to discuss and enrich the quality of my work, to be consistent with Apricum highest standards of excellence.

The day-to-day experience of the internship calls for the adjectives “challenging” and “fun”. Deadlines and the pursuit of high-quality work presented challenges, while the vibrant and diverse international atmosphere made the journey enjoyable. My mentor was pivotal in navigating through demanding situations and fostering professional growth. I was exceptionally fortunate to have Hamid Can Baş as a mentor, to whom I only have words of gratitude. Additionally, the intimate scale of the company allowed me to create personal connections with nearly every individual across all offices, either during the Thursday Team Lunches at the Berlin Office, or via short online chats I scheduled with colleagues from other locations.

On the whole, I am profoundly thankful for the enriching experience I gained during my time at Apricum. The exposure to cleantech projects and clients over the past three months has been invaluable. For those with a keen interest in the cleantech industry, I fervently recommend considering Apricum. And if you wish to glean further insights about my journey, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

 

Work experience:

  • Bigorra & Associates,  Barcelona, Spain
  • IBM Consulting, Barcelona, Spain
  • Bee Green Co-Founder
  • St Vincent’s Health, Sydney, Australia

Education:

  • Master of Business Administration, IESE Business School, Barcelona, Spain
  • Bachelor in Business Administration, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
  • MSc. and BSc. Industrial Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

Languages:

  • Spanish
  • Catalan
  • English

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Jad Nasr

Project Associate, 2023

Jad’s internship experience:

I had two specific criteria in mind when I started searching for an internship: gaining valuable experience in strategy consulting and being part of a forward-thinking cleantech industry. Apricum went above and beyond my expectations in both aspects.

During my time as a Project Associate, I had the privilege of working alongside highly skilled and passionate consultants. Their expertise and professionalism were truly inspiring. From day one, I was given important responsibilities and had the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a multitude of cleantech projects spanning a variety of sectors. What stood out to me the most was the collaborative and inclusive work environment at Apricum. Despite being an intern, I was treated as a valuable member of the team, and my ideas were consistently valued. I had the chance to work closely with different project teams and gain exposure to various aspects of the cleantech industry.

Apricum’s commitment to excellence was evident in every aspect of the internship. The company culture emphasized delivering high-quality results and seeking innovative solutions. I was continuously challenged to think critically and expand my boundaries while being attentive to the smallest details, which significantly contributed to my professional development. 

One of the highlights of my internship was the openly collaborative atmosphere at Apricum. Everyone I worked with provided me with invaluable guidance and support throughout my journey. Their regular feedback and constructive insights helped me navigate the complexities of consulting and facilitated my personal and professional growth. Beyond the work itself, Apricum fostered a friendly and vibrant atmosphere that combines an international setting with a mix of different cultures. The team’s cooperation and the opportunities for social interactions made my time at the company enjoyable and memorable. Engaging in insightful discussions and participating in team-building activities created a strong sense of belonging.

I definitely recommend Apricum to anyone seeking an internship in strategy consulting within the growing cleantech industry. The experience offers hands-on learning, collaborative teamwork, and exposure to cutting-edge projects. It is a challenging yet highly rewarding opportunity that will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on your career journey.

Work experience:

  • Makeen Advisors, Dubai, UAE
  • Douda Vermiculture Solutions, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Strategy&, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • LOGOS, Beirut, Lebanon

Education:

  • Master of science in renewable energy engineering and management, Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg
  • Bachelor of science in chemical engineering, American University of Beirut

Languages:

  • Arabic
  • English

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Edoardo Salerno

Project Associate, 2023

Edoardo’s internship experience:

I decided to apply for an internship at Apricum mainly because I wanted to gain experience in the cleantech sector, whose importance and relevance is continuously growing. Being a top consultancy in this field, Apricum was the ideal place to do so.

During my time as a Project Associate, not only have I fulfilled this goal, but I have also had the opportunity to fully experience life as a management consultant, as well as to explore the work in Apricum’s transaction advisory line of business. I was given the possibility to oversee my own line of work and present it to clients, and my insights and thoughts were always valued. These elements, paired with a welcoming social environment, truly made me feel like part of the team.

The internship also allowed me to grow professionally in a way that goes beyond the specific job or field of work. This was thanks to a great feedback culture, as well as to the exposure to a stimulating working environment, where the young, competent team is always striving to deliver rigorous and high-quality results.

For these reasons, I think Apricum is the perfect place to carry out an internship for anyone interested in either consulting or cleantech, but I also recommend applying to anyone who values and appreciates working in a competent and professional environment – the internship experience is guaranteed to make you grow along these measures.

Work experience:

  • Suez International, Paris, France
  • Philip Morris International, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Israel-Italy Chamber of Commerce, Tel Aviv, Israel

Education:

  • Master of science in economic and social sciences, Bocconi University, Milan
  • Bachelor of science in international economics and finance, Bocconi University, Milan

Languages:

  • Italian
  • English
  • French

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Matteo Pellandino

Project Associate, 2022

Matteo’s internship experience:

I chose to apply for the Project Associate position at Apricum to experience the working life of a strategy and transaction consultant at a top-tier firm; I’m happy to report all my expectations were met.

I found a young international team, working to the highest standards, of which I immediately felt a part. I was really impressed by the amount of important tasks and responsibilities that I had from my very first project. I felt like a full-time consultant rather than an intern. In every project, I had the opportunity to provide meaningful insights and ideas and I also had the chance to present my own work in a client meeting.

I was supported by my mentor who always encouraged me to speak my mind, which I found valuable both for my experience and personal growth. Having a dedicated mentor who provides you with weekly feedback is a real help throughout the entire internship and allows you to improve day by day.

Coming with a purely economic and financial background, I was afraid I would not have sufficient knowledge about the cleantech sector, but this fear was negated by the kindness and patience of all the colleagues who easily explained technical topics to me when needed.

Thus, I strongly recommend applying to Apricum to any student looking for a meaningful experience in strategy and transaction consulting and who wants to work at a top-tier level and in a friendly and dynamic environment.

Work experience:

  • Eurofork S.p.A., Roletto, Italy
  • Effata Tour, Dublin, Ireland

Education:

  • Master of science in finance, Bocconi University, Milan
  • Bachelor of science in economics and finance, Bocconi University, Milan

Languages:

  • Italian
  • English
  • French

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Clarissa Teh

Project Associate, 2022

Clarissa’s internship experience:

Coming from a technical engineering background with an interest in sustainable technology and the consulting industry, spending 11 weeks at Apricum over the summer was exactly the opportunity I was looking for. The experience has left me enriched with insights into the sustainable energy industry, consulting-related skills and a supportive network of colleagues.

Over the course of the internship, I had the opportunity to contribute to strategy consulting projects across various areas of cleantech such as battery energy storage systems, battery recycling, wind project development and PV manufacturing. For one of the projects I was working on, I was able to see the project through from start to end and get involved in various parts of the project, such as analyzing competitors, identifying data trends, developing competitor archetypes and joining client meetings. Throughout the project, I really appreciated that I was given ownership of my own work, and always felt like my efforts and opinions were valued.

During my time at Apricum, I was based in the London office but worked mostly with the Berlin team. Everyone I met during my time there was wonderful to work with and always happy to have a quick chat with me about their many projects and thoughts on the cleantech industry. One of the things that impressed me most about Apricum was the high standards and efficiency at which the people at Apricum worked at. As an extension of this, I felt like I was constantly learning something new and being challenged, and thanks to my attentive mentor and her feedback, I always had sufficient support and guidance to grow.

I would definitely recommend an internship at Apricum to anyone looking for exposure to the cleantech space, experience working in a tight-knit and highly-efficient firm, and a chance to develop their consulting skills.

Work experience:

  • Bridges for Enterprise, University of Cambridge
  • Cambridge Consulting Network, University of Cambridge
  • Global Research and Consulting Group, University of Cambridge
  • Medklinn International, Malaysia

Education:

  • Currently completing a master and bachelor of engineering at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

Languages:

  • English
  • Chinese

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Philip Grabowski

Project Associate, 2022

Philip’s internship experience:

How can I create a valuable internship experience within a strategy consultancy, where I can learn from highly skilled consultants within a meaningful, future-oriented and highly innovative industry? Apricum and the cleantech industry were the answers to my question!

From the very beginning, I felt extremely comfortable in both Apricum’s social and professional environment. The dynamic and young corporate culture allows plenty of social interactions and personal relations – leading to a strong team spirit and opportunities to get to know everybody. During my three months as a Project Associate, I had the pleasure to be staffed on three different exciting cleantech projects and worked together with various teams. As an integral part of the project teams, I felt more like a new full-time consultant who really can make valuable contributions to the projects. I was especially surprised by the extremely high amount of trust and responsibilities from my team members – already in the second week of the internship, I was allowed to present my own work face-to-face in a client meeting.

I strongly believe that the high degree of project diversity, working responsibility, quality of tasks and team integration form a unique internship experience, which is hard to find in larger, also high quality, top strategy consultancies. Having a dedicated mentor is a huge help with settling in as well as throughout the internship. The beautiful Berlin office, exceptional team spirit and light-hearted social interactions made the best out of this professionally valuable time. Therefore, I strongly encourage everyone interested in the strategy consultancy and cleantech space to become a part of this highly-committed team.

Work experience:

  • CNH Industrial, Belgium
  • Grant Thornton AG, Germany

Education:

  • Master of science in management at Nova School of Business & Economics in Lisbon, Portugal
  • Bachelor of science in business economics at Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Muenster, Germany

Languages:

  • German
  • English

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Saravana Kumar

Project Associate, 2021/2022

Saravana’s internship experience:

In winter 2021/2022, I interned as a project associate at Apricum. These past six months have been a rewarding experience for me, with 360-degree exposure to responsibilities ranging from supporting consultants to handling client interactions. In addition, an international team with sound expertise in cleantech sets Apricum apart; one can be sure of gaining exposure to the innovative technologies and business models in this industry. Lastly, Apricum’s mentors make your professional development smoother by providing feedback with a personal touch, which encourages one to always put themselves in the shoes of a consultant from day one.

Work experience:

  • QuEST Global, Bengaluru, India

Education:

  • M.Sc. in management and engineering, RWTH Aachen & Maastricht School of Management
  • RWTH Aachen Dean’s list for the academic year 2020–2021
  • RWTH Aachen ‘Best of Class’ scholarship for outstanding academic achievement in 2019 and 2021
  • B.E. in mechanical engineering, RV College of Engineering, Bengaluru, India

Languages:

  • English
  • Hindi
  • Tamil

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Sangeeth Selvaraju

Project Associate, 2021

Sangeeth’s internship experience:

The internship at Apricum is a unique opportunity to work in varied cleantech businesses from the standard PV and wind to the cutting edge in energy storage, carbon capture and hydrogen. I had exposure to both the transaction advisory side and the management consulting side of the business, which was unique and something I valued from the internship.

The work varied from modelling, due diligence, desk research to knowledge building and database creation. There were opportunities to build skills and in retrospect, the knowledge gained was indeed very valuable. I was particularly piqued by technology topics I worked on including hydrogen and carbon capture and storage, which was stimulating and the inhouse knowledge at Apricum made it even more rewarding.

My favourite aspect of my internship at Apricum was the exceptional culture at the firm. The mentor I was assigned truly mentored me; with excellent regular detailed feedback, assigned me to a variety of projects to enrich my experience and integrated me into Apricum during challenging Corona times. I also had the chance to work directly with a partner, which was incredibly rewarding as the partner took time to teach, explain and was also interested in my learnings from the project, not just the output. The very chance to work directly with a partner also reflects the responsibilities that one could be given at Apricum given the small team; it allows interns to get involved in projects and not just get relegated to tertiary work.

Ultimately, the internship reaffirmed my interest in the renewables and cleantech space and gave me glimpses of different industries and project types, which I hope to take with me in my next ventures. I would highly recommend Apricum as an internship destination and wish them the very best and hope to see them and the colleagues I met there down the road in this ever-evolving and dynamic space.

Work experience:

  • Council on Energy, Environment and Water
  • Moelis & Company
  • Upstart Co-Lab, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

Education:

  • Master’s in public policy, policy analysis, Hertie School
  • Bachelor of arts, economics and philosophy, Bennington College

Languages:

  • English
  • German
  • Hindi
  • Tamil

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Sara Davidova

Project Associate, 2021

Sara’s internship experience:

I joined Apricum during summer 2021 as a Project Associate to complement my technical background in electrical engineering (focused on energy) with a real-world understanding of the business aspect of cleantech projects. The internship clearly matched my expectations, because I was able to contribute to meaningful projects and work on my skills as a consultant while gaining a deep understanding of industries related to the projects and the obstacles cleantech companies face in those industries.

Throughout the internship, I was working very closely with my assigned mentor on two projects. The first couple of weeks gave me an insight into the German solar PV industry, with a focus on commercial and industrial rooftop systems. When finished, I moved onto a project focusing on vehicle-grid integration in the USA. In both cases, I was given responsibility for major deliverables, joined client meetings, and was able to maintain a perspective on the overall workings of the projects. I received frequent constructive feedback from my mentor and my project managers, and I was able to work on diverse tasks that developed my skills, especially the ones I struggled with.

My favorite part of the internship was the company culture. Having interned in large corporates before, I appreciated the tight-knit team as well as the effort to transition back from remote work in a way that was flexible yet enjoyable for everyone. I was given incredible space for knowledge-building, which is a central value of the Apricum team, and I enjoyed the many informal conversations on cleantech-related topics that excited my team members. Everyone at Apricum is committed to the meaningful work and is clearly excited about its content and its challenging nature, both of which made my internship truly enriching.

Work experience:

  • Deloitte Digital Consulting
  • University of Bologna
  • Stanford University

Education:

  • Bachelor of science in electrical engineering, Stanford University

Languages:

  • Czech
  • English

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Paolo Pedrazzini

Project Associate, 2021

Paolo’s internship experience:

I decided to join Apricum to further deepen my knowledge of strategy consulting, learn more about the cleantech industry and work with an international team.

From my first day, I was able to start on a new project: working for a PV mounting structure provider; I learned about the challenges this sector faces and about the PV industry in general. Throughout my three months as a Project Associate, with thanks to continuous feedback, I was able to develop my consulting skills and continuously improve the quality of my work. In particular, I gradually took responsibility of several tasks, including the development of a method for assessing the potential size of the market and defining market drivers in specific countries.

I also participated in client meetings and interviews with internal and external partners, which allowed me to interact directly with experts and improve my communication skills.

At Apricum, I particularly appreciated the open communication culture, characterized by continuous informal feedback and guidance. This, combined with the energetic and dynamic personality of team members, resonated with me, and allowed me to efficiently collaborate with co-workers, forming both professional and personal relationships with the team.

Overall, this internship has further confirmed my interest in pursuing a career in consulting at the end of my studies and helped me improve my critical thinking skills. I highly encourage students who would like to develop their consulting skills to apply for a Project Associate position at Apricum.

Work experience:

  • The Consulting Society, EPFL
  • Soft Materials Laboratory, EPFL
  • Fidinam SA, Lugano, Switzerland

Education:

  • Master in materials science and engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
  • Bachelor in materials science and engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Languages:

  • Italian
  • English
  • French

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Max Sarch Thomas

Project Associate, 2021

Max’s internship experience:

I applied to the Project Associate position at Apricum because I am passionate about decarbonising energy systems. The position gave me the opportunity to work on a variety of exciting international clean energy projects; topics ranged from solar PV to CCUS.

Work on these projects was varied, challenging, and engaging. Throughout, I interacted with a variety of stakeholders and received frequent feedback on my work and performance, helping me refine and develop a range of new and existing skills. Crucially, I was handed responsibility and given the opportunity to take ownership of important pieces of work, allowing me to get the most out of my time at Apricum. Project work was accompanied by regular internal knowledge sharing sessions, helping to significantly broaden and deepen my base of knowledge on clean energy topics.

Unfortunately, my time in Berlin coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic, but the Apricum team’s effective transition to remote working meant I still got the most out of my work and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. The team at Apricum is friendly, motivated, and extremely knowledgeable; they made my six months as a Project Associate an absolute pleasure.

Work experience:

  • Davies Maguire, London
  • Robert Dye Architects, London

Education:

  • MEng engineering science, University of Oxford

Languages:

  • English

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Mert Orhan Astam

Project Associate, 2020

Mert’s internship experience:

I chose Apricum because I believe renewable energies to be of great importance – now and even more so in the future; I wanted to discover how I could have a positive impact on the industry as a consultant. Apricum was perfect for this, being well-established and focused on the renewable energy industry.

I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of a team as energetic, knowledgeable and driven as the Apricum team. The professional yet cordial attitude of my colleagues created an environment that motivated me and I have learnt what it means to be an exceptional consultant from them.

The projects I got to be a part of were international, impactful and ambitious. This made each and every project exciting to work on. The tasks I was assigned greatly expanded my knowledge base and insights into the renewable energy industry. I received thorough feedback on my work frequently, allowing me to develop skills important for consulting; I believe the skills I developed are also universally applicable across many professional fields, and I feel all the richer for it.

I believe the experience overall has allowed for much development, not only professionally but also personally. I have made close friends here who I look forward to keeping in touch with, and possibly working with, in the future. This is very valuable for the future of any young professional I think.

Work experience:

  • Cargill, Deventer, The Netherlands
  • AkzoNobel, Sassenheim, The Netherlands

Education:

  • MEng in materials science and engineering, Imperial College London

Languages:

  • English
  • Turkish
  • Dutch

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Philip Terzenbach

Project Associate, 2020

Philip’s internship experience:

I applied for the internship position at Apricum with the goal of combining my interest in the renewable energy industry with working in a top strategy consultancy before completing my master’s degree.

At that time, I did not have any consulting experience, but had worked in the automotive industry together with consultants on e-mobility projects and this prompted me to seek further insights from the consulting perspective. There were several decisive factors behind my decision to choose Apricum for my internship. Firstly, the excellent reputation of Apricum and the very likeable and dynamic team, members of which had explained during the interview process about the nature of the work I could expect – hands-on with the opportunity to work in great detail on current projects – as well as Apricum’s focus on solar, energy storage and mobility.

As it turned out, all of these aspects proved to be true. During my three months as a Project Associate, I was involved in a diverse number of projects: Starting with a strategy project for a European utility company, which demanded and developed my understanding of current power market challenges. I had the opportunity to support transaction advisory projects within the HVAC and waste-to-energy industries, requiring me to apply analytical skills and to immerse myself in new topics. My personal highlight was to work hand-in-hand with the team on a project, whose results will most likely have a major impact on the European solar landscape.

Overall, I absolutely enjoyed the demanding and ever varying work with the passionate team at Apricum. Not only have I been able to deepen my understanding of specific topics I was already interested in, but I could also broaden my knowledge in adjacent fields within the cleantech industry and benefit from the continual feedback I received for completed tasks. Insights into the cooperation with global industry experts, the constant attention to details without losing track of the big picture and innovative approaches in creating sustainable solutions have all confirmed my intention to now gain a foothold in the renewable energy industry.

Work experience:

  • Porsche AG, Stuttgart
  • 1&1 Internet SE, Karlsruhe

Education:

  • Master of industrial engineering and management, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
  • Bachelor of industrial engineering and management, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Languages:

  • German
  • English
  • French

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Andrea Fumagalli

Project Associate, 2020

Andrea’s internship experience:

I decided to join Apricum to deepen my knowledge in the cleantech industry and to discover the world of strategy consulting. Now at the end of my internship, I can say that I accomplished these goals. Backed by the expertise of the Apricum team, I had the opportunity to work on different topics in the renewable energy industry: from wind and solar power generation to energy storage and transport electrification. The international aspect of the firm is impressive: the project portfolio includes clients from Europe, the MENA region as well as China. Something I would like to highlight is the diversity of tasks I was assigned: every day in the office was different and the learning was constant.

At Apricum, I found a world-class team of professionals who are experts and passionate about their work and enablers of the ongoing energy transition. I found the team a source of stimulation as well as inspiration. I received constant feedback for my work, which followed a precise methodology to ensure all aspects are covered. These feedback talks were really valuable to ensure improvement during my experience.

All in all, the internship confirmed my interest in the energy world and in the consulting industry. I found it really positive and recommend applying for an internship at Apricum to anyone who is interested in renewable energy consulting. I wish Apricum all the best and I am sure it will continue to keep producing valuable solutions for clients.

Work experience:

  • Saipem SA, Paris
  • Renault, Paris

Education:

  • Master of science, general engineering, École Centrale Paris, France
  • Bachelor of science in energy engineering, Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy

Languages:

  • Italian
  • English
  • French

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