Ada Maria Barone: a career in research

Luiss graduate Ada Maria Barone, after completing a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Management and a Master's Degree in Management, earned a Ph.D. in Management from Luiss, with a focus on consumer behavior.

One of the university's strengths, she notes, is that “despite studying marketing, my Ph.D. actually falls within the field of management. The university provides the opportunity to be exposed to theories from different backgrounds, which could therefore foster the creation of new ideas and applications.”

Ada spent the first year of her PhD in Italy, and during the next two years, she gained experience abroad as a visiting scholar: first at the Marketing Department of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, and then at Aarhus University in Denmark.

She is currently employed as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Management at Aarhus University and says, “In the long run, I'd like to return to Italy because it will always be home. However, over the next few years, I'd like to continue gaining experience abroad.”

“The best memory I have of Luiss is the group that formed among us marketing researchers, because having someone to share this journey with, both personally and professionally, is very important. It's not really a memory, because we're all still in touch.”

For those considering an academic career, she advises, “Adapt, be observant, and stay curious. Above all, you have to be prepared for rejection and know how to handle it. You'll find satisfaction, but often the results aren't immediately visible, so you have to be persistent.”