Roberto Vedovotto: “Volevo fare un’azienda dove le persone venivano a lavorare felici”

From Morgan Stanley's finance department to the leadership of Safilo, to the creation of Kering Eyewear, Roberto Vedovotto's journey is a story of unconventional choices, risk, and vision. In this conversation, he shares what it means to start from scratch, build a global company with three people, and challenge a stagnant industry. From leadership, work culture, and the future of smart glasses, a clear idea emerges: the true competitive advantage is people. 00:00 Introduction: Roberto Vedovotto and Kering Eyewear 00:58 Friendship with Raffaele: From Morgan Stanley to Buenos Aires 03:27 The decision to leave Morgan Stanley for Safilo at 32 04:14 Roots: From Bassano del Grappa to the Armani sweater 05:36 The tie anecdote with John Mack, CEO of Morgan Stanley 08:49 Why leave the bank: The merger with Dean Witter and the change in culture 10:05 First encounter with the world of eyewear: Safilo and Ray-Ban 13:07 Arrival at Safilo: 35 years, 8,500 employees, and a billion in debt 17:55 Why accept: A passion for luxury and a sense of belonging 19:30 Venetian roots and entrepreneurial instinct 22:24 The founding of Kering Eyewear: From zero to the second largest company in the sector 23:11 Safilo 1 and Safilo 2: Restructuring, Private Equity, and the Prisoner's Dilemma 28:37 The Second Layoff: The Stock Falls 20% on the Day of the Announcement 31:25 The Call from François-Henri Pinault and the Idea of ​​a New Model 37:18 The Handwritten Plan and Pinault's Green Light 43:00 Market Skepticism: "Fails Before It Begins" 48:37 The Most Difficult Moment and the Moment He Realized He Could Make It 55:07 Kering Eyewear's Numbers 59:22 Why He Has Always Maintained a Low Profile with the Media 1:02:03 The Future: Luxury Smart Glasses and Artificial Intelligence 1:07:36 Closing: The Last Question and Humanism as the Foundation of Everything