Information magazine of the Department of Industrial Engineering
Università di Trento
Information magazine of the Department of Industrial Engineering
Università di Trento
When Nicole Soligo looks back on her university years, her first thought goes to her experience as a department representative. “My most meaningful memories are linked to my time as a department representative during my first four years at the DII,” she recalls. It was there that she understood the importance of the department’s human environment, which “immediately convinced me that I had made the right choice.” This human dimension reassured her from the beginning and pushed her to choose a company that embraces the same philosophy.
Among the people who left a strong mark, she confidently mentions Professor Alberto Molinari and his metallurgy course: “His passion and his ability to transfer scientific and teaching know-how into practical and industrial examples made the course easier to understand and easy to fall in love with.” She adds a second key influence: “Professor Andrea Dorigato. We share a passion for polymers and I still have the opportunity to collaborate with him through the company.”
She did not start university with a clear plan: “I thought I could specialize in some scientific disciplines, and engineering seemed like the broadest field in which I could then find my niche. I would never have imagined reaching, in such a short time, a product manager position in a multinational company that allows me to challenge myself and find solutions to industrial, practical, and concrete problems. Studying something as demanding as Industrial Engineering first and Materials Engineering later has definitely increased my awareness of being able to achieve what I want in my professional and personal life.”
Her thesis represents the meeting point between university, international research, and industry. “My thesis was developed in collaboration with Aquafil, the DII, and the INP in Grenoble, during the EIT Raw Materials double degree.” The project aimed to develop a 3D-printing filament based on ECONYL®, Aquafil’s regenerated polymer.
It was an intense experience that helped her navigate between two worlds: “It was fundamental for me because it allowed me to understand whether I wanted to pursue a PhD or whether a career in industry was the best path.” She offers a piece of advice to current students: “My message is to not rush through your studies; what matters is knowing what you want to do once you graduate.”
Transitioning from theory to practice, thanks to six months in the company, was smoother—but the change in perspective was clear: “The biggest difference lies in the goals of a company versus a university. You need to be able to give economic value to the technical choices you make.”
Today she is a Product Manager at Aquafil, a role combining technical expertise, strategy, and market interaction. “My work consists of defining the sales and development strategy for a specific product. I handle technical, commercial, marketing, and business-development aspects.” Transitioning from R&D was not simple: “It was quite an impactful change, but it gives me the chance to be closer to customers and partners.”
Her greatest satisfaction? “Seeing the number of completed projects grow and the business rise.” Especially when success stems from her own technical skills: “Being able to create new customers by relying solely on technical persuasion—showing that the product can be a winning solution for a more sustainable future—is extremely rewarding. I try to pass on my passion and dedication to environmental causes to potential clients, with the privilege of representing a product that is truly recycled, recyclable, and circular.”
The challenges are many, especially due to the long timelines of industrial projects. “Working daily with customers and partners whose projects take years requires a lot of patience.” Organization, positivity, and guidance from experienced colleagues make the difference.
Looking at the future, she is clear: “I strongly believe that without innovation there is no future.” She highlights the importance of recycling: “Recycling innovation is, in my opinion, the most important lifeline for European industries.”
“Having a solid technical background is essential: hard skills matter,” she explains, “but soft skills are equally crucial: resilience, motivation, curiosity, empathy.” Many of these were developed precisely at the DII: “I was lucky to experiment with them during my four years as a student representative.”
Regarding communication in complex projects, she stresses the need to adapt: “Companies use many different communication methods… My only advice is to try to adapt as much as possible.”
What she finds most stimulating about her job is the variety of people she works with. “What excites me most is collaborating with partners and colleagues from very different backgrounds.” This constant exchange challenges her assumptions and opens new perspectives.
She is certain about the importance of continuous learning: “I think it is essential to keep improving professionally.” In the coming years, she sees herself in a leadership role: “I see myself managing a team and growing together with them.”
She closes with advice for DII students: “Explore—don’t close doors based on what you think something might do for you. Be as versatile and adaptable as possible; it will definitely help you in the job market. During your studies, try to find practical applications for what you learn and engage in student associations or volunteering. Relational skills and soft skills grow especially in those contexts.”
