OUR FOUNDER
Monica Santalena
“What drives me is helping organisations transform in a coherent, measurable, and purpose-driven way. I love connecting ideas, people, and challenges to bring forward clear, bold and grounded solutions.”
With over 20 years of experience, Monica Santalena supports companies, institutions, and public/private initiatives through key phases of transformation, growth, and strategic repositioning.
A trained lawyer, she practised at the Paris and Milan Bars in mergers & acquisitions and international arbitration before moving into strategic and operational advisory.
Combining legal, strategic, and operational expertise, she brings a dual public-private culture and steps in where lines need to shift without breaking. Her approach is rooted in active listening, clarity of intent, practical methods, and skills in aligning diverse stakeholders.
She currently serves as an appointed expert for the European Commission (EISMEA & DG R&I) within Horizon Europe and is part of the expert pool for the EIC Accelerator jury. She contributes to European investment platforms such as TechTour and supports collaborative projects aligned with European funding frameworks, including the LIFE and Horizon programs.
She's a guest lecturer at the École des Ponts (Paris), where she teaches on start-up law and impact measurement, topics at the heart of transition and innovation. She also serves on the board of Les Jeunes Entreprises (a member of JA Europe).
Monica steps in with clarity and rigour when vision must become action. She creates common ground between institutional actors, operators, leaders and funders and can act as an advisor, coach or interim leader.
With over 20 years of experience, Monica Santalena supports companies, institutions, and public/private initiatives through key phases of transformation, growth, and strategic repositioning.
A trained lawyer, she practised at the Paris and Milan Bars in mergers & acquisitions and international arbitration before moving into strategic and operational advisory.
Combining legal, strategic, and operational expertise, she brings a dual public-private culture and steps in where lines need to shift without breaking. Her approach is rooted in active listening, clarity of intent, practical methods, and skills in aligning diverse stakeholders.
She currently serves as an appointed expert for the European Commission (EISMEA & DG R&I) within Horizon Europe and is part of the expert pool for the EIC Accelerator jury. She contributes to European investment platforms such as TechTour and supports collaborative projects aligned with European funding frameworks, including the LIFE and Horizon programs.
She's a guest lecturer at the École des Ponts (Paris), where she teaches on start-up law and impact measurement, topics at the heart of transition and innovation. She also serves on the board of Les Jeunes Entreprises (a member of JA Europe).
Monica steps in with clarity and rigour when vision must become action. She creates common ground between institutional actors, operators, leaders and funders and can act as an advisor, coach or interim leader.