About
About us
Your partners in purpose
We design and implement with passion and experience projects that build and strengthen the ethical purpose of companies and organizations by responding concretely to the needs of the most vulnerable and the principles of sustainable development. We do this by following Inclusive Business, Social Innovation and Ethical Communication models.
We believe in our work to the point that we are as committed as our clients: we are a registered Benefit Corporation, so our profit always generates a positive social impact. We are a certified BCorp™, so the way our profit generates social impact has been verified and approved by a third party. Because we believe that in order to be a truly credible consulting partner, there must be consistency between being and doing.
Why choose De-LAB?
Because we are a workshop that designs for you.
Choosing De-LAB means appreciating our independence, which guarantees clarity and reliability in relationships; our competence, which gives rigor and concreteness to the projects we conceive; our availability, always at our partners’ side; and our passion, which will stimulate new choices and unexpected opportunities.
Identity: De-LAB is a social design center specializing in design, consultancy, research and training in the field of the Purpose Economy.
Mission: we assist the private sector and organizations within social impact business models that are innovative, sustainable and inclusive.
Vision: to contribute in making businesses and organizations agents of positive change for communities and the environment, generating hybrid (profit-non-profit-public), systemic and regenerative ecosystems.
Strategy:combining knowledge of Inclusive Business, Social Innovation and Ethical Communication models with direct experience in the field, co-creating solutions that respond to concrete needs, between sustainable development and the fight against the various forms of poverty.
Manifesto
Successes
- B-CORP™ "Best for the World - Governance"
- South Europe Startup Awards 2019 - Female Role Model of the Year
- Premio "Girls in Tech, 2014"
- Premio ANGI "Giovani Innovatori Italiani 2019"
- Menzione speciale al "Business Spirit Award 2019"
- Bando AICS 2018 "Idee Innovative per lo Sviluppo"
- Premio "Modello di Business Innovativo 2015"
- Bando Fondazione Cariplo 2022 - Area Cooperazione
- Bando Fondazione Cariplo 2023 - Area Cooperazione
- Bando Fondazione BNL BNP PARIBAS 2024 - Area Cooperazione
Lucia Dal Negro
Founding Partner / CEO
A Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies and a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Catholic University. Advanced Diploma in Humanitarian Emergencies from ISPI and UNICEF development education. MSc in Environment and Development at the London School of Economics.
PhD in International Institutions and Politics at the Catholic University. He has worked with the Holy See’s Mission to the UN in Geneva, ActionAid, Nespresso/INCAE Business School, UNEP/Wuppertal Institute, Endeva and Altromercato. She has worked for the CNR in Milan, for the G8’s social impact task force, for Omal Spa (where she headed the sustainability and communications department for over two years), and for the Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Foundation as a researcher on the environment and global health. In 2014, she founded the benefit corporation and B-CORP™ De-LAB srl; she is an advisor on the sounding board of the Giannino Bassetti Foundation. She is a certified LEGO© Serious Play© facilitator, a UNCTAD expert on private procurement and a member of the Executive Committee of the Italian Association of Social Designers.
The key is: let’s ask ourselves why!
Lucio Vesentini
Founding partner
After graduating in Trade Marketing and Commercial Strategies from the University of Parma, he began his career in marketing at Pirelli in 2008, holding various positions including Head of Digital Marketing for the Motorcycle Business Unit and Global Brand Manager for the Metzeler brand. In 2017, he took on the role of Digital Marketing Programme Manager. Since March 2019, he has held the position of Senior Consumer Insight Manager with international responsibilities. He also lectures in Marketing on the Postgraduate Master’s in Marketing & Digital Communication Strategy at Aforisma Business School.
The watchword: data-first!
Elisabetta Pesenti
Senior Project Manager / Coaching
She graduated in 2006 with a degree in International Relations from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC), having written her dissertation on the impact of decentralised cooperation on Serbia’s European integration process.
Following a period of field research at UNOPS in Belgrade, he worked at UNDP in Geneva before moving to Brussels, where he has spent the last ten years providing European consultancy services to SMEs.
She has been an ICF-certified coach since 2019 and works with companies and entrepreneurs who need to develop change management strategies and redefine the direction of their businesses.
Our motto: We are the answer!
Amelie Reuterskiöld Franchin
Senior Project Manager / Partnership
Amelie ha una laurea in economia alla Stockholm School of Economics, un Master in Sviluppo Internazionale alla Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies e un Diploma di Microfinanza ottenuto alla Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. Ha lavorato per più di 12 anni nella cooperazione internazionale (di cui 7 con in Africa, America Latina e Stati Uniti) con le Nazioni Unite (UNESCO, IFAD) banche di sviluppo (IADB), ONG internazionali (Save the Children, SOS Bambini Villaggi), e SIDA (la cooperazione svedese). La sua expertise è nella risoluzione delle sfide alla sostenibilità e sviluppo internazionale attraverso la creazione di partnership innovative, intersettoriali e basate sull’approccio Shared Value.
The key is: let’s clarify expectations!
Sara Tortorella
Senior Project Specialist / Urban Planning
Graduated from the University of Architecture at Roma 3. Researcher at the Department of Structures within the Faculty of Engineering at Roma 3, working on the construction of a Tensegrity Structure in South Africa. Since 2010, she has worked as an architect and urban planner and contributed to the drafting of the first PUGi in Puglia. In 2012, she won a regional tender for the regeneration of ancient villages and coordinated the project, creating, among other installations, a pavilion made from PET plastic food waste. Also in 2012, she developed the Eco-Metamorphòsis project, which addresses environmental issues and the problem of litter. In 2013, Eco-Metamorphòsis was exhibited at the 13th Venice International Architecture Biennale, curated by David Chipperfield and dedicated to ‘Common Ground’, the shared space.
The watchword: let’s get building!
Antonio Duma
Graphic Designer
She holds a Master’s degree in Stage Design and a specialisation in Performing Arts and Disciplines, as well as a Master’s in Management for the Performing Arts and Live Events. Following an internship at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, in the Department of New Technologies and Lime.art (Live Interactive Media Art), she continued her career in the creative and artistic fields. In 2016, he founded the Cultural and Theatre Association “Teatro Dantès – Art Factory”, through which he carries out projects in the performing arts within the theatre sector. He is an editor at the literary poetry journal “Menabò”. His motto is a quote from Bécquer:
“He who possesses imagination, with what ease he creates a world out of nothing.”
The watchword: let’s visualise!
Elizabeth Kassami
Elizabeth Kassami has been working for the Kokono project as Community Outreach Lead for almost three years. She holds a degree from the University of Dallas, Texas (Associate of Science in Business Administration & Management), which she subsequently completed at the University of North Texas (Denton) in International Relations & Humanitarian Affairs. She later completed a BA at Cavendish University in International Relations & Diplomacy. She loves working on projects that have a significant impact on the community and also collaborates with De-LAB on market activation initiatives for Italian companies interested in gaining a better understanding of the Ugandan market.
The watchword: Let’s work together!
Vanessa Mectilda
Vanessa Mectilda, who specialises in livelihoods analysis, retail management and research support. With a degree in International Relations and Diplomatic Studies from Cavendish University, she worked as a livelihoods analyst at IUCN Uganda and made a significant contribution to the restoration of river basins through meticulous rapid assessment tests and comprehensive livelihoods analyses. Currently, as Store Manager at Kokono Uganda, Vanessa oversees wholesale and retail operations, with a particular focus on market trends, supplier negotiations and budget planning.
Our motto: We can do it!
Our interns come from:
If you’re interested in a training and career guidance programme at De-LAB, please email: info@delab.it