10 Years in Finland (2016–2026):
from International Business to International Education
As a key milestone of her ongoing 40-Year Global Career Celebration, our President, Marcella Zoccoli (MBA, Doctoral Candidate at the University of Helsinki), the 7th of May delivered an inspiring guest testimonial at the University of Milano-Bicocca in Italy.
The special session was hosted in a hybrid format by Prof. Samuele Maccioni, PhD, during his course ”Organizzazione e Gestione degli
Enti Culturali ed Artistici” (Organization and Management of Cultural and Artistic Institutions).
Dr Maccioni’s research and work are focused on “the role of Organizational Unlearning (OU) as a potential effective strategy to apply in contexts of Organizational Change (OC) triggered by Digital Transformation (DT) processes” (Maccioni, 2025) and his activities in Education within Contemporary Society provided an ideal academic framework for rethinking the training of youth, future leaders.
In her testimonial titled “The Intertwining of Spirituality, Business and Technology in Leadership Global Competence”, Zoccoli explored her own professional evolution and the urgent need for transforming education into a creative, dynamic, practical tool for youth development and real-world competence through human transformative leadership experience.
Mixing elements from the Nordic, the Mediterranean, and the Indian cultural experience— which she skillfully integrates into her life and practice as an educator and trainer in academic and professional settings- she presented the interactive dynamics occurring between:
“a. Spirituality meant as creativity – the way in which creation manifests itself within human beings through their creative potential,
b. Business, here meant as the business of humans, and
c. Technology as a physical infrastructure possibility to support human infrastructures and intelligences.” (Zoccoli, 2022)
Theory U in Action: the “Stuck” exercise
To bridge theory and practice, the session introduced students to Theory U by Otto Scharmer. Zoccoli, who has practised and trained in this framework for a decade (2016-2026), utilises it not only in her leadership teaching and training activities but also as the foundation of her doctoral research.
“Theory U blends systems thinking, innovation, and leading change with awareness practices. It allows us to update our mental and organizational operating systems for effecting change.” https://www.presencing.org/theoryu
Focusing on awareness, deep listening, and system change, the students engaged in a practical exercise, the Stuck practice created by Arawana Hayashi. It comes from Social Presencing Theater, “an embodied social arts-based change methodology for making visible current reality and exploring emerging future possibilities.”
They worked simultaneously in-person in class and online to identify real-world professional, personal, and educational blocks.
By connecting cutting-edge pedagogy with profound human awareness, this interactive event offered a highly transformative perspective on higher education, marking a memorable moment in Zoccoli’s 40-year journey of global impact.
For more insights and further readings:
Hayashi, A. (2021). Social Presencing Theater: The art of making a true move. PI Press.
Maccioni, S., Ghiringhelli, C., & Datteri, E. (2024). Navigating the unlearning landscape: an organizational unlearning taxonomy and an outcome-centric model. The Learning Organization, 31(6), 960-984.
Maccioni, S., & Ghiringhelli, C. (2025). Digital transformation through organisational unlearning: insights from practitioners’ voice. Knowledge Management Research & Practice, 23(4), 413-428.
Maccioni, S., Scuttari, A., Zehrer, A., & Isetti, G. (2026). Succession as a process for unlearning gendered leadership roles in small and medium tourism family firms (SMTFFs): a qualitative study. Tourism Review, 1-22.
Scharmer, C. O. (2016). Theory U: Leading from the future as it emerges (2nd ed.). Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
Scharmer, C. O., & Kaufer, K. (2025). Presencing: 7 Practices for Transforming Self, Society, and Business. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
Zoccoli, M. (2017). Mindful leadership at Fratelli Branca Distillerie srl [MBA – Master’s thesis, JAMK University of Applied Sciences]. Theseus. https://www.theseus.fi/handle/10024/134785
Zoccoli, M. (2018). Flying on the Eagle. Millennials’ educational journey into Mindful Leadership. JAMK Publications. https://www.theseus.fi/handle/10024/151348
Zoccoli, M. (2020). The Apple & The Candle. Human students transformative leadership experience. [Spirituality – Business – Technology] – JAMK Publications eBook Series.
https://www.theseus.fi/handle/10024/346459
Zoccoli, M. (2022). The intertwining of Spirituality, Business, and Technology – Conscious Leaders on a Conscious Planet. Abstract & Poster presented at Mind and Matter 2022 Foundations of Information, Intelligence and Consciousness 16-18 June 2022, Helsinki, Finland. https://www.helsinki.fi/assets/drupal/s3fs-public/from_d7/305494_mind_and_matter_2022_abstracts.pdf
Zoccoli, M., Laurindo Pinto, D. (2025). The Practice of Active Patience: A critical Skill in Leadership Studies. In H.Bergström (toim./ed.), Uudistuva työ, yrittäjyys ja johtajuus – Renewing work, entrepreneurship and leadership Tip2025 Theory in Practice Conference Research Articles – Tutkimukselliset artikkelit, pp. 32–55. XAMK TUTKII 35 Kaakkois-Suomen Ammattikorkeakoulu Mikkeli2025
https://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/897189/URN9789523446175.pdf
Zoccoli, M., Eskola, A. (2025).The beauty and the extravaganza of the mask: Aesthetic experiences, improvisation practices in learning how to solve complex business cases with Commedia dell’Arte. Finnish Business Review, 11. http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:jamk-issn-2341-9938-86
Zoccoli, M., & Anton, K. (forthcoming). A decade of transformative leadership learning (2016–2026): Teaching, training, and emerging practices (Working title). Jamk University of Applied Sciences Series.