New York City – A group of high school students from the Guglielmo Marconi Italian School of New York just completed an eight-week immersion in corporate life through the inaugural Future Leaders Program, an educational initiative launched by LensCrafters, part of the global eyewear group EssilorLuxottica.
Hosted at the company’s Manhattan headquarters, the program bridged the gap between school and enterprise by challenging students—aged 14 to 17—to solve a real-world business case. With support from company mentors, participants worked in teams and rotated through key departments like HR, Marketing, and Finance, developing strategic proposals and learning how a multinational operates from the inside out.
The culmination of the program was a final pitch session before the Executive Leadership Team, where each group presented their ideas. What stood out was not just the professionalism of the presentations, but the depth of insight. “I was honestly moved,” said Alfonso Cerullo, President of LensCrafters and the driving force behind the initiative. “These kids weren’t just reciting—they were thinking critically, presenting full business plans, calculating ROI. That level of maturity is rare at their age.”
Cerullo, originally from Naples, Italy, explained that the idea behind the program came from a personal place. “At a certain point in your career, it’s no longer about building for yourself. It’s about giving back—sharing your skills, your experience with the next generation. That’s what this program is about.”
What made the experience particularly impactful was the autonomy students were given. “Each participant chose their own area of focus—based on their talents, their passions,” Cerullo added. “That kind of self-awareness is the seed of leadership.”
The initiative also had a powerful effect within the company. Several executives traveled to New York specifically to attend the final presentation. “That tells you everything you need to know about the impact these students had on us,” Cerullo said.
Representing the school was Anthony Martire, High School Coordinator at the Scuola d’Italia, who praised the experience as transformative. “The growth we witnessed in just a few weeks was remarkable. They left the program more confident, more articulate, and with a much clearer sense of who they want to become.”
While no official plans for future editions have been announced, Cerullo expressed optimism: “We’re an international company with Italian roots and a strong presence in the U.S. If we can play a small part in shaping tomorrow’s leaders, we will.”
Reported by ilNewyorkese.
