Stefania, the value of gentle leadership

Executive Chairman of Mashfrog 4 Procurement, Planning & Report Officer of the Corporate Business Development Unit, and recently appointed head of the global partnership with SAP, Stefania Montella brings to Mashfrog many years of experience and a leadership vision rooted in trust, people development, and a human-centered approach to work.

Stefania, tell us about your professional journey and the experiences that shaped you the most before joining Mashfrog.

My professional journey began a long time ago, in the late 1980s, when I joined Finsiel, then Italsiel. I had a degree in Biology, and the world of IT felt very far removed from my background. Instead, I discovered that I enjoyed programming. It was a challenge—there was creativity, and there was room to solve problems.

Over time, however, I felt an increasingly strong need to work on relationships and to take on a more outward-facing role. Even while remaining in structured environments like the Public Administration, I looked for opportunities that would allow me to combine technical expertise with relational skills.

Then there was a significant pause, connected to the birth of my daughters. It was a slowdown in my career, of course, but I never experienced it as a sacrifice. Motherhood was a gift, and I consciously chose to devote time and energy to it. When my daughters grew older, I resumed my professional journey by joining NETikos, a smaller organization that gave me the opportunity to step back into the game and prove myself for what I knew how to do.

The next step was at Reply, where I had the opportunity to truly grow. I joined without a clearly defined managerial role and went on to become a partner and Chief Executive Officer of one of the Group’s companies. It was a pivotal experience that allowed me to develop a full spectrum of skills and to work in an environment that, for many years, believed in the value of people and in their growth.

What led you to choose Mashfrog as a new professional challenge at a more mature stage of your career?

Change is never easy, and making a change at a more mature stage of your career is even harder. It was an emotionally and psychologically demanding transition, because I was leaving behind a world I knew well—one where I had built credibility and relationships—and putting myself completely back in the game. There was the fear of failure, of being judged by others, and the effort of having to prove once again who you are and the value you can bring. Along this journey, the support of my family was essential: they didn’t just support me, they truly encouraged me to take this step. Without them, it would have been much more difficult.

What truly convinced me, however, was the opportunity to put all the experience I had accumulated to good use, while exploring new and broader areas beyond the SAP world alone. It wasn’t about advancing my career or "starting over," but about returning to what has always felt natural to me: working on relationships, products, and organization, bringing together vision, pragmatism, and the ability to make an impact. Mashfrog offered me this space—and, above all, the freedom to express different skill sets without having to fit them into a single role.

In Mashfrog, you actually hold multiple roles: how do you manage to balance these responsibilities?

In reality, these roles say a lot about who I am. Holding more than one isn’t an organizational stretch, but a natural reflection of my personality and interests, which have always been quite multifaceted. The world of procurement, for example, has always been close to me: I was among the first in Italy to become SAP-certified in this area, back when online procurement was still in its early days. Mashfrog 4 Procurement is therefore the natural evolution of a journey that began many years ago and today takes shape as a platform capable of integrating SAP, automation, artificial intelligence, and advanced processes.

Then there is the sales dimension, which perfectly matches my natural inclination for relationships. For me, the relationship with clients and partners is central—it is the foundation on which any long-lasting project is built.

Finally, there is the more analytical and control-oriented role. I have always had a strong focus on numbers, financials, and economic sustainability. It’s a kind of "control mindset," if we want to call it that, which becomes a tool to make the Business Development organization work more effectively and to give solidity to strategic decisions.

How would you define your leadership style?

My leadership style is based on listening and respect. I don’t believe in top-down leadership or in authority exercised solely through title; to me, leading means understanding other people’s work, engaging deeply with the activities, and taking responsibility for decisions.

Over time, I’ve learned that trust and delegation are essential, but not automatic. Delegation is necessary for people to grow and feel accountable, but it doesn’t mean disengaging: oversight is important, as long as it is discreet and aimed at supporting the work rather than limiting it. It’s a balance that is built over time and requires care and consistency.

I have always tried never to take credit for other people’s work and to acknowledge their contributions. For me, saying thank you comes naturally—not as a polite formality, but as a genuine gesture of recognition. It’s a value that was passed down to me by my parents and that I carry with me every day, including in my work.

It’s in this sense that I identify with the concept of gentle leadership. A form of leadership that does not give up firmness and responsibility, but places relationships, respect, and consideration for others at its core. A way of leading that doesn’t need to raise its voice, but instead seeks to build trust over time.

What are the challenges and goals you are focusing on the most today?

One of the main challenges certainly concerns Mashfrog 4 Procurement. It’s a project I’m investing heavily in because it represents the natural evolution of a journey that began many years ago with SAP and the procurement world, now enriched by Mashfrog’s expertise in artificial intelligence. M4P is an agent-based solution born precisely from this combination of over twenty years of procurement experience and the technological innovation within Mashfrog. The goal is to grow this offering, consolidate it, and position it increasingly effectively by unlocking its full market potential.

At the same time, I’m supporting the development of our overall SAP offering and the strengthening of our long-standing partnership. It’s a strategic relationship that requires continuity, vision, and the ability to engage in dialogue, and one that can represent a significant driver of growth for the Group in the years ahead.

Finally, I’m also contributing to the optimization of internal procedures within Business Development, as well as management systems and the organization of teams in their interaction with the rest of the Group, which has now grown both in size and geographically. Working on these aspects means creating the conditions for people to work better, with clearer roles and responsibilities, and enabling the company to grow sustainably over time.

When you’re not working, how do you like to recharge your energy?

When I’m not working, I try first and foremost to take care of myself. Sports play an important role: I practice yoga and Pilates, activities that help me slow down, regain focus, and bring order back to my thoughts. I read a lot, mainly for the pleasure of completely switching off my mind. I prefer genres that allow me to step outside everyday life, because for me true rest also comes from shifting my perspective elsewhere, at least for a while.

And then there’s travel, which has always been a fundamental part of my life. For me, traveling isn’t just about moving from one place to another, but about connecting with places, silences, and spaces that help put things back into perspective. The trip to Namibia, which I took last year during a very delicate moment in my life, was especially meaningful: a profound experience, close to nature and to what truly matters, that gave me back a sense of serenity when I truly needed it.

I also enjoy planning trips—perhaps almost as much as taking them. Thinking about a destination, imagining an itinerary, having a project ahead of me is already a way to recharge. In the end, it’s the same approach I bring to work and to life: taking the time, giving value to things, and approaching them with respect and awareness.