From Banker to Capgemini Board Member: Falleni's Unconventional Rise

When Andrea Falleni left a promising management role at an Italian bank to launch his own software company, even his closest colleagues thought he had lost his mind. He was married with two children and had a comfortable trajectory in front of him. Yet he was convinced the market needed the financial-software solutions he had in mind, and that conviction proved right: after a bumpy first few months, the business grew until Capgemini acquired it in 2012.

Today, Falleni heads Capgemini's Southern Europe region, overseeing nearly 90,000 people, and is one of the few executives to rise from an acquired startup to the group's executive committee. In a wide-ranging interview with Les Echos, he reflects on the choices that shaped his career and offers a clear-eyed message to young people entering the workforce.

His core advice is disarmingly simple: find something you genuinely enjoy. "We spend enormous amounts of time at work," he says. "If you don't love what you do, it becomes very difficult to endure for the long haul." He admits that not everyone shares his level of ambition – some prioritize family balance – but insists that a baseline of financial stability and genuine interest in the work are non-negotiable.

Why This Tech Veteran Says AI Won't Kill Jobs – And What Will Make the Difference

A career built on digital conviction

Falleni studied economics but knew from the start he wanted to work in digital technology. That unwavering belief saw him through the rise of mainframes, personal computers, the internet, and now artificial intelligence. He recalls an era when green-on-black terminals were the norm and what now takes minutes used to take entire days. Each wave of automation, he says, triggered fears of mass job destruction – and each time, the opposite happened. As tools improved, the range of applications exploded, creating more activity and more employment.

Advertisement

The AI fear is just another chapter

That historical pattern is why Falleni refuses to panic about AI. "I see many people who are afraid of artificial intelligence. I think you must not be afraid," he states. Instead, he urges young workers to learn, understand and master AI tools. He is convinced the same dynamic will repeat: certain tasks will vanish, new ones will appear, and entirely new professions will be born. The real risk, in his view, is not the technology itself – it is the individual who refuses to engage with it.

Human skills as the new differentiator

Falleni draws a sharp line between the fate of technical proficiency and human capabilities. Technical skills remain essential, but AI will increasingly handle a portion of that load. Empathy, communication, collaboration, the ability to persuade and to understand client needs – these "soft skills" will become even more valuable. "That is probably the main change I observe today," he says. The winners, he predicts, will be those who combine digital fluency with genuine human insight.

Three Pieces of Career Advice You Can Act On Today

  • Follow your genuine interest. Falleni's own path from banking to tech entrepreneurship was guided by passion, not convention. Ask yourself whether you actually enjoy the work and believe in its future.
  • Don't fear AI – learn it. Falleni's career has spanned multiple digital disruptions, each expanding the job market. Approach AI as a tool to master, not a threat to avoid.
  • Cultivate human skills aggressively. As AI commoditizes routine technical tasks, empathy, communication and collaborative ability will separate your career from the pack.
  • Secure a financial floor. While ambition varies, Falleni insists that living under constant financial pressure makes it difficult to enjoy any professional life. Aim for that baseline stability.