A conversation with Laura Caciagli

Give her spaceships, UFOs and close encounters of the third kind. You’ll make her happy. Get to know Milena Cagnazzo, who manages the Human Resources Function at the CMCC Adminstration office in Lecce. Where a nerdy heart beats.

What’s your job at the CMCC Foundation?
I manage the Human Resources Function within the CMCC Administration. I deal in particular with the management of administrative practices related to the establishment and termination of job contracts, e.g. the preparation and monitoring of payslips and reimbursements, and the support of personnel cost reporting on projects. Moreover, I give my support in updating and implementation of HR procedures.

Which road led you to CMCC?
I studied Philosophy (course of study: Psychology) in Bologna, which made me well aware of what I didn’t want to do: I didn’t want to be a teacher! So, after a Master in Organization and Human Resources Management, I worked at IBM Italia SpA in Milan for about six years within the areas of Human Resources. It was one of the best times of my life, but I was young and I wanted to try new experiences. I sent out my curriculum until one day I was contacted by a little start up dealing with climate science research and based right here in Lecce, my hometown. I had to seize the opportunity?

Is your current job the one you used to dream of as a child?
Well, when I was a child I wanted to be a hairdresser, actually. Then, when I was growing up, I wanted to study foreign languages to travel around the world (this is why I attended a Foreign Language High School). So, I can’t say that my current job is the one I dreamt of when I was a child, but I must say that the “little Milena” is satisfied (so far!).

Could you tell us the best moment in your work life at CMCC?
Obviously, I can’t identify a single moment, there are many, in particular at the beginning of my collaboration with the CMCC, when I had to do everything from zero and I enjoyed the design and implementation of policies and procedures, such as the Job Application Manager. In the beginning, each scientific division was like a separate organization and It was not easy to satisfy everybody’s needs. So, I was very interested in collaborating with them.

What do you keep at your workstation?
Green tea and infusions that I sip for the whole day while working. Moreover, I can’t give up my paper notebooks on my desk and in my bag. Those are the things that make me feel like I am getting old.

How do you travel to work?
For the time being, I like going to work by foot; I live 15 minutes from the office and I take advantage of this situation to exercise. This is one of the benefits of living in a small town.

What do you do in your spare time?
I am the mum of three little children, so almost all my spare time is dedicated to them and my family’s needs. I have very little spare time actually, but when I find some time for myself, I love exercising or relaxing while having a cup of chamomile tea, watching a nice movie, e.g. a thriller or a fantasy movie, or reading a book.

Cinema or literature: give me a title and explain your choice
Stars Wars, since I was a kid. More in general, I love science fiction. Give me a spaceship or some UFOs and you’ll make me happy. Close Encounters of the Third Kind by Steven Spielberg is one of the most evocative movies about my passion, whilst the TV series X-files accompanied my years of university, although the final season recently broadcasted on TV it is not even comparable with the original series…