Alice Stradi – Senior Manager, Policy – EMEA
From Modena, Italy. Current location: Brussels, Belgium. (To be read in Miranda Priestly’s voice: “An Italian? In Brussels? Groundbreaking.”)
Before joining BSA, I worked as a consultant in EU public policy at Brunswick Group and Altermind, with a strong focus on digital policy, trade, geopolitics, and sustainability. My professional background also includes EU project management and litigation. I left Italy to attend university in France after graduating from high school, and now hold a master’s degree in EU policy from Sciences Po Lyon and a Master of Laws in EU law from the College of Europe.
I joined BSA in May 2025.
What/who inspired you to pursue the career you have today?
My high school French teacher, who introduced me to the EU political project by encouraging me to take part in the Model European Parliament. When he brought the whole class to visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg, I remember thinking, “Someday, I will be part of this, I will work here.” I just didn’t know I would end up doing it as a lobbyist!
What attracted you to work at BSA?
BSA made me feel welcome from the very beginning of the hiring process. Everyone I met was extremely kind to me, and I just wanted to be part of such a friendly team! I also felt that I would have incredible growth opportunities at BSA, both professionally and personally, and did not want to miss out on that.
What’s the most unique part about working at BSA?
Definitely the people! My initial impression of the BSA staff was confirmed when I joined, and now it feels truly great to be part of an international structure where everybody on the team makes you feel welcome, whether they live in Brussels, Washington, DC, or New Delhi. I am amazed every day by how competent, knowledgeable, and friendly all my colleagues are!
Tell us one fun fact about you (that might surprise your colleagues).
Having been a penniless student in France for the first part of my adult life, I had to learn some solid DIY skills to repair whatever was broken inside my apartment. That’s how I ended up trying (and managing!) to fix my leaking washing machine. I am now a proud DIYer, a title which sometimes feels WAY more important than any past academic achievement.
What’s the most meaningful piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Not necessarily a piece of advice, more like a philosophy to live by: If you have not done everything in your power to try to solve a problem, you are in no position to complain. I believe human beings can accomplish amazing things and overcome the most absurd situations if they approach them with a “can-do” attitude, rather than dwelling on their misfortunes.
Do you have any pets, and if so, what do you have?
For the past 13 years, I have had three cats. I adopted them in Lyon and brought them to Brussels when I moved here; they have truly been by my side through thick and thin.
When I was a child growing up in the countryside, I had a pet duck at some point (on top of all the dogs, cats, birds, etc.)! I hope that someday I’ll have a big enough piece of land to have a pet duck again.
How do you unwind after work?
Apart from DIY, I love gardening, cooking, and spending time with my cats. I also play softball on the Brussels women’s team, the Brussels Kangaroos. Over the past couple of years, I have been learning how to pitch, and it has been such an interesting challenge! However, at the moment, I mostly play outfield and third base, and only occasionally pitch in official games, as it is a skill that takes time to master.
