Camilla Assenza
Camilla Assenza is an innovation and strategy consultant with a passion for helping organizations evolve ahead of disruption. She currently serves as Associate Director of Commercial Strategy at Proto, a WPP company, where she partners closely with clients to diagnose complex strategic challenges and design future-ready go-to-market strategies. Based in New York City, Camilla is known for blending rigorous analysis with creative problem-solving to unlock new business models and growth opportunities.
With a background spanning strategy consulting, innovation advisory, and financial evaluation, Camilla has worked with global teams across industries including technology, finance, biotech, and pharmaceuticals. She began her career in consulting immediately after completing her studies, holding roles at firms such as KPMG, Recombinators, and JECatt before joining Proto, where she quickly advanced to become the youngest Associate Director in the firm’s history. Her work often focuses on guiding traditionally hardware-driven organizations through the transition toward digital, service-oriented, and first-of-their-kind offerings—helping clients stay ahead of change rather than react to it.
Camilla holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management and two master’s degrees in Management and Finance from Hult International Business School, where she graduated with distinction in a highly multicultural environment. Originally from Italy, she has lived and worked in Milan, Dubai, Boston, and New York, experiences that shaped her culturally fluent and adaptable leadership style. Outside of work, Camilla is a former volleyball player, an avid traveler, a professional salsa dancer, and a committed mentor, reflecting her belief that curiosity, discipline, and balance are essential to sustained success.
• Digital Strategy
• CAE
• Bloomberg Market Concepts
• PowerPoint: Silicon Valley Presentation Secrets
• Hult International Business School- Master's
• Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore- Bachelor's
• Hult prize Competition -Startups
• Woman at Bosh Award - Dubai
• Start-up Day-Learn by doing
• Woman in Business Scholarship
• Became the youngest associate director at her company
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hunger and perseverance, instilled in me early on by my father’s advice to be the “fighting” type rather than passive. That mindset continues to drive my competitiveness and determination, especially when facing challenges.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from my father, who shared a metaphor about two kinds of chickens—one that waits and one that fights for food—which taught me the importance of competing and persisting. That lesson shaped how I approach my career, reminding me to be proactive, resilient, and unafraid to go after what I want.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to learn how to say no, so you can prioritize the work that truly advances your skills and career without overextending yourself.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is the innovation dilemma, where successful companies stop innovating and risk falling behind. At the same time, the shift from hardware to digital and service-based models presents opportunities, and I see AI as a way to streamline menial tasks, allowing leaders—especially women—to focus on empathy and relationship-building.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are prioritization and focus, perseverance and ambition, creativity, and giving back through mentorship.
Locations
Proto
3 World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, NY 10007