BUSINESS SENSE BLOOMS ON THE SOCCER FIELD
Bruno Biasiotta, BBA ’85, approaches his work in the same way he approaches soccer: formulate a stellar strategy, put a solid team in place, and execute with precision. And for more than 25 years, his approach has yielded big results.
Born in Italy, Biasiotta came to the U.S. at age seven. His mom was 39 and his dad 47 at the time, and he and his siblings helped them adapt to life in Cleveland. The family settled in what is now the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood, near the corner of West 69th and Detroit. Biasiotta grew up in the city and attended Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School.
When it came time for college, Cleveland State seemed a perfect fit. “CSU gave students like me the opportunity to attend college,” he says. He credits his years at CSU for “giving me the ability to deal with ambiguity and be agile in my work.” He played soccer for the University and made lifelong friends on the field.
Biasiotta recently left his post as CEO of Philips Lighting Americas after leading the organization through a critical period. With lighting technology changing at a rapid pace, Biasiotta was charged with leveraging Philips’ strengths to grow its market share. His role as CEO included duties such as appearing on Bloomberg News and ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange.
Today, Biasiotta is chief executive officer and president of The GNA Group, an LLC he created focused on helping middle-market business in the area of building technology. He also sits on several boards. His real-world experience running businesses brings depth to his work.
“I like to push myself to see how much I can contribute to make people, organizations, and businesses better,” he says.
Biasiotta maintains dual citizenship and takes his wife and three kids back to Italy any chance he gets. “I am passionate about my birth country,” he says.
Looking back at his CSU days, Biasiotta credits the University with giving him opportunities for leadership and learning he might not have had somewhere else.
“Attending CSU was not a terrible financial burden on my family,” Biasiotta says. “And it gave me the opportunity to play soccer, be in a city, and enjoy the diversity of Cleveland.”
When asked about his life and work, Biaisiotta has just one thing to say. “I have been very, very fortunate.”
