Shifting Gears
Former men’s tennis captain discusses career working for international automotive giants.
When Davide Callegari, ’19, ’21, joined the University of North Dakota men’s tennis team, his impact was immediate.
Originally hailing from Padova, Italy, he wanted to enhance his international student-athlete experience. He became heavily involved in student groups on campus and was named team captain his senior year.
For those who knew him on campus, it was no surprise when he joined the finance department at Porsche Middle East/Africa in Dubai.
“Right away Davide stood out for his passion, drive, and commitment to self-improvement,” said Assistant Athletic Director Tyler Burmeister. “He positively impacts those around him, advocates for others, and seeks connections.”
Davide was the captain of the men's tennis team in 2018-19 and served in UND Athletics leadership group, Hawkademy.
Davide posing with a Martini Racing Porsche outside of the Porsche Experience Center Leipzig.
I have been here for two years and I love the work environment; it’s such a positive atmosphere.Davide Callegari, ’19, ’22
The Road to Porsche
Davide earned his Master of Accountancy from UND by taking online classes during the pandemic while working for Tesla.
“Thankfully, UND was offering this option, which was a nice experience, because I started to work for Tesla as an internal auditor in the Netherlands,” Davide said.
“I still remember the one class I had to attend synchronously in Grand Forks; it was the middle of the night in the Netherlands,” he laughed. “My managers at Tesla were very understanding.”
Like-Minded Connections
Davide found himself back in Italy for his last year of graduate school, working for luxury eyewear brand Luxottica. After finishing his MBA, he secured an accounting position with Porsche in Dubai.
“I have been here for two years and I love the work environment; it’s such a positive atmosphere,” he said. “My team is from all over the world: Italy, Pakistan, Germany, France, New Zealand, India, and the U.S. For me, it’s meaningful to work with such positivity because it fosters constructive criticism.”
He remains connected to tennis, networking with coaches and professionals in the United Arab Emirates. In fact, he’s practiced against several top-100-ranked tennis players, including Denis Shapovalov, a Davis Cup Champion in 2022 and former top-10 player in the world.
Davide credits a mentorship with UND alumna Jill Cholewa, ’77, ’79, as foundational to his professional career.
“It really set me apart to learn these things, because I was prepared to learn and hear feedback from my managers,” Davide said. “That mindset has made all the difference for me in my career.”
