Interview with Dario Righetti

Good morning. Today we have the pleasure of hosting Dario Righetti, a well-known and highly respected professional who, after an intense career first at Andersen and later at Deloitte, now holds key positions in prominent Italian family groups and public companies.

Righetti joined Picco Lecco in 1971, at just 14 years old, and has since covered every possible role: player, coach, manager, parent — and today, President. For years, he has led one of the most vibrant and deeply rooted volleyball organizations in the Lecco sports community, with passion and vision.

Picco Lecco is not just a team that has competed in the women’s national Serie A2 championship for the past three seasons: it is a sporting, educational, and cultural project that for over 50 years has promoted the values of sport, family, education, inclusion, and positive competition grounded in enjoyment.

With us today is its President — a man who has made the club’s core values his banner — whom we sincerely thank for his time.

In a recent interview, he said:

“Picco is not just volleyball – it’s a human project, an ecosystem where every girl can grow both as an athlete and as a person. That is our true victory.”

President Righetti, let’s start right there…

Q: Team and Leadership. As President, how important is it for you to maintain a direct relationship with the athletes and their families? What does it mean today to be a leader in a sporting environment full of young people – with expectations, emotions, great passion but also significant pressure?

A: A Family that Educates. “The heart of Picco beats above all for its educational purpose. With around 180 registered athletes and a youth program recognized by the FIPAV with a Quality Seal, the club – through about thirty managers and coaches – strives to make the sporting experience a true school of sport and life.

This was beautifully expressed in a letter recently written by a young under-18 athlete, after nearly ten years with us since mini-volley and shared on social media:
‘Thank you for helping me understand that a team can become a family. Thank you for believing in me when I couldn’t believe in myself.’

Reading those words moved us deeply and gives us a sense of responsibility, because it means we are sowing something genuine – together with our families and schools.”

Q: Communication and Identity. Personalized jerseys, motivational videos, strong social media presence – how does Picco Lecco communicate with the younger generation? What does it mean for you to be “positive role models” in such an exposed era?

A: Social Commitment, Culture, and Tourism. “From scholarships for sporting and academic merit for under-16 and under-18 players, to the long-distance sponsorship of a girl in East Timor, to our Picco Green initiative, the club has linked its name to numerous social causes.
We want our athletes to grow up aware that there are people in the world less fortunate than themselves — and that the privilege of playing sport also carries a responsibility to give something back.

There’s also a cultural dimension: with the project ‘Libero is a New State of Mind’, the team created twelve jerseys dedicated to the characters of The Betrothed, in collaboration with the Municipality of Lecco and the Lecco Urban Museum System, marking the 150th anniversary of Alessandro Manzoni’s death. The initiative went viral and was appreciated well beyond the local area.”

Q: Values and New Generations. Picco Lecco also joined the “Io Tifo Positivo” (I Cheer Positively) project, which promotes healthy and responsible support among young people. How important is it for you to educate young fans – and athletes – about respect and sportsmanship?

A: Consistency and Respect. “Joining Io Tifo Positivo was a natural choice, fully aligned with our principles, following the suggestion of Lecco’s Sports Councillor, Emanuele Torri.
We believe that sport must first and foremost be about fun, education, and respect – both on and off the court. We teach our athletes that the real opponent is never an enemy, but a fellow traveler.

The same applies to our supporters: we want cheering to be enthusiasm, encouragement, an example for the youngest fans. When a child walks into the gym and finds a healthy, welcoming environment, she’s more likely to stay. That’s where true victory begins.

You can win or lose a match, but in sport – especially at youth level – you never really lose.”

And he adds: “Keep believing with us. Every gesture, every cheer, every smile is part of something bigger. Sport unites, educates, and builds. This is the daily challenge of all Picco Lecco collaborators and sponsors, whom I will never thank enough.”

Q: Beyond Every Obstacle. This has been a season of true fighters. What made the difference?

A: Determination and Heart: The Strength of the Team. “Securing our place in Serie A2, after a long and hard-fought season, was an achievement we’re proud of. We knew it would be a tough championship, but we never stopped believing. Staff, athletes, management – everyone rowed in the same direction. Cohesion and team spirit made the difference.”

Q: Long-Term Vision. At a time when many clubs chase only immediate results, your decision to play in Serie B1 to strengthen the youth sector with the right resources sends a strong message of responsibility and consistency with the values you’ve shared. What does this step represent for you, and what message do you want to send to the volleyball community?
And finally, if you could ask one thing of Italian sport, what would it be?

A: The Future: Strong Roots, Forward Vision. “After more than 50 years of history, our ambition is to keep improving without losing our soul. We care less about standings and more about being a community, a family, a point of reference for Lecco and for those who love sport. We don’t want to be the best club in the area, but the best club for the area. 
What I’d ask of Italian sport is greater trust and attention toward grassroots organizations like ours. We need to value the silent but essential work done by local clubs. I’m not just talking about financial resources – though those matter – but about visibility, support, and the tools to grow without losing one’s identity. 
Sport is a school of life, a formative experience, and clubs like ours are among the most important training grounds where young people learn rules, respect, and team spirit.”

President Righetti, thank you for sharing your time and for helping us understand what it means today to lead a club like Pallavolo Picco Lecco — a club that doesn’t just play volleyball, but educates, builds relationships, and sows values.

Best of luck for the upcoming season… and may you continue to enjoy every moment, both on and off the court!