Carvolution CMO Léa Miggiano: ‘Enjoying what you do is one of the most important components of success, be it professional or personal’

Léa Miggiano, Carvolution co-founder and CMO, is one of Switzerland’s most inspiring entrepreneurs, and she shares some insights into her personal and professional life with us. Carvolution pioneers car subscriptions in Switzerland: The Bannwil-based startup, founded in 2018, makes it easier and more affordable than ever for everyone to own a car. Carvolution subscribers do not have to worry about the paperwork that comes with owning or leasing a car, and they can get all-inclusive bundles that fit their budget and lifestyle.  

Switzerland boasts countless world-class startups, and our series puts the spotlight on some of the best and most inspiring entrepreneurs and founders to find out what motivates them, what they have learned, and what they do when they are not transforming the world with their innovations. To get this behind-the-scenes perspective, we ask each entrepreneur to complete a short profile and choose at least ten questions from a questionnaire about their personal and professional life. This week, we want to find out what drives Léa Miggiano, co-founder and CMO of Carvolution, a TOP 100 Swiss Startup from 2018 to 2021—ranking fifth in 2021. 

Name: Léa Miggiano
Location: Bannwil/Zürich
Nationality: Swiss
Graduated from: University of St. Gallen in 2017
Job title: Co-founder and CMO of Carvolution
Number of employees: 80
First touchpoint with Venturelab: The TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award 2018

“Carvolution redefines mobility and offers an alternative to buying and leasing a car with its car subscription formula. Customers simply select their car online and pay a monthly fixed price that includes all costs except for petrol.”

Among your friends or your team, what are you known for?
The team and my friends would probably say that I have a lot of energy and resilience. When I decide to do something, I push it hard and motivate those around me. 

What are you most proud of? 
I am most proud of the exceptional Carvolution team and our open, grounded, and friendly culture. The way we all work together and pull in the same direction cannot be taken for granted with our rapid growth. 

What advice would you give to your teenage self? 
In Berlin, I was given the advice by a former flatmate that whatever I do, I should consider whether I would still do it if no one knew about it. It may sound like strange advice, but it always helps me understand whether something brings me personal happiness. And indeed, I believe enjoying what you do is one of the most important components of success, be it professional or personal.

What is your morning routine?
I don’t really have a routine. It depends on how I feel. There are days when I get up at 6.30 a.m., eat breakfast, and read the news. Then, there are also those days when I get up at 7.25 a.m. and leave the house within 10 minutes. 

What does your perfect vacation look like? 
For me, perfect holidays require quite a bit of planning: If the holidays are not exciting and adventurous, I get bored super fast. So I want to do things, be it skydiving, diving, skiing, visiting museums, and eating delicious food. One day at the beach or the spa is enough for me.

What was your dream job when you were a child? 
I never had a specific dream job in mind. But at Carvolution, I definitely have a dream job. I get to work with a super smart and inspiring team, learn new things every day, and have a varied and exciting daily routine. What more could one ask for?

How did you come up with the name for your startup?
An Excel sheet where friends and relatives entered all their ideas. Then, there were the typical criteria, such as whether the domain is still free, the name is understandable in several languages, how easily it can be read, and whether the name can be memorized. Points were then given for this shortlist, and Carvolution won.

What is your favorite productivity hack? 
In the morning, before I start work, I write down five things I want to do that day. I don’t write them down digitally, but old school on a piece of paper. And some of them are small things, but when I can cross them off, I feel super productive. Sometimes, there are days when I have the impression that I’m not making any progress, and then it helps me to at least have these five things off the table.

What is your favorite part about being an entrepreneur? 
That as an entrepreneur, you are never, but really never bored. Because it’s insanely exciting, and there’s always something going on. Things move fast, and you can see how pieces come together and that the work of the team and yourself has a mega impact. 

What is the most challenging aspect of being a founder? 
As a founder, the expectations placed on you and your role change very quickly. A startup moves fast, and your role moves just as fast. You have to keep up on a personal level but also with know-how and skills: Recognize your own weaknesses, work on them, and continue to develop yourself at the same speed as your own job.


Léa Miggiano and Luis Wittwer (COO) at the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award 2021