Meet our Manager, M&A and Project Financing, Elisa Princivalli

Q&As with Elisa

Who are you?
I am Elisa. I am Italian, from Padova – close to Venice, if you are not strong in Italian geography – but I moved away when I was 19. I have lived in Brisbane, Brussels, and eight years ago I moved to Copenhagen. Unsure where to next!

How would you describe yourself?
The first two adjectives that come to mind are positive and determined. I am always up for a new challenge, and I always find a way to reach my objective, no matter how difficult it might seem. I smile a lot – to friends, colleagues, and strangers on the street – because I think a friendly smile can genuinely make your day. I am very active, to the point that people sometimes wonder where my energy comes from. I simply want to make the most out of every single day.

What do you do at European Energy?
I am Deputy Head of the Divestment Management Office – or the DMO, as we call it – within the M&A and Asset Financing team. Together with my team, we are the strategic arm of the department: we own the divestment portfolio, set the strategy for our projects across different markets, and make sure everything is ready before going to market. Concretely, this means working with colleagues across project development, finance, treasury, and EPC to assess where each project stands, align on timing, and ensure that the impact of transactions across the business is understood and well-managed. We also report regularly to senior leadership and the Board, which keeps things exciting and never dull! Before this role I worked in Asset Management, and later as M&A and Project Financing Manager – so I have had the chance to see European Energy’s projects from development all the way through to divestment, which I find incredibly rewarding.

How do you try to be a creative enabler of the green transition?
In my work at European Energy, I contribute directly to getting renewable energy projects to market – and finding creative solutions to the challenges that come up along the way is a big part of the job. In my personal life, I try to live consistently with those values: making environmentally friendly choices, sharing what I learn with people around me, and hoping to inspire at least a few of them to think differently. The green transition needs all of us!

What are the best things about working at European Energy? 
Definitely the work environment: international, inclusive, and dynamic. European Energy is a company where everyone’s opinion is genuinely heard, in an almost hierarchy-free culture. We respect each other, we take care of each other, and we love spending time together – which creates a safe environment where everyone can grow. After five years, many of my colleagues have become close friends, and that says everything.

Why is it important for you that European Energy is a driving force in the green transition?
Because the time to act is now – we see it in the news every single day. It makes me genuinely proud to know that my everyday work contributes to building a better future for the next generations. That sense of purpose is something I carry with me.

What are the best things about your colleagues?
They are brilliant professionals, incredibly supportive, and come from wonderfully diverse backgrounds. Whenever I face a challenge, someone is always willing to help until it is resolved. And over five years, they have become much more than colleagues – we spend time together outside of work and have become real parts of each other’s lives. That is truly remarkable.

European Energy has six core values. In it together, Excitement, Inclusion, Agility, Trust & Courage, and Ambition. What are the most important values for you and why?
I strongly believe all six values are equally important. But if I had to highlight a few: In it together has been with me since day one – there is a real sense of shared purpose here. Trust and Courage shapes how we work: people trust you with your responsibilities and encourage you to speak your mind. And Agility – the ‘find a way’ attitude – is something I see and practice every single day.

What has been your best experience so far at European Energy?
From a social perspective, the company trips and Christmas parties – no question. From a professional perspective, being promoted to Deputy Head of the DMO and building the team and its processes from the ground up has been a career highlight. Seeing a function grow from an idea into something that genuinely shapes the company’s strategy is something I am very proud of.

What do you like to do outside work?
I love being active in nature – I never say no to a hike or a workout with friends. I grew up skiing every weekend in the Dolomites and I miss it terribly, but every chance I get to be on a slope, I take it. I love travelling, discovering new cultures, and trying new things – a new sport, a new dish, anything that gets me out of my comfort zone. And I never say no to a glass of wine or a long phone call with friends and family back home. The two-hour calls with my loved ones are honestly my favourite evening plans.