FORMULA Ep.04: The Intertwining Company

Among the hills of Vicenza, in Valdagno, the history of a company shines—a company that has managed to evolve into new dimensions without losing touch with its roots.

Let’s discover Zordan, which creates luxury retail spaces and embodies the duality between traditional craftsmanship and the energy of modern industry.

In the third episode of FORMULA, we share what we learned.

For Zordan, doing business means weaving together stories and visions, leaving room for new growth models and shared values, in a seamless framework that embraces sustainability and innovation. From the woodworking workshop of the founder, Attilio Zordan, to the international company of today, Zordan has evolved not only in its practices but also in its corporate culture.

In 2009, following a generational transition, the company passed into the hands of the Zordan siblings—Maurizio, Marta, and Alfredo—who immediately felt the responsibility of building a stable and forward-thinking governance. This awareness pushed them to structure the company in such a way that the legacy of the past could be combined with the agility needed to respond to modern challenges.

With the aim of consolidating its positive impact, in 2016, Zordan became a B Corp and then a Benefit Corporation, adopting a model that objectively assesses the environmental and social wellbeing it generates. It’s not just about certification: it’s a commitment to prosperity that includes not only economic growth, but also the wellbeing of people and respect for the environment.

Over the years, the growth in volume and clients brought Zordan to a critical moment, where the traditional organizational model proved inadequate. So, in 2018, the company began a transformation inspired by Frederic Laloux’s “Teal” model, which promotes self-organization and shared responsibility, seeing organizations as a reflection of historical evolution. However, this was not just a simple adaptation of a predefined model, but rather a continuous evolutionary journey, where the organizational structure becomes a reflection of the company’s identity and values.

Today at Zordan, teams work autonomously, each dedicated to building deep relationships with a single client, guided by the values of Prosperity, care for people (People), and respect for the planet (Planet). This organization allows Zordan to truly respond to the needs of each client, while simultaneously valuing the skills of each individual and creating spaces for growth, fulfillment, and belonging.

Here, everyone knows they are part of something bigger—a virtuous engine working to create real and sustainable value.
For Zordan, making an impact means leaving a positive trace—something that lasts over time and makes a difference, not only for the company but for everyone involved: employees, clients, suppliers, and the environment.

The goal is to contribute to tangible change, aware of having both an opportunity and a responsibility: to restore a social and environmental balance that has been out of kilter for a long time, with many more tools at our disposal than previous generations. Achieving this does not mean abandoning the essential elements of a past that also had negative consequences, but rather continuing this legacy in an innovative and respectful way, through constant reflection on the common good and the future generations.

An example of this commitment is the Zordan Museum, a tribute to the local area and community that have inspired and supported the company over time. It is a place of memory and future inspiration, while also serving as an element of identity that welcomes those who join the company, making them part of Zordan’s cultural fabric and mindset. Another example is the Zordan Academy, a project launched in 2021 to introduce school-age children to manufacturing and productive professions.

Several key lessons emerge from this experience, which can be summarized as follows:

• Innovation can stem from roots: There is no need to abandon the past. Innovation can draw strength from traditions, creating a balance between what has been and what will be.
• Put the community and the territory at the center: A business is not just an economic activity; it is an element that is rooted in and grows together with the territory and its community.
• Build a narrative of responsible growth: Zordan represents an example of a company that grows consciously, respecting the environment and its social connections.
• Transform the past into energy for the future: One must learn from the past without being paralyzed by it, and use these connections and its history as a source of energy to face future changes.
• Embrace change as an opportunity to evolve: A company should not fear change, but should be able to experience it as an evolving dynamic — a natural and continuous process that allows it to constantly adapt to history.

Want to know more? Listen to the full episode of FORMULA.

This first edition of Formula is produced in Italian. New episodes in English will also be coming.