Roger Abravanel is not a proponent of quote rosa to promote equal opportunities for women. Rather, he describes himself as “a friend of meritocracy”: excellence should drive leadership and not family name, gender or where one is born

Join us to hear from this celebrated author, blogger and advocate who will discuss themes from his latest book and update us on the status of his affirmative action project aimed at increasing the number of women serving on boards of Italian companies.

Going beyond the traditional condemnations of its absence, he will discuss why meritocracy is key for economic development, how successful societies promote it and why in Italy it is not properly valued. He will elaborate on the four action steps he proposes to promote a culture of meritocracy – including an affirmative action plan.

Reviewers of his book have defined Roger as a visionary. He wrote “Meritocracy” and launched his affirmative action project well in advance of the many current proposals on the subject.

About Roger
Roger Abravanel was Director of McKinsey & Company where his career spanned 35 years. He is currently an advisor in the private equity sector and sits on the boards of several Italian companies including Luxottica Group. He serves as president of the INSEAD Italian Council. His blog at Corriere della Sera takes its name from his book, Meritocrazia: Quattro proposte concrete per valorizzare il talento e rendere il nostro paese più ricco e più giusto (Meritocracy: Four concrete proposals to increase the value of talent and make our country richer and more equitable). Born in Libya, he emigrated to Italy as a young adult and earned a degree in chemical engineering at Milano Politechnico and an MBA at INSEAD. Read his blog here

Cocktails 7-8 p.m. / Presentation 8-9.30 p.m.
Hotel NH President, Largo Augusto 10 (MM San Babila)

Free for members, €20 for guests, payable by cash at the event.
Members, please register on EPWN

For guest reservations please email speakers@pwa-milan.org

All professional women welcome whether members or guests.

Roger Abravanel wrote an interesting comment on how the lack of women in Italian boards will negatively impact their performance.

The article was published on Il Corriere della Sera last saturday and is posted on his blog Meritocrazia. Abravanel’s position on Women on Boards is perfectly in line with the goals and spirit that drove our Ready-for-board Women initiative: we are not asking to appoint more women because of equality, but because of merit.

If you wish to read the article, please click here.