On 18 October, Dominique Ottavi (DO) and Tina Han (TH) discussed their cultural backgrounds and experiences in a lively panel discussion.

Background Information
TH: I am Taiwanese and was 29 years old when I came to Italy. I didn't speak a word of Italian. The company I work for is the second largest computer hardware (motherboards) producer in the world (behind Samsung) and I am their only female manager.
DO: I was born in Corsica and so there is less of a cultural difference with Italy, worked in Paris, spent a year in Colombia and then came back and went to work in a 'world of men' at Aubert & Duval. Fifteen years ago I came to Milan to form the Italian branch. Today, there are 9 of us but I am the only non-Italian. It's not many, but enough.

Q: How did your culture impact how your perception of Italy?
TH: The biggest difference is Ferragosto. When I first came here I thought it was impossible Italy has a month off! The Taiwanese parent company wants us to open so I persuade people to help out and then we do no business. Now I can't live without it and started dreaming of the next one as soon as I got back from my last vacanza! There are so many benefits to it and you can really relax and rediscover your motivation. I think it is essential.
DO: Job titles are a strange Italian phenomenon and in particular Ingegnere. Today it is different but 15 years ago it was like 1900s France. I asked, is my husband a man or an Ingegnere? I want to compete on my own competences and skills and hate the Italian obsession with titles. Well, job titles and street cleaning...
TH: Again ferie, at least two weeks are necessary

Q: What do you find worst about work here?
TH: The bureaucracy and lack of trust. I have given up trying to change Italian culture. When I came here I had to go to the Uffici Stranieri and Taiwan didn't even exist in their systems. They wanted to make me Chinese but I am not! They are our sworn enemies: our passport is green, theirs is red; we aren't communist, they are. Finally, when I got my codice fiscale, I found out I was from country X! Three years later, when I had to go back, Taiwan was on the list but we had now been classed as a national republic of China. So they changed my country, from X to N, and the result was that all of my pension payments were lost. I also disagree that Latin people are lazy. They focus on one thing and that one thing they do perfectly. This is different to China where people know lots of things but don't do them all well. They also have their own opinion and you need to leverage this to lead them using their own motivation.
DO: I agree with Tina about Italian workers. It seems like Italy has no rules or limits but that isn't true. You need to find out how their minds work. All want to improve themselves and, because so many companies are small, they are willing to work in partnership with you. They also have aesthetic considerations that they apply in daily work. This is very satisfying.

Q: Describe the Italian work environment
DO: Close to European rules and similar to France. The quality of the people is high and they really want to work and improve themselves.

Q: Are there differences for men and women?
DO: Italy is more closed to women but it isn't actually that different elsewhere. The problems here are more related to business size.

Q: How do you go about goal-setting and objectives?
TH: I don't see a difference in how I do it in Italy to other places. However, my best customers are Israelis. They make decisions quickly and want to create a win-win situation for me and them. In Spain, Italy and Portugal they spend lots of time trying to bargain and take away my profit.
DO: We built the Italian company from scratch but had to adopt the French parent's structure. I am in the middle between the two and have to marry French rules with Italian fantasy. I think it is different when you have to enter something that already exists here.

Q: What lessons have you learned from being here?
TH: Don't work too much, work to get a better life and don't get so stressed so that it affects your health. The problems I face here are the same as in Taiwan - the business I am in changes rapidly and now we have to compete on price and cost cutting.
DO: The company I work for is an old French family business. To produce a single piece of steel takes a year. The past year has been difficult due to rising steel prices. But we produce only high tech steel that is a niche product with long lead times. The best lesson I have learned from working abroad is that you need to open your mind and see other things. It is a real opportunity to see and learn more about another culture.

Q: Before you came here, what was the best piece of advice you received?
TH: 12 years ago the Taiwanese knew little about Italy and what they thought was based on stereotypes. This distance meant I got little advice. What I would say is that you need to bend, don't expect them to bend to you.
DO: There were no plans to come here. They asked, I said yes and only asked where my plane ticket was! I was the first woman in the company, in fact the first person, to move to another country and to them, Italy was like the far east. I advise that you should move, accept the new culture and don't judge.

Q: We have been talking about work, what about your social lives?
DO: My social life is linked to my working life. I used my work network to create social connections. Balancing work and a family life is difficult for women. I don't have children but I can't say that it was driven by my work.
TH: I do not mix work and social life. Most of my friends here are Taiwanese and this could be due to culture. I don't have children, not because of work but because I didn't find the right man.

Q: Women tend not to ask. How have you asked for what you want eg for a pay rise?
TH: You need to think win-win. You can only ask for more money if you are making money for your company. The company needs to need you and you need to articulate what you need. Present the boss with your dream and given them one to believe in. If you do get any promises, get them to put it in writing.
DO: I am a bad example and don't ask enough. Aubert & Duval is an old company so it is difficult to ask and get. More so if you are a woman.

Q: And finally, why do you stay?
Both: It is a wonderful experience!

PWA would like to extend their very great thanks to Dominique and Tina for sharing their experiences with us.

Rebecca Loades
Vice-President and Webmistress

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