By Hema Mali

The legal profession is probably one of those sectors that let’s say isn’t the easiest to make headway for the gentle sex.  There are diverse practice areas, and many women do enter the profession, however what happens next is a little disturbing and deserves some attention. 

Let’s take a look at the statistics in the US regarding women in the legal field (naturally take into account a considerable reduction when comparing it to Italy).  42% women leave the profession mid-career, 16% women are equity partners however our honourable corporate sponsor, Latham & Watkins boasts 17% of women equity partners (in the US).

This has been possible due to several initiatives launched by the firm like WEB, or Women Enriching Business which promotes women in business by creating broader networks and mentoring amongst other activities and the PRO RATA program giving associates returning from parental leave an option to work a reduced pace without seeking prior approval, which incidentally was recognised by Working Mother magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers as a “2009 Best Law Firm for Women.”  (What it fails to mention is whether the same women can continue up the corporate ladder.)

Fantastic, however, one of my greatest perplexities before visiting Latham in Milan to interview PWA corporate sponsor was whether the facts were a phenomenon to the US or whether it was also reflected in Italy.  In Italy, there are 13 female lawyers out of a pool of 40.  On the other hand, there is only one female partner out of 9. Ok, so some discrepancies but always room for improvement. Next, did the firm make the generous provisions that the American counterpart boasted?

The first impression was rather pleasant.  One has stereotypical images of the ball-busting successful female professional.  The reality was somewhat different.  I was met by two very charming women – Isabella Porchia and Maria Cristina Storchi – No doubt they have additional characteristics when engaged in business.

The so called female “avvocati d’affari” generally associated to the highest fee-earners, in Italy is a rare phenomenon with such a privilege bestowed to men.  The typical deals made at the dinner table which female presence tend to be omitted especially if they are deemed to have a family commitment.  Indeed small wonder that women even follow this practice area given the hours one is required to work on proposals.  Thus only the most determined women will continue this direction and generally those that are willing to give up a family life or at least have supporting partners. 

It is likely that this is a global challenge that many women have to face.  Some geographical locations tend to make this choice easier than others.  This is where the Mediterranean culture takes over.  Our interviewees in fact are successful but at a price.  Despite the understanding of colleagues and flexibility offered by Lathams, the real problem lies within the Client, and this is not an attitude that can be controlled or managed by the firm.

Herein lies the capability of the lawyer to overcome the resistance and prejudices of the Client towards a female advisor and ensuring her availability and naturally you must be prepared to work doubly hard to prove yourself.  Once the impasse has been overcome, the Client tends to be more congenial.  The problem therefore appears to be cultural and mental which is not so easy to change.  Our corporate sponsors would be interested in understanding from other sectors how this problem has been dealt with and learning more about the workings behind female aggression in the meeting room.

One way in which Latham’s has tackled such an issue is to organise neutral events like charity fundraising and exhibitions in which partners and clients can meet at an acceptable time and discuss neutral topics giving the possibility to humanise both parties.

Finally, they have become corporate sponsors of one of Milan’s up and coming female networks.  Welcome on Board Latham & Watkins.

By Hema Mali

PWA Milan is delighted to welcome Sodexo as its new corporate sponsor.  Needless to say, the name speaks for itself as a world leader in Food and Facilities Management services, with more than 355,000 employees on 30,600 sites in 80 countries. For Fiscal 2008, which closed August 31, 2008, Sodexo had revenues of 13.6 billion euro. Listed on Euronext Paris, the Group has a current market capitalization of 5,8 billion euro.

In Italy Nadia Bertaggia, the HR Director of Sodexo is a firm believer that it’s the people that make the company.  It would appear that she has her work cut out for.  Nadia left at a young age to study in the UK.  After graduating from the Imperial College in London, she returned to Italy to pursue a career in Human Resources. One of the main challenges she saw was that Italian companies did not have structured tools & processes.  Moreover she had to face stiff resistance to make any changes. 

Several years on and having acquired competences in organisational change, she has been called onto do the same for Sodexo. The challenge and resistances remain the same; however she has an added challenge.  One that she thought would not have created a problem.  That is Woman.  She is finding out that the women in her company lack the drive or ambition to enter the echelons.  They tend to be insecure of their capabilities.  Nadia is the only member on the executive board and there are only a few women in a managerial role.

Nadia decided to sign her company as corporate sponsor of PWA in the hope to infuse the professional women’s culture into her employees.  She recognises that her biggest challenge will be to change the mindset of both men and women despite of having presented several initiatives to put in place a business structure.

Some initiatives that have been presented are attracting and retaining employees.  Introducing training, appraisal and reward schemes, transparent compensation plans.  Although common in most anglo-saxon corporations, the fact that it is being introduced at a root level means that there is hope for meritocracy to be established right from the beginning.

Moreover, she is hoping that like-minded professionals facing similar problems can help share solutions and best practices.  Welcome on board Sodexo.  PWA embraces women in the frontline of change.

by Hema Mali

The intervention of Lorella Zanardo at the PWA speaker meeting could not have come at a more timely moment at this particular crossroads of my life.  Just before leaving for the event, I had been discussing with the father, the merit of raising our son in Italy.   My concern regarded relationship with females, opportunities, a point of reference, enforcing values when we are constantly bombarded by an environment where breaking rules is the norm and the power of the media.

It was much to my chagrin that my son had started to watch Italian television in particular quiz shows abound with showgirls.  He was even familiar with the names and had his favourite velinas’.  He even thought that Victoria from Wheel of Fortune was pretty and I had to explain that she looked hideous because it was evident that her lips and breasts had been re-done.  How do you explain to a seven year old that she had been exploited?

Even worse to hear comments that the Italian Prime Minister was a “figo” by males from my generation simply because he was still doing it at the age of 72 and that there was nothing wrong with an old man doing it with someone old enough to be his grand-daughter.

I don’t want my child to grow up in this environment because what I see are more and more people brainwashed and I can only but explain it by what they see and read in the media.  If today’s new parent generation can switch their thinking to the acceptability of treating women as sex objects – a step back in time, what hope is there for the children of today.  I too fell victim, not having my point of reference in Italy, to the fact that the woman had to be immaculate and have a perfect presence at all times.  Being bombarded by these images, I too was nearly convinced that this is what was expected – by whom, society?  Who predicts what society wants?  Not only, but any success that a woman gains is justified, usually by men, that they must have conceded sexual favours to have had that success.  More so, after seeing the “Infedele” transmission, it confirmed the concept that Italian society is being brainwashed that exploitation of women is acceptable.  The most shocking of all is how successful Italian women in the media (not only) subject women to the same humiliation.  If this is a vicious circle, what hope is there of change?

Thus, I was happy to have heard Lorella’s presentation because it filled me with a little hope.  More so when I watched her documentary and her blog and the work she is doing going to schools to send the message not to be influenced by what they see on TV.  She externalises her anger in a calm and positive way and not by criticising Italian society but by using effective communicative methods to make people aware.

I was also moved by how she used her time, in a period of crisis, and over the Christmas period usually dedicated to family, constructively to produce such a masterpiece.  Using the same arms that try to destroy our dignity and to convert it to reveal just how ridiculous it is.

This leads me to the following question.  If the media today is a mirror of the Italian society, if the young generation of today, in particular women were to have the possibility of creating their own TV program, what kind of programs would it be?

by Hema Mali

If you read the heading of the article and your first reaction was an air of disgust at the word Secretary, you should introspect and ask yourself why.
Do you consider the role demeaning and unprofessional?The context is missing. If we were in England or the US or even some Asia Pacific countries, “secretary” or even personal assistant could take the form in the traditional sense but it could also assume the professional role of the right hand person of the CEO. It is not uncommon that these figures usually hold a powerful role.

In Italy however it is a different story. “A life of a secretary” is a book of short stories by a woman who has held several posts as secretary/assistant in Italy and the humiliation and difficulties faced in each one. A woman (or man for that matter) of integrity is not so easy to find: one woman’s battle I am glad to say that stood her ground even if that meant risking her job on several occasions and opportunities of progress.

The author who goes by the pseudonym Annalisa Vergani was born in Bergamo in 1966 and has a degree in foreign languages and a master in human resources management.
She begun to work as a Scientific Secretary at the European Institute of Oncology and after six years decided that it was time to change and to have other experiences.
In the last 9 years she changed several jobs, always looking for a boss that could appreciate her skills and her potential.
It was a mission impossible! But on the path of knowledge she learnt many things and more importantly direction and self esteem.

Annalisa decided to write the book because she had the need distance herself from all the negative experiences. Annalisa Vergani is the nickname used as author of the book
probably due to the need to put a distance between her and the things she had to bear.
The purpose of the book is to underline behaviours that are not acceptable neither in the office or at home with humour and irony (taking it seriously would be a real tragedy!!) hoping that in the future nobody has to suffer these kind of things.

Having started to read the book various aspects emerge. It’s definitely a good book for people that are considering coming to Italy. It is unfortunately a reflection of Italian society. How men generally perceive women and how many women have reacted to appease them.

I remember when I first arrived in Italy and the awe entering a multinational upon seeing scantily clad women in the office place. I put it down to cultural difference and maybe the British were a little prudish in their dress sense. Nevertheless the short hemline would certainly be cause for distraction.

The author was once asked by foreign women why they had difficulty interacting with Italian women. The answer she replied was simple. Women are judged not by their intelligence or professionalism, but by their elegance and how many heads turn when you enter a room.

Upon reading the book, one can feel and even re-live the frustrations that the author experienced. There are many women out there that are disadvantaged due to the fact that Italy is still very male dominated. On the other hand I can say I have met several professional women in Italy and so clearly there has been some progress especially in the multinational companies.

The author sends a distinct message to us all-to hold on to our dignity. If your environment makes you feel intimidated and inadequate, the chances are YOU are not.

Technovisionaria: A woman capable of generating innovation and “inventing the future” creating technologies.

 The IT sector is one of those areas under-represented by women.  Historically it was perceived as a male industry, but with the constant evolution of technology many companies are seeing the benefit of women’s natural talent with regards to the appliance of technology in industry.  After all, what good is technology if it cannot be used. 

 That is why I decided to write this article regarding the success of a young woman who had an innovative idea regarding communication between robots and humans which eventually captured the interest of NASA.  I had the honour of participating to the presentation of her project which she is currently elaborating at the National Institute of Informatics in Tokyo.  The project regards “Cross-domain collaboration on the web”, thus analysing conversation between people and machines when collaborating on the web with the scope of defining new technology that provides for the users needs when for example conducting meetings. 

 The story is not only amazing for the fact that a woman managed to gain such a prestigious recognition in the IT field, by the way she was one of the three finalists for “The Technovisionarie” award ideated by Didael with the conference for Women and Technologies in Milan, but also for the fact that she managed this against all kinds of adversities.  This is a story of one woman’s determination to realise her dream.

 This extraordinary woman goes by the name of Nik Nailah Binti Abdullah.  Raised in a Muslim middle class family in Kuala Lumpur, Nailah left her country to study in Europe.   She won a Bourse from the Malaysian government to study a doctorate (PhD) in Computer Science in Montepellier, France, where the lessons were conducted in French, a language she is not familiar with.  With a good translator, she managed not only to carry out her studies but she continues to collaborate with the university and also is a researcher in Tokyo.

 The clear message to all is that with strong determination we can achieve our dreams.

For all the PWA techies, you can learn more about her project following the link below.

http://sites.google.com/site/niknailah/

Hema Mali

Last month saw the fusion of the three most historical Development Cooperatives in Milan – that of Lampugnano, Rogoredo and Egualianza di Trenno to form EC.CO.POLIS, in the increasing effort to reduce construction costs and provide accessible housing to all and to make Milan an easier place to live. Just to fill you in to those unaware of the Cooperative concept – this allows anyone for a small fee to become a member and in return, one has priority to purchase or rent low cost housing (which from the mouth of the President, is not guaranteed!).The presentation was attended by council officials, Masseroli and Penati to have their say and defend the constant criticism on protecting Milan from becoming a concrete block. The idea is to attract people to live in Milan who are otherwise deterred by the high cost of living and inadequate transportation system. Houses should be available to rent for &#euro;500 a month. Purchase price should be around &#euro;2000 a sqm. The projects are intended to attract low income families, singles, students and pensioners whereby a whole series of social services from leisure to security and schooling are provided for on the complex thus not having the need to leave the area.

Those living in the centre of Milan for sure would not welcome a greater influx of people to increase further the “concrete blocks” that already terrorise certain parts of the Milanese skyline. On the other hand, the projects in question are proposed for the periphery like Certosa, Pero, Rogoredo, Settimo Milanese and all services provided “on-site” would ensure that nobody leaves the home! Another issue to consider is viability and whether public transport system and the roads will be developed hand in hand to deal with the mass exodus of inhabitant in and out of the city centre.

A further point that was not considered was whether to promote commercial and office space close by so as to prevent congestion in certain areas.

What is certain is that these projects will go ahead and are being put to tender as we speak. On one hand, it is good news that the Municipal is being active in creating alternative housing to meet the growing gap between the social classes, on the other it could be the start of small ghettos that turn into the likes of Quartoggiaro.

As residents of Milan, I would be interested in your views in this project and maybe we will be able to voice our opinion to the developers and the Comune of Milan.

Hema Mali