by Kristina Tool

What can companies do to not lose valuable resources when employees take time for maternity leave? What can women do to remain competitive in the workplace if they take time away from the office for maternity leave? PWA hosted a panel of speakers on February 17 at the Grand Hotel et de Milan and generated a list of tactics that both women, and the companies who value them, can use to continue to benefit both business and women.

The panel was comprised of Barbara Cominelli, Strategic Planning Director at Tenaris Dalmine, Lynn Chasson, EU Controller at Arvin Meritor and Mara Caverni, Partner at Price Waterhouse Coppers – Private Equity Leader.

Questions about returning to work post maternity leave initiated a discussion in which    the panelists spoke candidly about their experiences. Barbara Cominelli explained that a successful maternity leave begins with planning what to delegate, what to reduce and which responsibilities to keep control of while away. 

Lynn Chasson related how her experiences away from work varied with each of her three children. With more than ten years of work experience, she had risen up the corporate ladder and did not want to lose her place while growing her family. Due to company restructuring during her first two pregnancies, she was unable to return to job. During her 3^rd pregnancy she was without work and post pregnancy faced the challenge of getting back into the job market and achieving her pervious level. She started small and actively pursued opportunities through her networks, eventually working for a previous boss who knew that having a family did not interfere wither abilities to perform her job.

Mara Caverni provided a perspective, not as a mother, but as a partner who did not want to lose two strong employees who left for maternity leave. In each case she was able to shuffle her teams and shift their responsibilities to manage projects while these women were away. It was not always seamless but with open communication and a commitment to stay in touch, Mara and her team were able to manage this temporary shift with great success.

All panelists agreed that good planning and outside help were essential to making this work. The discussion opened up to an active Q&A period from the audience, generating more suggestions about what both companies and individuals can do to have a successful maternity leave. Many from the audience contributed to help formulate a list of actions, including Maria Grazia Bizzarri, HR Manager Corporate Function Vodafone. Maria Grazia shared information about Vodafone’s culture of recognizing the value which diversity in the workplace contributes and how they actively cultivate an atmosphere which supports women, something that we hope more companies will begin to do.

With the goals of supporting women and bringing more value to business, the evening’s event produced the following tactics:

COMPANIES:

• Allow flexible schedules
• Allow part time work
• Enable employees to redefine roles and duties
• CEO and top executives must demonstrate support for diversity and set up business to allow women to return
• Educate the employees; produce written guidelines to provide all employees with strategies on how to work successfully with colleagues on maternity leave
• HR to maintain contact and provide guidance during transition
• Make it a goal to manage people by objectives met, not simply physical presence in the office.
• Provide coaching to employees on leave
• Evaluate process in place to manage maternity leave and share success of established programs

 INDIVIDUALS:

• Plan leave in advance
• Decide which duties you can delegate, reduce, keep
• Stay in touch with work
• Strategies to return:
  • Start small, freelance in current field
  • Use professional and social networks
  • Use personal coach to validate your value
• Have support at home
• Don’t stay away too long
• Choose good companies and supportive bosses
• Be clear with your boss and company about your intentions
• Don’t lose your ambition

Women in Italy represent 58% of university students, but occupy only 17% of top management positions. What is it that stops women in their career path? Returning to work after maternity leave is a major obstacle for Italian women. What are the critical factors that determine success? How are companies assisting women in reintegrating into the workplace? What policies are missing that would help close the gap?

Join us for an interactive panel discussion of challenges women have faced and overcome upon returning from maternity leave and what companies are doing – or not doing – to retain talented women and aid them in their professional growth.

The panel will share their personal experiences from both sides: those who have temporarily left the workplace for maternity and the managers who handle their departures and reentries.

About The Panel

Mara Caverni, Partner PricewaterhouseCoopers / Private Equity Leader -  Mara  is a partner of PwC Italy, and since 2005 she has been the private equity leader. She was graduated in economics at Bocconi University. She gained international experience working in Paris and London and is a professor at LIUC University (Master in Merchant Banking)

Lynn Chasson PWA member and EU Controller at ArvinMeritor – Lynn is a Finance professional with over 20 years experience in financial reporting, strategic planning and project modelling.  She started her international career in Mexico/South America and has spent the past 12 years in Europe; currently she is the EU Group Controller for ArvinMeritor (Cameri, NO).  She originally joined PWA in 1999 and has served in a variety of board positions.  Lynn lives in Milan with her husband Andrea and their three children.

Barbara Cominelli, PWA member and Strategic Planning Director at Tenaris Dalmine. -  Barbara holds a Laurea and Master from Bocconi University and has also studied at ESADE, RSM, and Stanford. She is currently Director of Planning at Tenaris Dalmine, responsible for Strategy, Management Control , Industrial Planning and Marketing, overseeing a team of 50 in Italy, Romania and the US. Previously she has held management positions at AT Kearney and was Assistant Professor at Bocconi. She was chosen  Donna Manager 2009 by Aldai/Federmanager. Barbara is married and has one child.

Cocktails 7-8 p.m. / Presentation 8-9.30 p.m.
Grand Hotel et de Milan. Via Manzoni 29, (MM Montenapoleone)

Free for members, €20 for guests, payable by cash at the event

Members please register your attendance in the calendar section of www.EuropeanPWN.net

For guest reservations, or additional information, please contact speakers@pwa-milan.org