Valerie Ryder, creator of the PWA Mentoring Program, talks to CoachMag about the program. Read about it here!

PWA is proud to have the participation and support of Elisabetta Magistretti in the Ready-for-Board Women project. She participated in the panel in the third edition of the initiative.  PWA asks her thoughts on emerging themes during the panel discussion.

Elisabetta Magistretti graduated in 1971 from Bocconi with a degree in Business and Economics. She is a certified Chartered Public Accountant and is enrolled in the National Auditor Register.

Magistretti entered Arthur Anderson in 1972 and became partner in 1984. In 2001 she joined UniCredit Group, as Head of Administrative Government, and from 2006-2009 was responsible for the Group Internal Audit Department.

In 2003 she joined the board of Unicredit Audit; from 2010 she was member of the Audit Committee of Unicredit Bulbank, Bulgaria, and on the Supervisory Board of ZAO Unicredit Russia, where she is president of the Audit Committee. Since 2011 she is member of the Unicredit Logistics Board.

In addition she was on the ManagementBoard of “Organismo Italiano di Contabilità“ (from 2002-2011) and also on the Board of Fondo Interbancario di Tutela dei Depositi (from 2002-2009)

She is currently on the board of Pirelli and Mediobanca and Gefran (since 2011) as independent non-executive director.

What are your thoughts on the third Edition for Ready for Board Women’s (RFBW) theme, “Engaging Men?”
I believe it is fundamental that men be engaged in the process. Without the engagement of men, success for women could be unlikely.

What can women do to better support each other at work?
A mentoring process could be helpful in order to help the younger generation of women to grow and succeed.

Do you have any role models that have helped define your professional goals?
Unfortunately before my generation there were not many professional women working, so it was quite difficult to find role models.

As a role model yourself, what advice can you give to professional women?
I believe that it is very helpful to discuss gender issues in events such as Ready-for-Board Women.  However, in daily life the challenges are the same for men and women and the advice for both is to be professional.

Following the “Quote Rosa” what other developments do you think Italian legislation needs to make in order to support gender equality at work?
I think that the law is quite strong. The real issue is work-life balance mixed with the need for enhanced professionalism.

The theme of work-life balance came up several times during the RFBW discussion, especially regarding inequality in the domestic sphere. Is this simply a cultural issue or should there be institutional changes made?
To me the domestic sphere is mainly a cultural issue that is subject to change. Some institutional changes could be needed in certain material respects. For example, the organization of school hours and the care of children could be addressed.

Any general thoughts on the RFBW event?
My impression is that the participation was more effective as the participants feel that something is really moving.

In the past year, what successes have been made in Italy in regard to equality for women? What are the next major challenges ahead?
Obviously the major success was the implementation of the Golfo law. However I strongly feel that the major challenge is that in the future, the need to talk extensively about gender should be reduced since we have been able to reach a substantial parity. And this law gives us a tremendous opportunity.

Dunque ci siamo. O quasi. A quattro anni dall’ideazione del progetto Ready for Board Women, presentato da PWA nel 2008, si è concluso l’iter parlamentare sull’introduzione delle quote di genere nella composizione dei consigli di amministrazione e dei collegi sindacali delle società quotate e pubbliche.

Ne abbiamo parlato, e discusso, mercoledì 29 febbraio nella sede dell’Assolombarda. Eravamo in tante (e tanti): partecipazione numerosa e qualificata.

Monica Pesce, presidente PWA, dopo il saluto agli ospiti ha illustrato le novità di quest’anno del progetto. La creazione del nuovo Advisory Board, con il coinvolgimento di persone che provengono direttamente dal business, con l’intenzione di mobilitare anche gli uomini che devono prendere le decisioni fondamentali nei consigli di amministrazione. La digitalizzazione della lista, che sarà disponibile anche on-line e consultabile in modo più immediato, con aggiornamenti e approfondimenti trimestrali. L’organizzazione di quattro workshop nel corso dell’anno. Verranno condotti da Bonelli Erede e Pappalardo/Valdani Vicari&Associati, Ernst&Young, D’Antona & Partners e Simona Cuomo della SDA Bocconi. Francia e UK dovrebbero essere l’estensione del progetto RFBW a livello europeo. Monica ha anche annunciato che il Ready for Board Women ha avuto il patrocinio dell’Ordine dei commercialisti di Milano.

Alberto Grando, Dean SDA Bocconi e nuovo membro del nostro Advisory Board, ha puntato il suo intervento sulla necessità di far conoscere tutte le competenze presenti nel mondo del lavoro e in questo si è detto d’accordo col progetto di PWA. Un modo per valorizzare al meglio i meriti e le capacità: di fronte al 50% di laureate donne della Bocconi, esiste uno sbilanciamento per quanto riguarda la presenza femminile nei consigli di amministrazione delle aziende italiane, solo il 15-20%, quando va bene. E pensare che molte ricerche hanno evidenziato che le aziende nei cui board siedono più donne manifestano performance superiori alle altre. È un dato di fatto. E allora ben vengano iniziative come Ready for Board Women, una forma di comunicazione che aiuta per lo meno ad aumentare il bacino di utenza delle candidature. Magari anche senza farne prioritariamente una questione di diversità di genere.

Rita Querzè del Corriere della sera e Cinzia Sasso di Repubblica hanno stimolato il dibattito sottolineando come lo sviluppo delle cosiddette quote rosa non sembra aver avuto una velocità abbastanza sostenuta, nonostante le continue dichiarazioni d’intenti arrivate da tutte le parti. A questo ha risposto Stefano Agostini, presidente e amministratore delegato San Pellegrino (Nestlè): la sua azienda ha puntato molto sui giovani e sulle donne, donne che avevano magari necessità di allontanarsi dal lavoro per maternita, ma alle quali è stato consentito di rientrare in azienda, evitando che la loro vita personale rallentasse la carriera. Ma c’è ancora molto margine di miglioramento, ha sostenuto Rita Querzè, snocciolando dati sulla rappresentanza femminile nei consigli delle aziende italiane. Ancora pochissime donne. Ma facendo l’importante esempio di una donna PWA, Laura Iris Ferro, attuale presidente del Cda del Pio Albergo Trivulzio del Comune di Milano.

Ferro ha raccontato la sua esperienza, sostenendo che spesso le donne hanno fatto meno passi avanti nel privato che nel pubblico. Con una certa propensione delle donne a non proporsi con determinazione quando hanno a che fare con figli e problemi familiari. Insomma, sostiene Cinzia Sasso, la rivoluzione delle donne è ancora una rivoluzione incompiuta, soprattutto a livello culturale. E provoca Luigi Arturo Bianchi (CdS Intesa San Paolo, CdA Banca Generali e Benetton) chiedendogli se lui non si sente a disagio, durante i consigli di amministrazione, di avere intorno tutti uomini, tutti uguali, tutti vestiti allo stesso modo.

Bianchi ha sostenuto che ritiene esagerata l’enfasi data ai consigli di amministrazione, tentando di smitizzarne l’importanza, e nello stesso tempo sostenendo che in Italia il problema è in particolare una questione di potere: le donne sono in generale escluse dal potere. Che vede la presenza delle donne soprattutto nelle posizioni di staff, difficilmente in quelle veramente decisionali. Ostacoli e condizionamenti che bisogna risolvere col favorire la conciliazione del lavoro con la vita privata. E con il creare opportunità di riequilibrio delle competenze fra uomini e donne.

Elisabetta Magistretti (Pirelli e Mediobanca): non pensiamo solo ai Cda, lavoriamo molto nell’inserimento delle donne nei consigli esecutivi che possano modificare la governance nel suo complesso, cambiare le vecchie regole del gioco. Ed è fondamentale che questo avvenga nelle aziende di tipo pubblico. Dando alle donne una preparazione specifica, così che arrivino nei consigli molto preparate e pronte a imprimere una vera svolta nel modo di intendere il ruolo di ogni singolo componente.

Ma gli uomini possono e vogliono fare qualcosa?, chiede Cinzia Sasso. Stefano Agostini risponde che per la sua esperienza, donne e giovani possono rendere l’azienda più moderna, dinamica e attuale. Perciò ben vengano tutti gli apporti di novità. Anche se, sostiene Bianchi, in termini di fatturato le donne sono ancora lontane dalle possibilità che vengono offerte agli uomini. Forse anche perché meno condizionate e meno legate a clan o lobby.

Alberto Meomartini, presidente Assolombarda, chiude la manifestazione sostenendo che in Italia la cultura dei consigli di amministrazione non è poi così radicata. E la sua esperienza insegna che, uomini o donne che siano, il valore è sempre dato dalla diversità di competenze. E anche questo favorisce la presenza dei giovani e delle donne in tutti i posti decisionali delle società, pubbliche e private.

On Saturday 31st March, Consulenza di Carriera will hold a seminar on “Defining your Professional identity to Improve your Career”
Details: The seminar will be held at the Hotel de la Ville Via Hoepli, 6 20121 Milano (MM Duomo) from 9.00 – 17.00
The prices and programs can be found here. For additional information and subscription, email seminario@consulenzadicarriera.com or call 347 0045864

25-26 May, 360 Entrepreneurship will hold an intensive Workshop Weekend for small business owners looking for new ways to develop and grow their business. The program, through seven workshops, will address relevant topics for small business development.

The program:

1. Practical Social Media to Create More Leads and Get More Clients (Sarah Santacroce, Switzerland)
2. Discover your body’s natural resources for Health, Performance & Self-realisation (Nadiya Day, UK)
3. The Powerful Sales Conversation (Susanna Lindblom, Spain)
4. The Art & Science of Positive Influence: get more of what you want with less hassle (Amy Carroll, Switzerland/USA)
5.  Identify the Power of Challenges and turn them into new Business Opportunities (Kenneth OE Sundin, Sweden/the Middle East)
6. Effective Time Management Strategies (Monique Y. Wells, France)

Details: The price is 395 Euro but PWA members get a 50 Euro discount. The program is limited to 60 participants. The seminar will be hold in Casa Orlandai, c/ Jaume Piquet, 23 08017 Barcelona. More details can be found here.

With news of Facebook filing for an IPO, we wanted to focus our attention on Sheryl Sandberg, the company’s Chief Operating Officer and who the media describes as its “Number 2 executive.”

An interesting New York Times profile came out recently describing Sandberg’s career and her special attention to promoting women in business. Sandberg often speaks about how women must take responsibility for their careers and take credit for their successes in the same way men do.

Following the article, The Atlantic’s Rebecca J. Rosen responded by pointing out how the Times fell into the same traps that Sandberg said women fall into, such as attributing success to luck and mentoring rather than individual excellence. Check it out!

As we near our “Ready for Board Women” event, it is important to look at some examples of companies with strong reputations in diversity here in Italy. We’d like to share Donnalab’s interview of Theano Lianidou, General Manager of Mars Italia. According to Lianidou, Mars Italia’s focus on diversity, work-life balance, and talent development have enabled the company to attract and retain women in the organization.

Mars Italia was ranked sixth in Italy by the Great Place to Work Institute’s survey of Italian companies in 2011. (Sole 24 Ore, 13 December 2010)
Read the full article here

Nellie Kroes, Commissioner for Digital Agenda of the European Commission discussed with a group of MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) about the opportunities related to the digital economy and how not to exclude women.
“I want to get “girl power” into ICT and technology – and by “girls” I don’t just mean the young, but also the young at heart!” she wrote in her blog.
Read her post here.

Cranfield last week presented to David Cameron the 6 Month Interim Davies Report on Women on Boards.
Since the first Davies Report numbers have slightly improved with 21 new women appointed.
Download the report here: http://www.som.cranfield.ac.uk/som/p1087/Research/Research-Centres/Centre-for-Women-Business-Leaders

Our membership has always been wide-ranging in terms of professional background, including women from the corporate world along with entrepreneurs and independent professionals.

This presents a challenge in structuring our activities in such a way that we cover all of our members’ needs. When we began our mandate in 2011 the willingness to put a special focus on the specific needs of existing and potential entrepreneurs was an objective shared by the incoming PWA Board, given that our activities had traditionally been less concentrated in this area.

That is the reason why we have three specific events this fall targeting our entrepreneurs, be they budding or full-fledged:

• October 12 – our sold-out skill-building workshop on how to prepare your venture’s financial plan, held by financial management consultant and PWA Member Lynn Chasson
• November 16 – a second workshop aimed at developing your skills in making effective presentations once you have your business plan, run by partner-level consultant and PWA President Monica Pesce
• November 23 – our monthly speaker meeting focusing on the story of two decades of successful entrepreneurship in a changing world, featuring accomplished businesswoman and past President of EuropeanPWN Margaret Milan

 This is only the beginning. There are a number of new special programs and events to come in 2012!

After a very busy Spring and, hopefully, a relaxing and energizing holiday, we are back to work. Before focusing again on our work we believe it’s important to summarize the most important activities and initiatives that have been organized in the past months and what is still to come.

In the first 7 months of 2011 we have focused on our regular network activities as well as our well-established special programs. We have:

• Organized regular monthly networking aperitivi, in the new successful format that includes a mini-workshop, and monthly speaker meetings
• Launched the second edition of our Ready-for-board Women list, today with 165 women listed – I invite you to read it on our website here
• Launched the second edition of our Mentoring Program, with 26 mentor-mentee pairs working until the end of the year – I invite you to read our 2010 program book, you can find it online on our website here

In addition to the above, our Professional Development Director Valerie Ryder launched the skill building workshop series, with access limited to maximum of 12-15 attendees for a 2 and a half hour meeting focused on very specific topics. Three workshops were held before summer, two more are expected in the Autumn. Our Autumn workshops will focus on entrepreneurs:

• “How to prepare a Business Plan” will be held on October 12
• “How to prepare and deliver effective presentations” will be held on November 16

If we look at the Federation level, as you know our European Platform is undergoing major improvements (and your feedback is always welcome!). In order to take advantage from this powerful resource, remember to:

• upload your photo, so that women who have met you at an event and maybe don’t recall your name can easily find you on the platform,
• complete your bio, let us know what you do and how we can connect, network and support each other
• update your bio, you’ve changed job or reached a new challenging position or have been appointed to a board…let your peers know!

As a Board we try to pursue two parallel and complementary goals :

• support our members in their professional and personal growth through networking and mentoring opportunities as well as inspiring speakers and events
• contribute to national and local initiatives that concretely impact the life of working women and help them reach rewarding and powerful positions

Given the fact that we are all volunteers and our willingness to make an impact implies a lot of time and energy, we would like to take the opportunity to launch a call to action: put yourself forward for a board position and/or as external support to our board. A wider active support to the Board would allow PWA Milan to provide more initiatives and opportunities!

We hope to meet you in the next months at our events and we wish you a successful and interesting Autumn.