An interview with Alessandra Martinengo, a young Italian businesswoman in London, on gender equality and women empowerment.
by Amina Sofia El-Maghraby, Italian correspondent
Alessandra Martinengo, Class 1989 is a young businesswoman who works as European Lead for performance marketing and e-commerce for an International Company based in London.
To reach this important role, Alessandra completed a series of studies and different experiences around the world, that shaped her career and personality, and she wants to share them with all of us.
After obtaining a specialist degree in Business Economics with 110 cum laude at the Luigi Bocconi University, in Milan, and attending an exchange program in Canada at the Ivey School of Business she decided to enroll for a Master degree at the Indian Institute of Management, considered the best Business School in India, and number 20 in the Financial Times Ranking of Masters in Management in the world.
“I have spent 7 years in India, before as a student and then as a professional in the marketing field, and those were the years when I was becoming a woman”, said Alessandra.
How did the cultural change affected you, being a western woman in such different and diverse country? Which approach did you take?
“India is an extremely layered society and might be difficult to summarise all the differences and whys, but my approach was to go, learn and try to emerge in the culture.
India it’s a place where depending in which city you live in, you cannot get out on your own after 9 pm alone, or where you feel safe coming back at 3 am. Where child marriage is still a thing, but they are a raising economy and a world superpower, with women entrepreneurs working all over the globe.
However, as a woman, there were quite a few things that I had to get adjusted to. Men would be looking at me while I was walking on the road, because of the colour of my skin, some just out of curiosity, because they have never seen a foreigner, and some with less innocence. I used to work in sales, going around in a big city with a scooter trying to find customers who could take in our products, and in those situations, I was mostly going around with a man, and even a simple thing like using a toilet or change a period pad, was something it never crossed their mind.
What really empowered me is that in a place like this everything is possible, I was able to overcome some of the barriers, just by asking what I needed. As a woman, there are things you need to be careful of, like anywhere else in the world, but the biggest learning I took away with me is the willingness to explore and the confidence to ask, without being afraid of the answer”.
Alessandra’s life is an example of what all women should have and most importantly, of what should be considered normal. In fact, to my question, if she ever encountered any difficulties, such as gender prejudices during her studies or career path, she replied that “overall, I have not experienced strong discrimination based on my gender during my studies neither in my career path. I have always been surrounded by people open to differences and I have also chosen universities and companies that embraced the same spirit. For me inclusion needs to be in the DNA of the companies I work for and the people I work with”.
Interesting and very important is the concept of cooperation and the support between women that Alessandra points out, “women plays a fundamental role to make an impact on the future vision of the world of work, with an inclusive point of view and, most importantly, they have to help and support each other and find allies in men”.
According to Alessandra’s opinion on gender gap, the change needs to be systematic, there should be a mind shift strategy. Companies must take into account that differences between men and women exists, however this must not create inequality, on the contrary it should release equity. By taking these differences into consideration and evolving according to them.
“If you think about female leaders and CEOs – continues Alessandra – they need to fit in a system created for men, where you, as a woman, have to give up careers opportunities because you have to look after your children and family, while men can progress freely.
The change needs to be systemic for everyone: for instance, having a nursery option in the office where moms can leave their babies, or like in Germany, where companies have paternity leaves options, so both parents can take responsibilities for the newborn baby.
Companies will need to start implementing these solutions, whether they want it or not, they will need to start thinking of what mechanisms they can put in place to allow everyone to fulfill their full potential, regardless from their gender”.
I have asked Alessandra what does it means for her to have such an important role at work, being a woman, and she replied that for her “it really means having the hands on the wheel and being the pilot; as a woman it means to have a voice and to be able to shape my future however I wantit.
We need to believe that we have a chance, that the change is in our hands.
When we talk about gender inequality or discrimination, we need to realise that it is up to us to make practical moves and no one else can do it for us. The more we talk about it and the more we include people in the conversation, the more we will have an opportunity to make a change”.
Alessandra will be an ambassador at the next “One Young World Summit”, which has been referred to as a “Young Davos”. An arena where young business leaders, are delegated to discuss global, humanitarian, and economic issues and develop solutions to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Topics are chosen by a survey of former delegates. The summit is facilitated by counselors who have been politicians, activists, chief executive officers, musicians. The summit convenes the young talents from every country and sector, working together to accelerate social impact.
Alessandra told me that this is an incredible opportunity and that she is honored to be called to be part of it, her objective is “to understand how I can contribute to make action and change today’s world, starting with my own company and our areas and then move the space of social impact and be more involved”.
“The reason why I wanted to raise my voice and share my story with Wempower – concluded Alessandra – is because I want to empower and encourage other women, saying that they can find their confidence and make a difference in this society, by pursuing their goals and working hard, they can be the change they want to be”.