Economy - published on 30 January 2024
Source: Press Office Presidency of the Chamber of Commerce of Treviso - Belluno | Dolomites
Treviso, Jan. 26, 2024. Held at the Treviso – Belluno|Dolomiti Chamber of Commerce was the presentation of the research “Donne e imprenditorialità: Valorizzare la leadership femminile del futuro” (Women and Entrepreneurship: Enhancing Women’s Leadership of the Future) conducted by the Economic and Social Observatory and the Competency Centre of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, which interviewed 30 women entrepreneurs who successfully lead companies in different sectors, demonstrating the different types of women’s leadership.
The morning began with a video greeting from the President of the Treviso – Belluno|Dolomiti Chamber of Commerce Mario Pozza.
This was followed by institutional greetings from Chamber of Commerce Vice President Nadia Zampol, President of the Economic Social Observatory of Treviso and Belluno by Ivo Nardi, and President of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Committee of the Treviso – Belluno|Dolomiti Chamber of Commerce Barbara Barbon.
Federico Callegari, Head of the Studies and Job Orientation Sector of the Treviso- Belluno|Dolomiti Chamber of Commerce, introduced the research.
The event continued with the presentation of research data by Sara Bonesso, Associate Professor of Business Organization and Human Resources Management, Laura Cortellazzo, Researcher of Business Organization and Human Resources Management, Fabrizio Gerli, Associate Professor of Business Organization and Human Resources Management, Giulia Milani, Ph.D candidate Doctorate in Management Department/Venice School of Management, Ca’ Foscari University Venice.
The event concluded with the Roundtable: Entrepreneurial Stories and Challenges in Male-dominated Sectors, speakers included Renza Altoè Garbelotto, Parchettificio Garbelotto srl – Sabrina Carraro, Dotto Trains srl, Lucia Farenzena, Dolomites Dream sas – Nicoletta Milani, MILANI arredamento srl, Laura Trevisson, Meccanostampi srl.
STATEMENTS
Assessore Città Produttive Rosanna Vettoretti
I am really pleased to have participated in this important meeting, discussion, and conference that expresses the value of doing women’s business and the know-how that the female figure can bring within an enterprise, especially for the expressed ability that women have always been able to demonstrate, thanks to the value of resilience that characterizes us, especially in times of crisis. Even now in this period of great entrepreneurial transformation and new dynamics, we will always know how to distinguish ourselves in doing quality business, with a view of doing well, doing better and doing together.
President of the Treviso – Belluno|Dolomiti Chamber of Commerce Mario Pozza
The Treviso – Belluno|Dolomiti Chamber of Commerce – communicates the President of The Chamber of Commerce of Treviso – Belluno|Dolomiti – is not only the funding body of this research on the managerial styles of women-led businesses carried out by the Ca’ Foscari Competency Centre of the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, but believes that at such a difficult time for our area under shock from the acts of violence committed against women, it is necessary to work on the awareness of women’s value and create a new culture. This research gives us insight into how women entrepreneurs and managers work in the productive world. We know well what positive contribution women bring to the enterprise. Certainly, it is essential to take steps forward, and I would say that today a step forward is being taken with this research.
Vice president of the Chamber of Commerce of Treviso – Belluno|Dolomiti Nadia Zampol
This research represents a project that I have particularly close to my heart given my institutional role as Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce as well as a member of the committee for female entrepreneurship.
In a country like Italy where the gender gap is still significant, unfortunately, on so many aspects that affect women’s economic, professional and social lives, we were proud to fully support the need that emerged within the Women’s Entrepreneurship Committee.
The research, moreover – Zampol adds – speaks to all those who do, or aspire to do, business: because starting with stories of women entrepreneurs who have won a reputation in the field, through gritted teeth, a message starts that tells us how important it is, in times of uncertainty and complexity like the ones we are experiencing, to adopt a rich leadership style, able to leverage multiple skills.
The interesting codification of managerial styles proposed by the Ca’ Foscari research team, which I really thank, brought to light not only, of course, the result orientation of our female entrepreneurs, but also the promotion of change, the ability to explore new opportunities, the ability to network, visionary thinking, empathy and people development. But this is not meant to remain – Zampol concludes – the competency profile of women entrepreneurs: their enlightening example tells us that whoever governs a business today cannot ignore dealing with these aspects.
Codifying “the world of values” – says Women’s Entrepreneurship Committee Chairwoman Barbara Barbon – in female entrepreneurship. This is the ambitious goal of this singular research, which masterfully and elegantly combines the two worlds of entrepreneurial action, the more pragmatic one of doing with the more intangible one of feeling, the latter increasingly preponderant and necessary to outline new leadership models.
Specifying the values that women bring and express in their work allows them to put black on white, behaviors, languages, actions, and sensibilities that too often are still mistaken for weakness, when in fact they are lifeblood for authentic and lasting relationships at the basis of ethical business making. Strength, courage, determination, sacrifice, stubbornness, vision, foresight, harmony, beauty, kindness, listening, welcoming, service, if recognized and legitimized, complement by balancing that overbearing and closed male model with which we have grown up and been confronted until now.
The leadership of the future cannot be bought pre-packaged; it must be built step by step. And in a world that is increasingly proving that competence alone is not enough, women with their heartfelt, feminine actions become builders of change and progress in every sphere, be it economic, political or social.
Thanks to this research, the Committee can think about new and important future projects, also in collaboration and synergy with those in our area, bodies, associations, commissions working for and in the interest of women.
A “special” thanks to Dr. Callegari and Prof. Bonesso, who with great sensitivity and vision immediately embraced the Committee’s desire to bring this beautiful research to life. Dutiful thanks also to the Chamber, to those who with dedication have worked for the research, and to our president Pozza, who always shows his belief in the value and capabilities of women, supporting the Committee in all its activities. And again, thank you to the women entrepreneurs interviewed who provided their experience, making themselves an example and reference point for future generations who wish to approach the world of business.
The decision to carry out this research on women’s entrepreneurship was made by the Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Committee together with those who preceded me in the role of President of the Economic Observatory – explains Ivo Nardi, who has been in office since March 2023 – but it is a valuable legacy, in which I am very pleased to now participate in its outcomes.
I think it is very important, also on a social level and not only on an economic level, to highlight the contribution of women in our community, at all levels. There is still – says Nardi – a dangerous remnant of macho culture, proper to weak men, which nevertheless discriminates, or worse, still comes to kill, as we have unfortunately seen too many times during 2023.
And so – Nardi adds – this research takes on the utmost relevance, which, starting from 30 stories of successful female entrepreneurs in our area, analyzes the wealth of behaviors and skills that these women have put in place to establish themselves as entrepreneurs, or even to succeed in being recognized as such, for example, in the context of a generational transition.
The main outcome of the research is that in the end, these women, even in the midst of so many difficulties, have demonstrated a wide range of leadership styles, which are much more suited to current scenarios – Ca’ Foscari experts tell us – than approaches predominantly based on command and authority.
But there is a further dimension that I would like to recall – Nardi concludes – and which emerges from this research: the much tenacity that these women entrepreneurs had to resort to in order to overcome internal mistrust, to assert a decision just because it was made by a “woman,” to detach themselves from behaviors that it might have been convenient to emulate, but which would have distorted their personal vision of enterprise. This, too, is what the research that will be presented at the Chamber of Commerce on February 26 tells us: with these values of significance, I am very proud, as President of the Economic Observatory, to take it over and disseminate it among all the 28 Members who support it and to the entire territory.
The research “Donne e imprenditorialità: Valorizzare la leadership femminile del futuro” (Women and Entrepreneurship: Building the Leadership of the Future) – highlights Sara Bonesso Ca’ Foscari University of Venice – aims to recount a reality that is still little known, not only in our local context but also internationally. There are few studies on women in leadership positions and even fewer on female leadership in entrepreneurial roles. This has led to the spread of stereotypes whereby the concept of leadership is predominantly associated with the male gender. Instead, in the current context, organizations are being called upon to revise in a profound way what it means to “lead” a company, regardless of gender-related aspects, paying attention to behaviors aimed at responding with agility to change and crisis, guided by ethics and authenticity, and attentive to people’s well-being.
Together with the Women’s Entrepreneurship Committee and the Economic Observatory of the Chamber of Commerce, the research team of the Ca’ Foscari Competency Centre at Ca’ Foscari University gave voice to 30 female entrepreneurs at the helm of successful businesses, in different sectors, who demonstrated how leadership is manifested through a variety of styles aimed at building and strengthening quality relationships within the company and with external stakeholders over time. Creating, disseminating, and pursuing a future vision for the company, as well as instilling team spirit and fostering the well-being of employees, as well as supporting the professional growth of staff through listening and their development, are some of the styles that emerged from the concrete experiences drawn from the entrepreneurial stories.
The reflections offered by the results of this study offer, on the one hand, current entrepreneurs and businesswomen a greater awareness of those behaviors necessary to exercise effective leadership. On the other hand, the research is intended to be a stimulus for new generations who are approaching the entrepreneurial role and preparing to lead the organizations of the future.
