For the "Women in Movement – Donne in Movimento" event (Milan Digital Week, May 28, 2020), scientists, football players, coaches and coders introduced themselves to an audience of young women to encourage them to pursue their dreams and passions, beyond any gender stereotype. Many questions were asked during the on-line event that served to present Project CO.ME–COde&FraME promoted by FMD in partnership with ENI. However, as there was not enough time to accept all the questions, we decided to continue the exchange here.
Today, we publish some of the questions that the students asked the women working in ENI: Giulia Fiore, Human Resources Development Methodologies and Processes and Diversity Initiatives Manager and Filomena Castaldo, Researcher, Research & Technological Innovation Direction.
Question: Are the actions implemented internally by companies (gender equality policy) also enacted in public contexts?
Giulia answers: We are actually not sure about how this takes place in public offices, but from our point of view we have important indications on the fact that the issue has been addressed. Here are a few indications of this:
- The 2012 “Golfo Mosca” Bill set a minimum threshold of 1/3 for the least represented gender on Italian company boards listed on the stock exchange, including subsidiaries. This led to a marked change of pace in the nomination of executives, which ENI timely adhered to both in terms of deadlines and quotas not only in Italy, but abroad, too. Moreover, the bill contributed to changing the perception of female presence in executive positions and introduce the issue of gender equality in Italian socio-economic culture, concretely affecting processes and objectives. Thus, we can affirm that the state was an important promoter of gender equality policy. The 2020 Budget Bill further extended the “Golfo Mosca” Bill.
- In 2017, ENI signed the Manifesto for Female Employment with 100 other Italian companies associated under “Valore D,” a 9-point document defining concrete tools, in line with international GRI standards to value female talent in enterprise. The document was shared with state institutions and received the patronage of the Italian G7 Presidency and the former Equal Opportunities Department of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. Dialogue continues and “Value D” (we are a member) is working on the issue at the Equal Opportunities Ministry (Minister Bonetti).
- ENI is also promoting a series of initiatives in favour of gender equality addressing school in agreement with the Ministry of Public Education. These include ELIS – School Enterprise System and Inspiring Girls – “Valore D” and other initiatives for students developed with public employees, the teachers that collaborate with enterprises to raise the cultural awareness of the younger generations.
Question: What is your fondest memory of having surprised male colleagues?
Filomena answers: Remembering the faces of my male colleagues when they saw me use the only bathroom/changing rooms at the plant always brings a smile to my face! I had to explain to them that I was simply a human being and needed to change and use bathrooms, too. It’s not like I needed a special perfumed room with candles!
Question: What is the next project you would like to work on?
Filomena answers: I would like to be able to work on large-scale industrial circular economy projects.
Video of the event
