Inès Makula and Francesca Serafin talk about WeLead
From the Milan event organised by Job Digital Lab to the airwaves of Rai Radio 1, the story of the women driving digital and entrepreneurial change continues.
The buzz surrounding “WeLead. Female Entrepreneurs”, the Job Digital Lab event held on 6 July at Palazzo Giureconsulti in Milan, has reached the studios of Rai Radio 1. Guests on the programme “L’Italia in diretta”, presented by Paola Anania and Miriam Fechi, were Inès Makula and Francesca Serafin, two of the key figures who brought to life the initiative dedicated to women’s entrepreneurship promoted by ING Italia and Fondazione Mondo Digitale [read the news Job Digital Lab: women as business leaders].
The courage to inspire: Inès Makula
Inès Makula, co-founder of the Made IT podcast and moderator of the WeLead event, shared a profound reflection on the radio about the challenges women face in the labour market. Drawing on the hundreds of interviews conducted for her podcast, Inès highlighted how successful women are often driven by great ambition, yet must contend with external prejudices: “a woman has to prove three times as much diligence as a man”.
For Inès, the secret to navigating the business world is a mantra she also shared with the seventy participants in Milan: “try, fail, start again”, because obstacles are tools for illuminating previously unimaginable paths. A crucial element for those starting out is the search for positive role models: “The first step is precisely to find examples of women who have made it”, she stated, emphasising how her podcast has become a point of reference for those seeking inspiration and stories that “pave the way”.
From law to silk: Francesca Serafin
The story of Francesca Serafin is a vivid example of a successful career transformation. A former lawyer, Francesca decided ten years ago to change the course of her life by founding Serà Fine Silk, a brand of silk accessories. Starting from scratch, with no family tradition in the sector, and teaching herself to manage every aspect – from production to setting up her first e-commerce site – she has succeeded in building an international business that is now present in almost 300 shops worldwide. Speaking on Radio 1, Francesca recounted how she set out boldly, even without a formal business plan, finding in the digital world an indispensable ally for her work. Despite the challenges of an often male-dominated sector, she emphasised the importance of having met people willing to lend a helping hand, demonstrating that women’s strength also lies in their ability never to slow down when faced with closed doors.
Networking to drive change
The interview reaffirmed the core of the Job Digital Lab project: the creation of a solid network. The WeLead event was not just an opportunity to listen, but a practical workshop where female entrepreneurs were able to acquire communication tools and skills in generative artificial intelligence.
The shared aim remains to equip women with the awareness needed to “not change their dreams, but the rules of the game”, promoting a form of entrepreneurship where authenticity is a core value and failure is seen merely as a stepping stone to success. Through radio and across the region, the stories of Inès and Francesca continue to demonstrate that, when digital skills meet determination, the future is built.
