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Engineers and "Promessi Sposi"
I attended an event yesterday, with the BAIA Board, and a selected group of Italian managers and entrepreneurs operating in Silicon Valley, welcoming Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta. I truly enjoyed the insightful discussion and presentations by an Italian professor at Stanford, and CEOs of local companies, suggesting how to implement an innovation process that can drive investments in Italy and reignite economic growth.
One comment/joke, though, left me thinking we may still have a long way to go, in terms of proposing solutions for a renewed competitiveness and innovation in Italy, that involve not just business and tech tools but the cultural attitude as well. This is the quote I am referring to (to explain one of the reasons why software engineers are almost revered in countries like India and not so much in Italy): "Indian women look forward to marrying a software engineer. Italian women don’t really care for them”. A joke is what it is, a joke. But I’d like to think that Italian women don’t care as much, simply because they focus on becoming programmers, engineers, doctors, economists, scientists, poets, sculptors and so on … on their own. Hence, it doesn’t matter who they marry or not marry! I hope I am correct. I would also like to look at it this way: “Do Italian men value marrying an engineer as much as men in other countries do?” Let’s open up our minds!
I invite Italian women, girls and students to dream of a future with no limits, of forging innovation by means of their own passion and creativity and to embrace studies and careers in science, technology or liberal arts based on their own real talents, choices and goals, not on perceptions or misleading guidance imposed – albeit subtly - by others, be it family, teachers or peers.
So, “Lucias” work hard to make your own dreams come true, not thinking of who Renzo might be or do. And “Renzos”, just be open and willing to support whoever your sisters, daughters or future and current wives wish to do for our society.
Remember, women make up about 50% of the world’s population. A country which does not compete united, meaning women and men together, pulling ahead by power of their combined intelligence, education, creativity and determination, will always risk falling behind on the global scene.
Lucia Panini
PS Saro' felice di tradurre quanto sopra per chi desideri leggere questo post in italiano.
One comment/joke, though, left me thinking we may still have a long way to go, in terms of proposing solutions for a renewed competitiveness and innovation in Italy, that involve not just business and tech tools but the cultural attitude as well. This is the quote I am referring to (to explain one of the reasons why software engineers are almost revered in countries like India and not so much in Italy): "Indian women look forward to marrying a software engineer. Italian women don’t really care for them”. A joke is what it is, a joke. But I’d like to think that Italian women don’t care as much, simply because they focus on becoming programmers, engineers, doctors, economists, scientists, poets, sculptors and so on … on their own. Hence, it doesn’t matter who they marry or not marry! I hope I am correct. I would also like to look at it this way: “Do Italian men value marrying an engineer as much as men in other countries do?” Let’s open up our minds!
I invite Italian women, girls and students to dream of a future with no limits, of forging innovation by means of their own passion and creativity and to embrace studies and careers in science, technology or liberal arts based on their own real talents, choices and goals, not on perceptions or misleading guidance imposed – albeit subtly - by others, be it family, teachers or peers.
So, “Lucias” work hard to make your own dreams come true, not thinking of who Renzo might be or do. And “Renzos”, just be open and willing to support whoever your sisters, daughters or future and current wives wish to do for our society.
Remember, women make up about 50% of the world’s population. A country which does not compete united, meaning women and men together, pulling ahead by power of their combined intelligence, education, creativity and determination, will always risk falling behind on the global scene.
Lucia Panini
PS Saro' felice di tradurre quanto sopra per chi desideri leggere questo post in italiano.
Tags: Ambassador, Italy, careers, competitiveness, economic, engineering, growth, innovation, opportunities, women
Views: 2
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Matteo Fabiano on -
Lucia, thank you. Very insightful and stimulating comments. In fact, I'd dare to say that the quote's subtext not only highlights preconceived notions and expectations of women, but also suggests an ongoing belief in a pecking order of professional prestige (i.e. engineers are NOT as worthy as other professionals?). To your question, personally, had my wife been an engineer, it would have made not a yota of difference, since I fell in love with her generosity and enthusiasm and zest, not her academic credentials :)
That said, I think Italy has structural limitations to growth and business agility of its own. As a country, we simply cannot afford to compound them by creating artificial walls between anyone's talent and what they can achieve with open, unconditional support.
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Permalink Reply by Massimo Arrigoni on -
Our friend Marco Palombi, successful entrepreneur and co-founder of First Generation Network, always says one of the reasons for the network was to try to push the idea that you can be cool and successful in Italy even if you're not a soccer player. He rightfully points out that in Italy there is a lack of role models that are self-made, dynamic, successful entrepreneurs. If you're driving a Ferrari in Italy, you're not doing software or biotech. If you're in Palo Alto, you are (or you invested in something related). That sort of sums it up.
By the way, the idea of stressing "self-made" is important (that's one of the requirements for First Generation Network). Especially in a country of family businesses like Italy. You can be as good as you want, but if you came from a situation of substantial financial and circumstantial support ("groomed" to be the CEO), then you can't be a role model for other (potential) entrepreneurs that can't count on the same level of support. The "dream" exists only if you can see an awesome goal that anyone can reach.
I'll tell you what, though. Things can change quickly in Italy on this front. Tell 20 stories like Fabrizio's (i.e. our friend Fabrizio Capobianco of Funambol, the mobile open source guru from Valtellina - like the definition Fabrizio?), and the ladies will be waiting in line to date software engineers. Not Fabrizio, though. I'm pretty sure he's taken.
More importantly (not that dating isn't), excitement about launching and investing into high tech startups could snowball quickly in Italy. Today many don't start because they simply can't see it happen for them.
That is: the problem is that so far Funambol is the exception to the rule. And that's where BAIA comes into place, determined to play a role in pushing the idea of enabling Silicon Valley-like entrepreneurship in Italy. It's going to be a lot of work. And we're clearly going to need to build critical mass by partnering up with other networks, think tanks, associations, you name it. But we're ready for it and we're working on it!
Cheers!
massimo
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Permalink Reply by Fabrizio Capobianco on -
Ciao Massimo,
thanks for citing me as one of the good examples of Italian engineers (and yes, I was taken even before becoming an engineer, twenty years ago ;-)
Unfortunately, I am actually the one who made the comment that offended Lucia... I am very sorry about it, because I said a lot of other things (randomly, as usual) and some maybe even made sense.... As Funambol, we have been hiring female engineers since day one and we keep doing it, because they tend to be better than their male counterparts... Woman engineers are still hard to find in Italy and I share Lucia's comment on why this is a very bad thing for our beloved country.
That said, I will switch my joke to make it less personal and try to make it gender-neutral, hoping people will listen to the other things I have to say (which usually does not happen, and the conversation of last week is another testimony of that ;-) The issue, whether the engineer is female or male (no Italian male would marry a female software engineer, we are just uncool people in our country), is that software designers in Italy are not valued as they should and we need to do something about it, if we hope to have an high-tech industry and a Italian Silicon Valley. It is a small step but important, if we hope to get there (and I am not giving up easily on that ;-)
Cheers,
fabrizio
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Permalink Reply by Paola Di Giuseppe on -
Lucia, don't worry. I'm a girl, I'm italian and I'm studing to be a software engineering and I'm not looking for a marrying one.
All the italian girls wanna marrying an italian soccer player because they have a Ferrari and they are more cutter than a "computer science nerds".
Fabrizio Capobianco said:
"no Italian male would marry a female software engineer, we are just uncool people in our country"
this is not good for me.. but I'm too young for think about it! Anyway I don't think is true, when I say "I'm studing for be a software engineering" generally the reaction are 2:
1) Are you crazy?
2) Really? I have a problem with my computer / laptot / cellphone / tv / bell ring .. can you help me?
But they don't run away.
I glad exist something like BAIA and I hope the things change quickly in Italy, but I don't really enjoy this idea:
"the ladies will be waiting in line to date software engineers"..
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Permalink Reply by Lucia Panini on -
Paola, keep studying hard and be ready to shine! And yes, I didn't get much out of this line either ... "the ladies will be waiting in line to date software engineers", mah?!
No offense, Fabrizio - or Massimo - we just need to all become more naturally gender neutral if we want to compete fully in the world economy.
This said, you all: I want a compelling Italian answer to Tesla!
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Permalink Reply by Massimo Arrigoni on
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I founded Early Impact with 2 other partners. One of them is the head developer in the company, and her name is Sheri. I am definitely gender neutral and I was simply looking at the issue (developers being "uncool" in Italy) from my side, that of a guy. I'm sorry that my posting was misread. Actually, I'm a bit disappointed to see this kind of reaction.
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Permalink Reply by Franco Folini on -
We all agree that Italians youths definitely need some positive role model.
Sadly, (very sadly) my impression is that the current Italian culture is promoting trophy- wifes, velinas, and fashion models as role models.
I'll give you a few examples:
* A few months ago, Berlusconi's answer to a women asking for stable professional opportunities was: "Marry a millionaire!"
* Someone told me that the last selection for a velina attracted more than 350,000 Italian girls. I'm sure many Italian women (like Paola) are studying hard to become engineers, physicians, journalists, or lawyers, but those numbers are are telling the story of a generation that lost the perception of reality. (Let's skip how the velinas have been used by politicians for their own games).
* What is the qualification of one of the few female in the current government cabinet? It's a velina!
While Italians man have very few role model to look at in order to get inspired to become entrepreneurs, professionals, or businessmen the situation for Italian womens seems to be even more desperate. I wish I could agree with Lucia....
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Permalink Reply by Paola Di Giuseppe on
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Personally I prefer keep out Berlusconi from this, because I'm a little bit disappointed whit this goverment, now the most important topic in our political is "intercettazioni si, interecettazzioni no, ce famo due spaghi"..
If you're saying more than 350,000 girls are attracted from the fast glory and fast money I agree, but if you think this is just a female problem you're wrong. When you turn on the tv you can see a lot of show full of "boys toys" and stupid topics.
But the tragedy is not stopping here, because not just the young generation have lost the contact with reality, but they parents too. You can see a lot of mothers and fathers really proud to see their child sell him self in tv.
Franco, I don't see my situation so desperate, please don't scary me!
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Permalink Reply by Donato Mangialardo on -
Hi Paola. I used to work for an Italian software company in Italy years ago. And, I used to work closely with the software engineering group. I never had the impression of anybody preferring males to females. I think there were more female software engineers than males. Most of the smartest were females. Most team leaders were female. The current director of this group is a female (and a friend, BTW). And there were (and still are I think) very, very smart people in that company. The problem is finding a software company :) not the gender ...
-Donato
P.S. I cannot believe I am talking about gender in a business context. Sounds kind of illegal after 8 years in the US...
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Permalink Reply by Paola Di Giuseppe on
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Hi Donato.
thank you for the reply.
I always believe the most important thing is the knowledge and not the gender, the race or the politic recommendations. I'm glad to hear my point of view is not totaly wrong.
For finding a software company.. I'm looking around!
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Permalink Reply by Donato Mangialardo on
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Also, the company I for work now here in the SF Bay Area employs several female engineers in key positions ...
The company I was referring to in my post is think3, Bologna (Casalecchio). I doubt they are looking but I can definitely help figuring it out. Why don't you send me your CV?
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Permalink Reply by Paola Di Giuseppe on
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Great, thank you! Every work experience are welcome for me!
I'm ending my second year of college, I don't know if I can be helpfull for a company like think3..
By the way, this is my short resumè on-line:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/paoladigiuseppe
I attach both of my CV, the 1st is in English and the 2nd is in Italian.
I really appreciate that. - Attachments:
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ENG_di_giuseppe_cv.pdf, 86 KB -
ITA_di_giuseppe_cv.pdf, 62 KB
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