The Ambassador of Italy to the United States, Mariangela Zappia, hosted yesterday at Villa Firenze the Washington stop of the “Changed by Women” tour, a project by Bocconi University on women’s empowerment promoted through a university publication dedicated to 99 role-model alumnae, a fundraising campaign for female students, and a mentoring program.
Speaking at the opening, the Ambassador highlighted the qualities and constant commitment of Bocconi University in maintaining a level of excellence, recognized even in the United States, in higher education, noting how the university’s complexity-inspired approach is indispensable in the current geopolitical and economic scenario. Addressing the challenge of gender equality, “still not achieved in any country, in any sector,” and the economic and political potential of women’s empowerment, the Ambassador expressed full support for the Changed by Women project, emphasizing that “encouraging young women to be bold, to dare in all fields, from finance to politics, from security to STEM, is important, but offering them direct examples of women who have pursued their dreams and succeeded has a formidable potential to help them break all the glass ceilings they encounter along the way.”
At the event, attended by the Rector of Bocconi University, Francesco Billari, the Managing Director of the University, Riccardo Taranto, about a hundred university alumni, and representatives of the Italian business community in Washington, three alumnae spoke in a panel moderated by the Rector, role models featured in the book: Chiara Scotti, Deputy Director General and member of the Governing Board of the Bank of Italy, Francesca Daverio, Head of Office of the Office of the Sr. Vice President and Group General Counsel of the World Bank, and Silvia Paruzzolo, Managing Director, Evidence for Impact at Save The Children.
The American leg of the project tour began with an event in San Francisco with Consul General Sergio Strozzi and the Director of the Italian Innovation and Culture Hub, Innovit, Alberto Acito, on April 26th, and will continue in New York, with the participation of Consul General Fabrizio Di Michele, on Friday, May 3rd.
