Women in Communication: interview with Annalisa Spuntarelli of Havas Media
Coming of age is certainly an important milestone, both for a person and for a brand and, in this very particular case, for ours.
As the female turns 18, we have decided to start a Women Empowerment project that focuses on women who work in the field of communication.
Annalisa Spuntarelli, Chief Client Officer of Havas Media, answered 5 significant questions for us, telling us how "becoming professionally" and "being a woman" are two perfectly compatible realities.
1. What is "being a woman" like in the world of work?
Being women in the world of work is normal, we are aware that we represent a large portion of the working population. The point is to be able to enter certain decision-making levels. Many companies are already working to make this professional development a concrete reality, above all because there is much more awareness, than in the past, of the intrinsic value of female leadership. The most complex thing, even today, is to establish fair rules of engagement, especially in terms of opportunities within work organizations. We are in a time of factual, legislative and educational change, for which women are increasingly developing awareness to want to be at the decision-making levels, supported in turn by other women and by the family. On the other hand, the men at the top have changed, they are changing thanks to constant "training", and they are learning to listen and value a new sensitivity , the feminine one, grasping its power. Because here we are talking about different sensitivities, not about competences because in this there are no differences between men and women. Differences in terms of sensitivity, both at work and human level, bring value. I am less inclined to female-only or male-only groups, because multi-gender groups are more stimulating and stimulating.
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2. What was "women empowerment" at 18 for you?
It was determination, without sacrifice. From the point of view of the clarity of the objectives I had a great determination. I had a very clear desire to emancipate myself and fulfill myself as a woman and as a person. The working environment was the first point of contact with this drive and with the desire to demonstrate my skills. In this process, the family is fundamental, as is everything that revolves around it. For example, having a male twin brother , I acknowledge that my family has sown in me this profound sense of fairness, because it has never emphasized any variable that justified a different treatment. External contexts, on the other hand, set differential limits, so I have always fought to make others recognize this awareness. I grew up with this determination, I never thought I could not do something or be treated "differently from" for my gender. In short, "women empowerment" meant fulfilling myself without giving up all areas of being a woman, without any compromise regarding the affective dimension, and as a natural consequence (but not taken for granted, not imposed) on the family. There have been women of my generation who have given up on fulfilling themselves professionally for the family or, vice versa, have given up the emotional sphere to focus on their career, and this I'm sorry, but I have a daily battle to defend the coexistence of these two dimensions. Those in decision-making roles must support women, including for the management of maternity and for their professional development.
3. Three words you associate today with "women empowerment"
The first word is "opportunity": opportunity to be there, to stay and to contribute to the evolution of the business and the working system. The second is "performance", because for me women empowerment means guaranteeing the best performance to the company, to society, the result of fairer working contexts, which take into consideration all the souls and lateral thoughts that come from different sensitivities, and which guarantee then the results, which is why the third word I associate with women empowerment is "balance", a balance between male and female sensitivities even in work contexts.
4. What would you recommend to the 18-year-old you?
To the eighteen-year-old myself, I would recommend that you always have courage, to express yourself with grace and femininity but in a very clear way. We women are not lacking in determination, and we were not lacking at 18, what we need to strengthen is the courage to pursue our dreams. To persevere, without conditioning, in pursuing our goals without giving up everything that revolves around personal satisfaction. I strongly believe in satisfaction: if you are satisfied, as a man or as a woman, you can professionally give much more, and you can pass it on. Without something you are missing, the human side. To today's eighteen year olds I would also say not to aspire to perfection in all contexts but to learn the meaning of lightness, daughter of the awareness of the value that we are able to bring to a context. We women accept lightness is more difficult, for fear of what others would think, instead we must accept it and use it to the fullest. We are the first not to have to question our abilities, and mastering them lightly is an achievement.
5. How much need is there today to talk about women empowerment and what should be done?
More than talking, you have to do. It is good to be an example but it is not enough, it takes active support, to make sure that a network is created. We must start from the company with concreteness, hoping that this support network will also extend into other environments. Let's think about motherhood: the theme of smart working or free working is super appreciated, but we need to think even further, to support the development of a person's professional figure. We must continue to invest and sow so that more and more women have the opportunity to sit at certain tables. The important thing is that there are good people to evaluate skills regardless of gender. Those who occupy important roles in the company have the responsibility to do, as well as to be an example, because we are in a historical moment that goes in that direction, we hope in an irreversible way.
