Gender equality. Interview with Anna Maschio

The Gambero Rosso Foundation, created with the aim of giving attention and prominence to social and research issues, carries out this column dedicated to women, not so much because we believe in women’s presence but because it is essential to talk and raise awareness on gender equality. And it is equally essential to be spokespersons for women who have achieved important goals in their sector. Here is our interview with Anna Maschio of the Distilleria Bonaventura Maschio.

Interview with Anna Maschio

In your work experience, what were the obstacles you faced as a woman?

Personally, I don’t think I had to face any obstacles due to my gender. I started as foreign trade manager at Distilleria Bonaventura Maschio. I had the opportunity to travel a lot and to deal with professionals from many different countries. Sometimes the differences in views and culture may have led to some misunderstandings, but nothing insuperable and never because of my gender.

In your current role, what management leverage are you using to facilitate the female world?

As company’s managing director, I have always tried to meet employees’ needs as much as possible, approving for instance flexible working requests of employees with young children, regardless of legal requirements. This has allowed them to keep growing professionally while enjoying their families. Over the years, despite market’s frenzied rhythm, we have always ensured our employees time for pursuing their interests and for spending it with their families, a value that is very dear to me as my company is a family-run business.

What ideas or changes would you propose to government authorities to speed up the achievement of equality?

I think that parenting is one of the reasons that has penalized women in the workforce. It is women who most often take time off work to care for their children in case of illness or emergency. Moreover, it is always mothers who request reduced working hours, from full to part-time work. This happens because our society believes that women more than men should adjust their careers for family life. Men, on the other hand, hardly manage to get their employers to approve time off for the same reasons. The key to promote gender equality and equal opportunities is therefore more involved fathers, so that the burden (and the privilege) of parenting fall equally on both parties. This way mothers would no longer face workplace discrimination.

What message or advice can give women who have the ability and desire to emerge, in particular to those who are still struggling, and to younger generations of women?

I encourage all women, young and old, to keep making their voices heard in order to achieve equal opportunities. In truth, I dream that we will soon be able to stop talking about the dichotomy between men and women in the workplace and start putting the individual merit back at the center. Meritocracy must be the central focus, the value for the workplace of tomorrow (but also of today) that cannot and should not know gender gap.

 Please share an anecdote (positive or negative) of an experience on the subject.

Among the countless committed professionals I have met, I would like to tell an anecdote on one of our employee who holds the position of area manager. Thanks to her strong, bubbly personality and her utmost seriousness, she has managed in a short time to gain the respect of all her colleagues, despite her young age and lack of relevant experience. Just this year she has become a mother and, on this occasion as well, she has shown character and professionalism. She has managed on the one hand to take care of her child, helped by her partner, and on the other hand to accomplish her tasks efficiently as always. As mentioned before: meritocracy and the value of a person should not depend on gender.

Illustrations by Ilenia Tiberti