2023 is the year in which for the first time in the list Fortune 500, over 10% of companies are led by women. However, it does mean that 90% of companies (on the Fortune 500 list) are still led by men. But it’s a step forward. Among the women at the head of important companies in the world is Stefania Pompili, CEO of Sopra Steria, European leader in technological consultancy, digital services and software development. A sector often imagined as all-male, especially in Italy where only 15% of graduates in scientific-technological subjects are women.
You are a female CEO in a purely male industry.
«I feel very strongly the responsibility of the role I play, in a purely male sector, also and above all towards girls and young professionals who need to imagine themselves in decision-making roles. I believe that all women at the top should have this thought and commit to inspiring other women. First of all, I tell the girls not to preclude any path, to aim high and not to be afraid to ask when you are not noticed. In the growth path of women, what is called the “dream gap” often occurs, i.e. not imagining oneself in a role because it is considered out of reach. Don’t do it. Always feel up to it and work hard to achieve challenging goals. How? Not being afraid to dare and teaming up with other professionals. The road to gender equality is long and for this very reason it is important to join forces».
Can you find suitable skills in your sector?
«Tech is one of the few sectors in which the job offer by companies exceeds the availability of prepared resources on the market. This is because STEM graduates are in short supply. In a contemporary world characterized by employment stagnation, it would be fruitful to be able to rebalance supply and demand. For example, it would be useful to make young people aware of the potential of the tech sector starting from elementary schools, with an eye to female students, who are still in the clear minority today, also due to deeply rooted stereotypes in relation to the gender characterization of some professions”.
Energy and digital transition: what is the situation in Italy?
«The energy and digital transitions are two indispensable opportunities of our time to build a more sustainable future, as well as strongly interconnected pillars since technology can facilitate and accelerate the reduction of climate-changing emissions. The PNRR funds that we have available are a unique opportunity to accelerate the transition. To best benefit from it, a synergy between public and private is needed. On the one hand, in fact, it is necessary to put in place concessions and incentives, on the other, companies must pool know-how and skills».
How connected are these transitions?
«Technology streamlines processes, makes them more efficient and eliminates the superfluous. On the other hand, however, technology also pollutes. According to one of the most recent studies by the Royal Society, also reported by the World Economic Forum, digital contributes between 1.4% and 5.9% of global CO2 emissions. A single email can enter between 4 and 50 grams of carbon dioxide. It is therefore necessary to rely on the strategic approach of competent professionals to encourage “digital sobriety”, that is, a prudent and above all sustainable use of technology”.
Among the areas in which Sopra Steria operates is fashion. How can digital make fashion sustainable?
«Digital can do a lot, and we receive more and more requests from the fashion sector: being a sector in which the consumer’s identity dimension is very strong, brands pay close attention to the changed sensibilities of their customers. At the European Community level, the rules that define a sustainable product are constantly evolving and the supply chain will have to adapt. It is important that Italy protects its companies in the luxury chain which represent 70% of world production, both in Europe and in the digital transformation”.
What can digital do concretely?
«The role of digital in this sense is central: today technological tools make it possible to facilitate the tracing of the production chain and monitor the transformation processes. It is possible to measure the environmental impact of each garment and therefore provide indications for offsetting emissions. At Sopra Steria we have designed an all-round offer for the sector that covers the transition to omnichannel up to the store, based on the use of data via artificial intelligence».
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Source: Vanity Fair
I’m Susan Karen, a professional writer and editor at World Stock Market. I specialize in Entertainment news, writing stories that keep readers informed on all the latest developments in the industry. With over five years of experience in creating engaging content and copywriting for various media outlets, I have grown to become an invaluable asset to any team.
