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The winning stories of the most innovative entrepreneurs

July 4, 2022
2:56 PM

The news that is heard around is disheartening: there is no job, salaries in Italy are lower than in the rest of Europe and brains are on the run. What’s more, that damned gender gap continues to make itself felt and the number of companies headed by women is still low: not even 1.4 million in Italy, equivalent to 22.1% of the total (96.8% micro and only 0.3% medium-large companies).

Having said that – and these are all true things – complaining is always of little use and, to move forward, it is better to concentrate on what you can do, better understand how to make the most of what is good, trying to support ideas, focusing the spotlight on successful businesses to take an example.

And so recently they have been destined for the Women’s business fund 200 million more to support female entrepreneurs and scouting initiatives continue to find exceptional stories and dreams come true, just like the GammaDonna Awardwhich returns again this year: “Supporting and giving due weight to female entrepreneurship, also through public recognition, is a necessity for our economy that cannot afford to waste precious resources”, she explains Valentina Parenti, president GammaDonna, «Who, on the contrary, must learn to value them, to ensure that they become an example to emulate. For this reason we have been working for two decades now to highlight the tenacity of women who often, in the shadows, do incredible things “.

So what if you are businesswomen (founder, co-founder, or active members with managerial roles), if you feel that you have given a push innovated with products / services, processes or organizational models within your company, the GammaDonna Award this could be a good opportunity. There is time to apply until 11 July and the prizes are interesting: in addition to a mini-documentary on his own history of entrepreneurial innovation, there is also a Master in a Business School, a training course on the world of Venture Capital and a training to participate and access an investment among 100 and 500 thousand euros.

HERE there are all the information and details of the regulation.

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In the last edition, to win the award as the best innovative entrepreneur in Italy, it was Marianna Palella, CEO & Brand Manager of Citrus The Italian Garden. Sicilian, daughter of fruit traders, at just 22 years old, in 2015, she launched her own Citrus and creates an innovative business model, which aims to disseminate a more conscious food culture, enhancing biodiversity through the large-scale commercialization of minor varieties and linking the growth in turnover to the financing of scientific research. What you have activated is a supply chain that respects the environment and generates value for the entire community. La di lei is one of those stories that bode well and today she finds herself on the jury of that GammaDonna Award, which last year saw her as the winner. And it is to her that we asked some questions, to understand spaces, ways, strategies and thoughts of women entrepreneurs in our country.

What is scarier when starting your own business?
«Every business is based on a bet and as such you know you can lose it or win it. The uncertainty of the first steps is followed by the fear of the unknown. However, fear, if wisely controlled, can be the best ally. He pushes you to do, to do well, to do better. When you touch the pinnacle of fear you know that magic is about to happen. The most beautiful things I know always find beyond our fears ».

How did you come to make known your work? Is it something that comes naturally or is this (communication / marketing) also part of an important job?
“Communicating Citrus comes very naturally to me. I follow all business processes and have a strong curiosity that makes me a machine gun of questions. The things that fascinate me most I love to share. And so moved by my personal need, I choose the topics to be treated. This selection process is followed by a great deal of operational and managerial work in all spheres of communication (visual or verbal, storytelling or institutional …). Nothing is improvised. Without hard work any project remains a beautiful individual dream. I think it’s a good fortune to work on something you like. Turn everything into a game. Even more so if in doing so you can put into who you are, the values you believe in, your passions ».

How much has the fact of having won this award helped you?
«GammaDonna was a wonderful experience not only because it brought to light the story of Citrus but also because it allowed me to enter a pink network of entrepreneurial solidarity. Thanks to GammaDonna I went back to studying Economics and met amazing women whom I respect humanly and professionally. Receiving this precious recognition is also a personal satisfaction because for me it meant being able to open the doors of the “vitaminic” world of fruit and vegetables that has always been reserved for professionals, the victim of a communication that has always been self-referential ».

You represent young entrepreneurs: what do you think are the challenges for the next few years for those who want to do business in Italy?
“I am happy that you asked me this question without declining it as a feminine one because in this country being young is a fault that does not distinguish on the basis of gender. Whether you are a man or a woman if you are young it is very likely that you are valued as such. And I think this is the biggest failure we can see. In the complexity of the new markets, in the rapidity with which the world changes, in a historical and economic moment in which the rules established for some time no longer apply, young people can be a powerful resource for those companies capable of enhancing them. I really hope that over time a generational alliance can be created. Thus Citrus was born, from a pink relay, a continuous generational confrontation-clash-meeting between me and my mother. This has been and continues to be the main ingredient of our success. Um dialogue engine of constant innovation in Citrus ».

Being a woman makes things even more difficult or has that gender gap now been partially smoothed out?
“Unfortunately, we are only seeing the beginning of a cultural change. The road is long but I have faith in the next generation and those that are proving to be much more sensitive to the issues of diversity & inclusion. Despite this, I am aware that every goal achieved, every right acquired will never be fully obtained or given for sure – and the latest bitter news confirms it. This is why we must not lower our attention and continue to raise awareness ».

If you could ask for a new law in Italy, which one would you ask? For what?
«A law that supports and helps young people to build a family or make their wishes come true. Insecurity is the characterizing trait of my generation and this has repercussions on the aspirations and desires of my peers. However, what has not yet been fully realized is that supporting young people is the only way to grow in a robust and organic way as a society and national economy “.

Practical advice for young aspiring entrepreneurs …
“Be authentic, bring who you are and your values into the company”.