Did you enjoy school?
Yes, I’ve always loved school. I’m a naturally curious person, so learning new things has always been exciting for me.
What qualifications do you have?
I received my BSc in Electronic Engineering in 2007, followed by an MSc (cum laude) in Management Engineering in 2009, and a PhD in Information Engineering in 2013 – all from the University of Trieste, Italy.
Has your career path been a smooth transition, a rocky road or a combination of both?
I’d say a bit of both. At first, I thought I’d study design or architecture, but my maths teacher convinced me to try engineering. I’ve always been ambitious and keen on new challenges, and that shaped a lot of my career choices.
I was later offered a PhD scholarship, even though I didn’t really know what a PhD at the time, as it’s not very common in Italy. I decided to take the challenge and I loved it. Doing research and being the first to propose something new was very exciting.
The postdoc years that followed were rewarding but not easy. Perseverance is essential, as not everyone makes it in academia. Fortunately, I was lucky with my academic position.
What specific challenges do you see women facing in the industry?
There is still quite a lot of unconscious bias, especially when working in an international environment. There are still gender stereotypes around certain administrative tasks and this means women are often overlooked for leadership roles. Sometimes it’s the opposite and we’re overloaded with responsibilities to ‘fill a quota’ on boards or committees.
There are also challenges around work-life balance and childcare. Even where support is available, it can be expensive. In my experience, organising family life also falls mostly to women. Things are improving, but it depends heavily on the workplace and the country.
What is the best career advice you can give to others?
Do what makes you happy, not what others or society expect. And be resilient. Failure happens but success depends on how you respond.
If you had to pick one mentor that had the biggest influence on you, who would it be?
I actually have two. The first is my PhD supervisor, as I learned so much from him about research, integrity and what it takes to succeed. The second is my colleague and former head of department. She’s an amazing example of excelling in research while still being a great colleague, mother and person. Thanks to her, I stayed in academia.
From where do you draw inspiration?
From everywhere! Reading articles, attending conferences, talking with colleagues, students or friends – these all inspire me. I’m very curious and I like finding links between different fields and problems. In that sense, I think I’m quite creative.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced to date?
I would say having to live abroad, far away from my family.
What qualities do you feel makes a good leader?
I would have to say foresight. being able to plan for the future, not just the short term. Also, listening to others, embracing feedback, and surrounding yourself with diverse perspectives.
From a work viewpoint, what has the last 12 months been like?
Amazing. I’m grateful for a lot of opportunities and plenty of work to invest in for the future.
What would you say are the biggest tech-based challenges we face today?
Probably the reliability and safety of AI-based systems, the integration of net-zero technologies into outdated infrastructures and the resilience of interconnected systems.
What can be done to encourage more women into the industry?
I think we need a cultural shift. It should be seen as normal for women to work in STEM. More outreach and public engagement are important – but the media also needs to change the way it portrays women in science.
However, it’s not just about attracting women to the industry – we need to discuss how to keep them there. Workplaces need to be more inclusive and supportive so that when women enter the field, they stay.
