Achieving the fifth SDG is still a long way off. In Switzerland, for example, despite the fact that female representation in political bodies at federal level is not far from parity with that of men (in Parliament it is 42%, while there are 3 women in the Federal Council), the percentage of women on Boards of Directors is stands at around 25% only. There are also companies, listed on the stock exchange or not, without any woman on their board of directors, such as PwC Schweiz and Von Roll Holding.

Scholars who deal with gender economics observe that having a mixed gender representation, both men and women, in decision-making positions broadens perspectives, increases creativity and innovation, diversifies the set of talents and skills, reduces conflicts, improves decision making, and better represents different points of view. The presence of women 'in the upper floors' of companies, however, goes beyond the gender issue: it creates value. According to a recent analysis carried out by a group of researchers at the Bocconi University of Milan, in a few years the reform of the Gulf-Moscow law of 2011 which introduced in Italy the quotas of gender representation in the boards of directors and boards of statutory auditors of listed companies , has had significant and above all measurable effects, including a lower risk of equities and an increase in share prices at the time of elections with gender quotas.

Gender economics is a highly topical issue. What does it entail and what advantages would our society derive from it?

«The gender economy is an economy in which genders are equally represented on a professional level. An improvement in gender equality would lead, in 2050, to the creation of 10,5 million jobs in the EU, with an increase in GDP per capita of 6,1% - 9,6% which would benefit both men and women. women. According to a study by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), greater female employment, in addition to improving GDP, would contribute to improving the wage gap and reducing poverty, which affects women most ».

You have recently obtained the Certified Board Member diploma with SAQ certification promoted by Alma-Impact and Supsi. How important is it for a professional, employee or independent, to invest in continuing education?

"Training is a very important tool because it allows you to acquire awareness and knowledge, but on its own it is not enough to ensure that the board of directors and company management are more balanced in gender representation: as BPW we are convinced of this and for us the training is only the first step. In the board of directors and company departments where there is a qualified female presence, the male component is also more stimulated to train with positive consequences for the company. It is therefore necessary to change the predominant corporate culture: we ask companies not to be afraid to offer the opportunity to fill top management roles for women with the right skills because this choice will bring benefits for the whole company ".

Still on the subject of training, tell us a little about the 'mentoring' program promoted by BPW ...

"Mentoring is a tool for transmitting experiences and experiences from a senior subject (mentor) to a junior subject (mentee) and vice versa: this exchange helps young people to acquire awareness and enter the world of work more prepared and is source of enrichment also for mentors. Currently this institutional project of the BPW it is created by a group of BPW members in collaboration with the University of Italian Switzerland ».

In job interviews, even for top positions, what changes if you are a woman?

"It has been shown by numerous studies in cognitive sciences and social psychology that in the selection and interview phase women suffer discrimination due to the so-called cognitive bias, a sort of unconscious prejudice, for which certain top positions are not" suitable "for a woman: consequently female candidacies are discarded a priori. This is the reason why in many companies attentive to these dynamics, they are increasingly choosing to use CVs without personal data ".

* Monica Pugnaloni she has been a member of BPW Ticino since 2017, member of the Steering Committee in September 2018, and Co-President of the Club since 2021. Graduated in Oriental Languages ​​and Literatures, she attended a Global Executive Master in Business Administration at SDA Bocconi in Milan. He plays the role of Retail Director in a company in the Fashion & Luxury sector. In 2018 and 2020 she was a lecturer in Corporate Communication at the SUPSI as part of the Executive Master in Business Administration. Married to Francesco, she has two children and has lived in Lugano since 2002.

What is Business & Professional Women

BPW is an international association of professionally active women. It has been present in Switzerland since 1947 with 40 clubs distributed in all cantons; in Ticino, the head office is in Lugano and has about 100 members. There is a Young section, made up of young professionals under 35. BPW Ticino is committed to carrying out projects and events: Mentoring is a program carried out in collaboration with the University of Italian Switzerland; Equal Pay Day is a campaign to raise public awareness towards concrete equal pay between men and women; and Women on Boards aims to raise the problem of the lack of equal opportunities in the board of directors of Swiss companies. BPW Ticino also offers its members numerous networking opportunities and is an important network that supports women in their career, profession and personal development. Currently the co-presidents are Laura Incandela and Monica Pugnaloni.

CBM / Alma-Impact training

At the end of September, with the delivery of the diplomas, the first edition of the Certified Board Member, the specialist training course for the members of the Boards of Directors, resulting from the collaboration between Supsi and the training and consulting company, ended. Alma Impact. The course, a first in the south of the Alps, allowed forty professionals from different business and economic fields to broaden their knowledge in relation to the many activities carried out by a Board of Directors: from corporate governance to financial management, passing through communication and risk management.