Milan, 11 February 2024 - On this International Women and Girls in Science Day, we interviewed four of our female colleagues with STEM degrees pertaining to Gridspertise Business Lines to testify the key role women in science and technology play in the company and in the whole society.
As said by UN Secretary-General António Guterres “Women and girls belong in science. It is time to recognize that inclusion fosters innovation, and let every woman and girl fulfil her true potential.”
This vision resonates with the value foundation of Gridspertise and guides its present and future choices, fueling an ongoing commitment to the achievement of equal opportunity. At the core there is a belief: that gender diversity is an added value in decision-making and business performance.
The following interview conveys Gridspertise's commitment and offers insights into how STEM women’s strengths can bring significant value and drive innovation, through the testimony of:
Amalia De Rimini, Smart Grid Engineer (Technology);
Barbara Di Tanna, Data Analyst (Manufacturing, Operation and Services);
Carla Puleo, Head of Sales Plan and Performance Team (Marketing and Sales);
Michela Fasano, Digital Portfolio Specialist (Digital Solutions).
1. If you had to describe your first encounter with STEM disciplines using just one adjective, which would you choose?
Carla The first word that comes to my mind is Fun. Because learning new things is fun and I was one of the little kids who always asked why at school. I always wanted to find out how things are made and how they work. So I enjoy every new discovery.
Amalia Engaging. I have always liked science subjects and decided to enroll in engineering because it opens the way to different job positions. During my university career, I met a professor who was able to share his passion for the subject with his students. It was a great big thing for me: the professor became my thesis advisor, and I inherited his passion for electronics.
2. Summarize your career journey at Gridspertise in one word.
Barbara Freedom. Because I appreciate so much that Gridspertise gives me a lot of freedom in doing my work and in being able to contribute. I feel very free: beyond the freedom in time management, in my work I feel free to express my opinion, to contribute. Of course, I have my deadlines and things I have to do, however, I feel free. And that is a very positive thing, which I didn't experience in my old job, for example.
Amalia Growth. In Gridspertise, we make a great contribution to the energy transition and also to people's lives. And at this moment I am learning about new tools and new devices. For me it is important to increase my knowledge.
3. If you could playfully nickname your job at Gridspertise, what would you call it?
Michela Mikipedia. I have been in Gridspertise since the very beginning, when we started building our portfolio. Knowing at a high level all the digital solutions, their key people, their history, and their roadmap, allows me to have an overall perspective that I leverage to solve the most diverse and complex problems, being a focal point for my team and my colleagues. This stimulates me and makes my work satisfying.
Amalia ISMI-Girl. ISMI is the acronym of a project related to microgrids in the Italian islands and was the first project I worked on when I joined Gridspertise. This project contributed both to my personal growth and to my growth in Gridspertise, as I gained skills in data and project management. That is why I am proud to be ISMI-Girl.
4. What do you consider your most significant strength as a “woman in STEM” in your role?
Barbara Critical and analytical sense. Whenever I come across something, I tend to ask myself questions and analyze things. Critical sense helps because in a given situation that proves to be one way, analyzed in a critical sense you can also see another point of view. This is useful in the workplace when you want to deliver a work and maybe bring up different points to think about. And in life, because sometimes the first thought we have is not the right one.
Michela The ability to handle complexity and the consciousness of being able to do so continuously learning and keeping an open mind. Issues often get complicated, whether for technical or human reasons, and to maintain both the cool head to find a solution and the humility and empathy to consider perspectives other than your own can be really challenging. Being able to combine these two aspects is one of the most important things for a scientist and for a governance specialist.
5. How have your experiences as a woman in STEM influenced your teamwork, and have they led to positive outcomes for Gridspertise?
Barbara In my opinion the fact that I always tried to make what you could automatic, to optimize time, which I think is one of the characteristics of us women. That is, if I have to do six things, I know that I have to do this first, then this and this and this. And I know that I have to do it in the shortest possible time and hopefully in the best possible way. I see this in my work: when I am asked to do an analysis, a graph, a report, I try to make it accessible so that if we have to do it again later, I have it ready and my colleagues and I can do it automatically.
Carla I tend to go beyond my job title or description. I am an engineer. I am a rational and logical person who likes running numbers in Excel, but at the same time I am often described as passionate and motivated, and I think this is because I am not afraid to let my passion come through in everything I do. This is not just a matter of work ethic, it is a matter of feelings and empathy. I hope that conveying passion can encourage my colleagues to be more cohesive, engaged and effective.
6. In one word, how does STEM diversity impact innovation and problem-solving in a company like Gridspertise?
Michela Enrichment. Incorporating a wide range of experiences and skills fosters creativity, encourages out-of-the-box thinking, and enables the development of more adaptable and sustainable client-oriented solutions.
Carla Revolution. Women in STEM are crucial in Gridspertise as well as in other businesses, in other sectors. Gridspertise is a global company that looks to the future and you cannot look to the future, focusing only on achieving business targets, all in terms of success and business growth. Really looking to the future, means working for communities’ success to me. This is the real revolution and in my opinion, this is the real innovation.
7. What is the secret ingredient that gender diversity adds to tech companies like Gridspertise?
Michela Gender diversity adds what every diversity adds to a context in which it is included: new perspectives and ideas, overcoming the status quo, human, social and cultural enrichment, all-round solutions that consider the needs of everyone. In particular, as women in STEM, I believe that we offer lateral and out-of-the box thinking, combined with an orientation towards connecting the dots and bringing order and precision.
Amalia The secret is creativity. Because of gender diversity, we can have a different way of thinking, and approaching situations.
8. What is an exciting development or trend in your STEM field that you believe girls should be aware of?
Carla The trend is big data analytics. The global big data and analytics market is worth more than $200 billion. Big data is used for accounting, decision-making, predictive analysis and many other purposes. So, in general big data is so valuable for all businesses because it can be used to drive innovation and improvement in different areas in every business. The world is becoming more and more data-driven and young girls who want to run the world should be aware of it.
Michela On Christmas Day 2021, NASA launched the largest and most powerful telescope ever, the James Webb: with its help, together with other space and terrestrial telescopes, we can explore the entire cosmic history: from the Big Bang to the formation of stars and galaxies, from the evolution of our solar system to the search for planets similar to Earth, from dark matter to particles arriving on Earth from black holes and supernovae. There is still so much to discover and explore: never be afraid to ask questions and be curious.
About the interviewees:
Amalia De Rimini works as Smart Grid Engineer at Gridspertise. Outgoing, friendly and generous, Amalia holds a Master’s degree in Electronic and Automation Engineering. She is passionate about innovative technologies for energy transition and grid digitalization.
Barbara Di Tanna works as Data Analyst at Gridspertise. Born and living in Rome, to a Brazilian mother and an Italian father, she is mother of Sophie. Graduated with honours in Statistics, Barbara approaches work and life in general with curiosity and enthusiasm. For her, numbers are definitely not just numbers.
Carla Puleo is Head of Sales Plan and Performance Team at Gridspertise. Born and raised in Catania between the sea and an active volcano, she is a Management Engineer with an Executive Master in Big Data Management at Luiss Business School.
Michela Fasano takes care of Digital Portfolio at Gridspertise. Particle physicist by education, she thrives on unraveling complexities. Passionate about writing, reading and uncovering the magic in life's details, she blends her analytical prowess with a creative spirit to understand the world, spark imagination in others and drive positive change.