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Giulia Montanaro is a founding member and president of the Italian association Le Donne dell’Ortofrutta (Women in the Fruit and Vegetable Industry). This network brings together women working in all areas of the sector – from production right through to sales.
“Above all, we need to rethink the corporate culture. Women have always been part of the industry, but mostly in administration, accounting, communications, or marketing. Moving up to leadership roles is still a lot harder.”
And yet women bring a wide range of skills to the table:
“Among our members there are women working in logistics, quality management, warehouse operations, and many other fields that aren’t typically seen as ‘women’s jobs.’”
Foto credits: Guido de Vincentis
“It’s extremely important to network, provide opportunities for professional development and make our members’ expertise accessible.”
The association Le Donne dell’Ortofrutta organizes events all over Italy on a variety of topics, from business finance and agricultural policy to leadership skills and change management. Often, members themselves are the experts leading these sessions.
Even small changes made by businesses can make a big impact: “We need to create conditions that make it easier to balance work and family life, for example by offering more flexible working hours.”
What advice does she have for women in the industry? “Know your specific skills and expertise. We are specialists, technicians, agronomists, marketing experts, logistics managers, entrepreneurs, and much more besides. And don’t give up: our industry is still male-dominated – but change is possible.”
Foto credits: Adobe Stock
