Female Italian Entrepreneurs
Female Italian entrepreneurs have made significant contributions to the Italian economy over the years. Despite facing challenges like gender biases and social expectations, Italian women have successfully established themselves as successful business leaders in a range of industries.
Italy has a rich history of women who have made their mark in the business world. One such example is Luisa Spagnoli, who founded the fashion brand that bears her name in the early 20th century. Spagnoli’s pioneering work revolutionized the fashion industry in Italy, and her designs continue to inspire fashionistas today.
Another iconic female entrepreneur from Italy is Laura Biagiotti, who founded her eponymous fashion brand in the 1970s. Biagiotti’s designs have been worn by celebrities like Naomi Campbell and Sophia Loren, and her company remains one of the most successful in the Italian fashion industry.
Today, Italian women continue to make strides in the business world, taking on leadership roles in a range of industries. One such entrepreneur is Federica Marchionni, the CEO of the luxury fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana. Marchionni’s career has included leadership roles at Gucci, Ferrari, and other major companies, and she is widely regarded as one of the most influential businesswomen in Italy today. Another notable Italian entrepreneur is Rosalba Lanciotti, who founded her own organic skincare brand, Officina Naturae, in 2000. Lanciotti’s products are sold in Italy and around the world, and she has been recognized for her commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly business practices.
In addition to their entrepreneurial success, Italian women have also played important roles in advocating for gender equality and promoting women’s rights. One such advocate is Emma Bonino, a former European Commissioner and Italian politician who has been an outspoken advocate for women’s rights for decades. Bonino has worked to increase the representation of women in politics and business, and her efforts have helped pave the way for other women to succeed in these fields. Despite these successes, Italian women still face significant challenges in the business world. According to a 2020 report from the European Commission, women in Italy are less likely to be self-employed or own a business than men, and they also earn less on average. Additionally, women in Italy are more likely to work in part-time or temporary jobs, which can make it difficult to establish long-term careers and build wealth.
To address these challenges, there have been increasing efforts in recent years to promote entrepreneurship among Italian women. The Italian government has launched a range of initiatives to support women-owned businesses, including providing access to funding and training programs. Non-profit organizations like Women in Business Italia and SheMade have also been established to provide support and resources to female entrepreneurs.
Greta Giordano talks to me about female Italian entrepreneurs, her online business, and her blog.
Greta, it is a pleasure to have you on my blog. Please tell me a little about yourself.
Good morning, it’s my pleasure. I start simple, I’m Greta and I’m from Genoa, Italy.
I was born a few years ago… I’m leaving this fact undisclosed… I like playing my age. Luckily it doesn’t show my age…. it will be partly due to the genetics inherited from my father and partly due to the cosmetic products I have tried over the years.
I’m a blogger or atypical influencer as it is commonly said now… I advertise products and companies on my blog and not my body or my face.
I started my career as a saleswoman in clothing stores and then for a few years in an import-export office. Left home after about ten years of work, I got busy and invented this online showcase of mine which will soon be 10 years old.
It all started out of curiosity but in a short time, it became a real passion. I hope to be able to carry on this passion of mine for a few more years.
Covid has also upset this a little bit but these days it is making a great start again and soon there will be many beautiful new companies and activities.
Another passion of mine is connected with the world of perfumes… On my blog there is also a section dedicated to Artistic Perfumery …. this is also a passion that I inherited from my father.
Another passion of mine is the processing of digital photos, I take photos of flowers and with many applications, I transform them into abstract digital paintings. I managed to sell them in some hotels abroad and for me, it was a real satisfaction.
My zodiac sign is Gemini….that says a lot…
Talk to me a little about the city you live in and the food scene.
As I said before I’m from Genoa, the city of the lantern. The city of pesto and minestrone. The city where one of the largest historical centers is located …. full of many small alleys, very nice to visit and characteristic. The city of the port, for this there are so many activities related to import export. There are many villages to visit in my region …. an example is the Cinque Terre known throughout the world for its beauty, not to mention Portofino.
As for food, some typical dishes are pesto, cheese focaccia, gnocchi, vegetable pies, and of course fish as my whole region overlooks the sea, Liguria.
What is your blog all about? Why should we visit it?
The name of my blog is Food and beauty passion. In the beginning, it was focused on these two themes and then it expanded to all Made in Italy. A lot of craftsmanship …. for this reason, it is a blog followed all over the world. I take care of the blog with a lot of passion, I select all the companies that are on the blog … I have always done very specific research … I want to get all the quality of Made in Italy and of other companies that are present.
As I said before, there is also the Artistic Perfumery section…. this is a whole particular world… a world that makes you dream, of real olfactory journeys.
I find writing cathartic. What does writing do for you?
I started writing on the blog during a period that was a little sad for me … when my dad died …. writing relaxes me, and I can think of anything else …. when I have problems I throw myself on my blog and everything passes.
We think Italian food is pasta and pizza. I am sure there is more to it.
Yes, absolutely… Italian cuisine is constantly evolving … I mentioned a few dishes from my region before, but there are many others … not counting products such as cheese … do you like our mozzarella?
And let’s talk about the wines too, Italian wine is the best in the world…
Some typical dishes are rice and peas, sardines in saor, Vicenza-style cod, piadina from Romagna, and Bolognese lasagne.
As in other countries, vegetarian and vegan cuisine is now very popular.
How is life different for you compared to your mom and grandmom?
The clear difference is certainly the issue of technology … the fact that now everything happens online … My mother is absolutely not up to doing anything on the computer …. This does not mean that it is a good thing … .. used to be more relationships with people and now this is all connected to the virtual world…
In your own words, what does women’s empowerment mean to you?
The woman must be absolutely independent and she must have absolutely her freedom to think and to decide. Freedom is very important to a woman. You must always make your ideas count.
Unfortunately, there are too many facts of violence against women, complaints are often not accepted in time or even underestimated or even actions to protect women are not implemented.
When I talk about violence against women I’m not only talking about physical violence but also psychological and verbal violence. The second is often underestimated but I can say that there are many women who are victims of this violence. Sometimes reporting is useless but getting help from friends or relatives… is true.
A woman is unique, she is a source of life and she deserves respect…
On your IG you have lots of products. Talk about perfume and something interesting for my female readers.
As I said before, I’m passionate about perfumes …. not a single fragrance, is my favorite … I love to change every day for this I use the samples that I buy on the sites or that are sometimes sent to me by the Artistic perfumery maisons. … my favorite perfumes are those with boozy accords, very thick, woody and oriental spicy. I hope to go to Dubai to personally discover many new brands for my blog.
One piece of advice I give to her readers is to vaporize the perfume on the hair in this way the perfume will last longer.
When you go to a perfume shop and have to choose a perfume, always remember to reset everything between one perfume and another by smelling the coffee beans that you will take with you in a small box.
A fragrance that mirrors me is L’enfant Terrible by Jovoy.
