Campaign 2021 Simona Scarpaleggia - We advance

How I got here

Success is about making the world a better place.”

Simona Scarpaleggia, Global CEO EDGE Strategy

What was your dream career as a girl?

I had more than one ambition: Anthropologist, Doctor, Journalist. The things they had in common were the interest in people and their individual and collective stories, as well as the willingness to care about them. I ended up studying International Politics and Economics and started my career in HR. Since then, I have always developed businesses through people and when I became CEO, people, as motivated employees, and as valued customers, have always been, and still are, at the center.

What was your aha-moment when you realized that gender stereotypes may (or do) have an impact on your career development?

How did you deal with it?

I realized that women were treated differently as I started to work. The first reason was because I felt people were expecting from me either a pleasing and caring attitude or a tough and distant one, matching the two most spread stereotypes at the time. The second reason was connected to maternity which was seen as a reason for disengagement. Working hours were tailored for men who had wives in charge of child and home care. The more I advanced in my career, I changed the working schedule to make it compatible to everyone, I emphasized the importance of result over task, I worked towards gender equality and supported both men and women in dealing with their family needs.

What is your number 1 advice for career aspiring women?

Build your own set of competencies, leverage your strengths and choose the right employer.