At the age of 32, you became General Manager of Rajapack Italy. You are proof that being young and a woman are not obstacles to having a successful career. Do you think that these could even be considered two strengths?
Lorenza Zanardi: I am convinced that trust in young people and women could be a strong point for companies. Charisma, courage, enthusiasm and creativity, traits that young people possess, can bring added value to the economy and companies in general.
I am a testament to this. I was appointed CEO at the age of 32, after a long period of growth within the RAJA Group. From the very beginning, the group was characterised by a strong female presence.
RAJA is the acronym for Rachel and Janine, the two founders france phone number data of the Group, and our current President is a charismatic female figure, Danièle Kapel-Marcovici. In 2007 we had six female partners in Italy, and today we have around 50, with women representing 63% of the total. As the numbers show, it is an additional distinctive feature and a differentiating value in a sector traditionally dominated by men.
W: You have a degree in history and foreign and French literature, which gives your education a very international profile. How much influence has this had on your approach to work?
LZ: Knowing foreign languages has helped make my mind more flexible; it has made me able to make quicker connections and see coherence between things that seem disparate at first glance. Overall, knowing French helped me build a relationship of trust with the administration in France.
W: In your opinion, what are the essential characteristics for a leader?
LZ: Inspiration, passion, innovation, positivity and responsibility are just some of the characteristics that I believe a leader should have. Giving a clear definition of a leader is not an easy task, as when we talk about leadership there are many factors to consider when dealing with ideas and actions. However, I think leadership could be the art of motivating a group of people who act towards a common goal. It is very different from self-management skills; being a leader also means being able to inspire others every day.