Diversity Is a Value, Even at Work

"Combining together different studies and professional skills, even seemingly distant ones, to understand first-hand where these experiences take you and how each of us processes them. Nowadays, it is no longer possible to make long-term strategies to build one's future. It is therefore better to approach one's personal, educational and professional growth in small steps. Although I graduated from Bocconi, I have always been aligned with subjects and activities in art and culture. However, I now work in the music industry and I can better understand the landscape and different situations thanks to my technical preparation." Anna Zò studied Economics and Management for Arts, Culture and Communication, and then went on to complete a Master of Science in Economics and Management in Arts, Culture, Media and Entertainment. She is currently Operations Manager at Music Innovation Hub, a social enterprise that oversees innovative and socially responsible projects in the music sector. It is a creative world par excellence, but still always male-dominated: "Try to think of the name of a well-known female composer in the history of music. Well, it is difficult. However, today – thankfully – there are many female artists and music managers, even if there are only a few of them. It is true that the system changes, but I aspire to no longer have role models to look up to because this means that those role models are exceptions. The presence of women must be the norm."

After university, Zò worked in communications for a large pharmaceutical company including Alliance Boots in London, and the good that came from that experience was certainty that a job behind a desk was not for her. After moving to Paris, she took on multiple endeavors simultaneously, studying at Sciences Po and contributing to the organization of Ecu-The European Independent Film Festival. "Well, I gained a lot from my time in Paris. Now I travel often for music events or conferences, contributing on a daily basis to better representation of women in this sector. How? If I am asked the name of some expert for a certain situation in my field, I specify a woman’s name because my idea of feminism is concrete and starts from the bottom. I treasure what I hear from the more experienced women, and I listen to the younger ones to understand their aspirations, their fears. In other words, I network." Zò does not deny that competition exists among women, precisely because there are so few of them in the workforce. Working together from the bottom up, however, is her recipe for growing women’s presence for them to be able to have their say in places beyond town squares. 

To this day, Zò is challenged to keep together different and seemingly distant elements. Three in particular are music, technology and sustainability. The first is understood as creativity; the second must proceed with respect for the human being who creates the music as well as for those who listen to it; the third is considered sustainable development, in organizing live events with low environmental impact, analyzing the energy consumption of digital platforms, or ensuring accessibility and inclusion in music consumption. "Of course, I work in a social enterprise where gender issues are heavily taken into account, and I am starting from a position that is perhaps more privileged than others. However, the gender gap is a fact in my field and a concrete, multi-faceted effort is needed to heal it," explains the young executive who, just as during her university days, continues to persevere – meeting courage with resilience. After all, just think of the singer, Taylor Swift: "She is a woman, the most listened to artist in the world in 2023, albeit an independent one, and – speaking of women’s roles and strength in combining seemingly distant elements – she can influence even the economy of the countries in which she performs," Zò notes with a touch of irony.