It Takes Ambition and a Lot of Generosity
From researcher to being the first female president of the Conference of Rectors of Italian universities, Giovanna Iannantuoni has been at the helm of the University of Milan Bicocca since 2019, and when she talks about women’s issues, she lights up. She explains bluntly: “As a woman, I have chosen to be ambitious, even though this is often judged negatively. Fortunately, science is a field where the facts count, the results you produce. You always have to do better than your personal best. Career discrimination, on the other hand, is linked to the culture, which you can and must change. Even in Italy.”
In talking about her academic career, from her hours in the classroom with students, to research projects and publications, Iannantuoni explains that being a woman has never been an obstacle. After graduating in Economic and Social Disciplines (DES) from Bocconi, she earned a PhD in Economics from the University of Louvain-la-Neuve in 2001. Then her work took her all over the world. Rochester University, Carlos III University in Madrid, Cambridge University – learning English, French, and Spanish along the way.
“I spent more than twelve years abroad,” she says. “I hardly ever felt like I was treated differently because I was a woman, although there were moments. It would happen at international conferences, people would call me ‘Giovanna,’ but my husband was ‘Professor.’ But I always corrected them. You have to be strong in situations like that.”
More complex was the rise to the post of rector in an academic world traditionally dominated by and designed for men. “When I put my name in for rector, I realized it was a challenge. I started my campaign when my daughter was six years old. I remember being reproached for having such a young daughter, and instead it’s something that needs to become normal.” For the new generations and leaders to come, whether they are mothers or not. “I often hear from women colleagues or researchers who are scared to start a family; they ask me for advice. I want to tell women that you can have it all, have a wonderful relationship with your daughter and be a rector at the same time. You don’t have to choose,” adds Iannantuoni.
But in Italy, there is still a long way to go: “Just look at women’s employment, which is stuck at 50 percent. A structural change is needed to allow women to be mothers and professionals.”
Women in the workplace have to be brave, and bet on themselves. But according to Iannantuoni ambition should be tempered with the proper dose of generosity. “I am competitive, it’s true. I tell my scientists that they must conduct cutting-edge research, but I also tell them to be generous, because science must generate well-being for everyone around us.” It’s no coincidence that Iannantuoni talks about the social value of research and the responsibility of scientists and universities. “As rector, I really enjoy making decisions and making a difference. I find it tremendously satisfying to work with my community to design research streams that have a concrete impact on society. Science has immense power: it can set people free. When you have an awareness, a deep knowledge of things, there are no limits,” she concludes.
