The ‘No’ That Changed Her Career

Her career began with a ‘no’. After not having passed her medical school admission test, Federica Gasbarro – 30-year-old scientific expert on environmental sustainability – says that her frustration “lasted for a bit, even though I had already enrolled in a biology program at University of Rome Tor Vergata.” Although the path she had imagined for herself was derailed, a lightbulb went off while attending a for-credit workshop on the environment. “It actually changed my life,” she continues, “and I understood that I could help others by becoming engaged in climate action – a controversial topic that divides public opinion despite the evidence, I would be inclined to say.” This marked the beginning of a career that, after obtaining her degree in Biology, brought her to Bocconi to pursue a Specialized Master in Sustainability and Energy Management, “because the topic of climate change is closely connected to the way in which energy is produced and, therefore, to investments and finance. It was part of a skillset that I lacked and wanted to make up for.” At the same time, Federica launched her activism career, which – thanks to a project related to the implementation of a microalgae photobioreactor to abate carbon dioxide in the city – led her to becoming the 2019 United Nations Youth Delegate for Climate Change, the only Italian representative present. Two years later, following an open call sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme together with the Italian government, she was selected to represent Italian youth during the organization of pre-COP26 and COP26 (the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference) in Glasgow, as well as the organization of Youth4Climate events. 

“Thanks in part to this endeavor, there were stories about me written in the press, which opened so many doors. I continued with my awareness efforts on social media, as well as in the corporate world,” explains Federica. Here a sensitive issue emerges – credibility. How can one be credible when discussing “trendy” topics about which so many have so much to say? “This is an important issue. I remember during Covid, everyone thought that they were virologists and often peddled misinformation,” continues Federica Gasbarro, “In these cases, what matters most is your background. Then, when you speak, your thoughts must be supported by numbers and data.” The environmental issue, specifically climate change, impacts current generations who must implement responsible and effective measures immediately, as well as in the future. In theory, nearly everyone says that they are up to the task of acting for the environment, but this has a cost and requires sacrifices. How are people actually behaving? “Broadly speaking, for starters, the first environment-related decisions taken by president Donald Trump risk having devastating consequences in the medium to long term – not just for the United States, but for the entire world,” says Federica Gasbarro. “However, if we think of the behavior of ordinary citizens, I must say that the demographic with more responsible habits is that of people between the ages of 20 and 40 years old. Teenagers speak about it only because it is trendy; in reality, on a global level, much of their behavior is anything but favorable towards the environment. Think of fast fashion, for example. On the other hand, people over a certain age struggle to change longstanding habits. This reasoning obviously applies for our part of the world only; elsewhere it is certainly worse. Those in my line of work, however, must continue to talk about it.” Even when it all seems useless? “Of course, especially when it does. We cannot stop or give up, even when doors close in your face. Among the many ‘no’s’ you will receive, a ‘yes’ will come and open up a world for you. After all, in my case, it all started with that ‘no’ from medical school…”