An Unplanned Journey: the Road of Monica Possa

“My career path was not a linear one; I didn’t plan anything. I only realized where I wanted to go once I’d already started on my journey. And that’s what I suggest to young people: experiment, and then you’ll find your direction.” Possa graduated in Economic and Social Sciences from Bocconi University in Milan in 1989. She is now Group Chief HR & Organization Officer at Generali, which she joined in 2013 after eight years at RCS Media Group.  

As she tells it: “The turning point for me was my time at Bocconi as a researcher and university assistant. There I realized that, unlike some of my classmates, I loved applying the theoretical models we were studying. I loved doing interviews, talking to people and students.” A passion for people that later led her to make a “crazy” choice after her first job. 
“After graduating,” she explains, “I went to work in consulting, first at Capgemini and then at BCG. I had started down a path, but something was missing. So, I decided to make a change and start from scratch in Human Resources at Omnitel. The best decision I’ve ever made.” At Omnitel, where she started in 1999, Possa rose through the ranks, becoming HR Director for Italy, then HR Director South Europe and finally HR Director SEMEA (South Europe, Middle East and Africa). “I then joined RCS to tackle new challenges, including the chance to work in a listed Italian company and in a sector – publishing – that I have always loved as a passionate reader,” 
she adds. 
Now at Generali, she has the opportunity to work in a large multinational company and make an even bigger impact. “I’ve grown a lot as a manager too. There is a multi-layered feedback system here, so especially in the early days, I had to work not so much on the content I brought to the table, but on being open and able to engage with the organization. I also learned to be less control-oriented, more willing to experiment and take risks, and to trust my staff and my colleagues.”

Motherhood has also played a meaningful part in Possa’s personal and professional growth. “My son has taught me that I can’t control everything, and that it’s important to listen. Because for the first time you have this interaction, this give and take, with someone who is a profound part of your life, but who is different from you. And if you work on this connection, it’s a great source of richness and personal growth,” she adds. 
As for the small number of women at the top, Possa admits that the statistics for Italy still leave something to be desired, and that women must push back against discrimination, which does exist. “I was lucky to work in a meritocratic environment where competence was valued regardless of gender. But I talk to women and even if I have never felt the need to be a ‘she-man,’ and I haven’t experienced discrimination, that doesn’t mean that it’s not there. On the contrary, you have to have the courage to change the culture. In this sense, I feel responsible in light of my role in promoting change,” she adds.

It is no coincidence that Generali’s programs for women’s career development and integration have proliferated over the years. “To do well at work, I tell young women to get as much experience as possible. And at the end of the day, when it comes to making decisions, don’t listen too much to others. Be bold and brave, and don’t constantly be worrying about being more than qualified to meet the demands of the role. Instead, follow your passion. Because there is no ready-made recipe; the ‘right’ path for you is ultimately yours alone,” she concludes.