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Michela Lattuada - In the spotlight written by “Women in Industry”

Michela Lattuada - In the spotlight written by “Women in Industry”

Can you please introduce yourself?
My name is Michela Lattuada. My brother Nicola, one year older than me, and I have always treated our company like a second home. Our parents, Adelio and Silvana, founded Adelio Lattuada in 1978. In 2004, after having participated in several trade fairs around the world with my father since I was a very young girl, and a few summer experiences, I have been an active member of the family business on a daily basis.

I am primarily concerned with everything related to 'internal' management, such as human resources, safety and maintenance. Since I joined the company, I have felt a strong need to communicate to the outside world the philosophy and work ethic we adhere to and the passion and determination with which we approach each day and make each decision. That is why I also take care of all aspects of marketing and communication.

Did you ever imagine that you would be in a leadership position in this occupation or organisation when you began your career many years ago?
When I joined the company, almost 20 years ago, I did so on tiptoe, with the utmost respect for all those who had already been working with us for years and who certainly had much more experience than me and a lot to teach me. It was therefore a natural and unforced transition to become the point of reference within the family, for our employees, for everything related to safety, work management, and working conditions. This led me to manage human resources, a demanding but very satisfying role.

What do you consider to be the most influential factor in your success?
As in every area of life and social relations, two of the fundamental aspects are respect and empathy. One must always try to put oneself in others’ shoes to fully understand their needs and expectations as well as their limitations and difficulties. It is also necessary to keep a balance, sometimes a very complex one, in order to better manage all diversities. This principle applies to both the management of one's internal resources and the way in which one approaches customers and agents.

How would you describe your leadership style and how you ‘lead’ others? Is it different from your male counterparts?
As stated in my earlier response, I always try to follow these two fundamental aspects when dealing with others. Empathy, in particular, I believe is often more of a feminine quality, without wishing to generalise.

How does it feel to lead men?
Personally, I cannot say that I have ever had any negative experiences in this respect. I have never had the perception that someone wanted to overrule me or not address me but some male colleague just out of mistrust of me as a woman. What makes me smile, sometimes in a slightly bitter way, is when I write an e-mail to new contacts (customers or suppliers) and they reply addressing my name in the masculine form, taking it for granted that I am a man.

have there been any specific female leaders within the industry who have inspired you?
Without a doubt my mother. From the very first days of the company's existence, she has always been at my father's side, supporting him and doing whatever work was necessary to help him make his dream a reality. My mother is a very strong and decisive woman, a person who knows how to firmly express her ideas and be respected.

In your career as a leader, what has been the most significant barrier? Did you face any roadblocks in your career that were gender-related?
I have never faced any major obstacles directly gender-related in my work experience. Women in Industry Certainly, women are often judged much more quickly and harshly than men (not only by men, but unfortunately also by women), so we must be extra careful and watch over details that men do not even pay attention to, so as not to be misinterpreted or misunderstood.

Can you identify some patterns you have observed over the years regarding women at work, and what they might do differently to advance their careers?
The mistake that some women sometimes make is to want to look like men. Instead, I think that we women must focus on what makes us different from men, since those characteristics are not weaknesses at all, but rather strengths. It is said that by nature men are generally more interested in ‘things’, while women are more interested in ‘people’. This makes our life perhaps more complicated at times, but it is a great resource. Being able to better understand and empathise with people opens the way to more effective and deep relationships.

Are there any benefits to having women in leadership?
Women are often able to demonstrate great practicality and precision. Their ability to have a broader view of details and situations allows them to coordinate their own and others' efforts. Especially, in the field of human resources, knowing how to understand the strengths of one's collaborators means being able to direct them towards what they are best suited for, what they can do better and thus obtain better results, which then also improves the mood and disposition towards the work in general and the colleagues. In the same way, it is also essential to understand what their limits are, so as to avoid colliding against a wall out of stubbornness and avoid creating unnecessary frustration.

Is there a reason why we do not see more women in leadership positions?
Sometimes, it is more difficult for a woman to make the decision to devote a large part of her day and her thoughts to work if it means placing her career before her family. Although things are slowly changing, the view that more the mother than the father has to sacrifice the working life when children arrive is still hard to shake.

Are there any ways in which women can support other women in their organisations?
The correct vision, and this applies to both women and men, must be that of the team: when working together in a social group, whether in a business or elsewhere, it is essential that everyone pull in the same direction and cooperate. The goal must be the same, and the success of one must not mean the failure of another. In this sense, I must say a word about the entire group of 'Lattuada women': in our administrative and commercial offices, we are almost all women and, contrary to what many might think, we are all always ready to help one another when someone is in need. There is no competition or envy at all, only team spirit, and I am extremely proud of this.

Do you have any advice for the next generation of female leaders?
As I mentioned before, I believe it is most beneficial to focus on our strengths as women rather than attempt to emulate masculine behaviours, but instead to give voice and strength to those that are more feminine in nature. Men and women are different. Having diversity in a team should always serve as a strength, as it enables us to compensate for the shortcomings of others and achieve better results.

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