Women on Board 2025 lands in Brussels: CEC European Managers hosts the event for inclusive leadership

CEC European Managers hosted the seventh stage of the Women on Board 2025 project, an initiative aimed at promoting greater inclusion of women on the boards of public and private companies.

The event, which brought together 1,500 participants both in person and online, served as a key moment for discussions on European policies related to gender equality, diversity, and closing the gender pay gap.

Participants had the opportunity to engage with prominent representatives from the European corporate and institutional world. Among the speakers who shared their experiences and perspectives were:

• Cristina Mezzanotte, President of Manageritalia Emilia-Romagna, who introduced MEP Elisabetta Gualmini (Member of the European Parliament);
• Silvia Romanelli, lawyer specializing in M&A, Equity Capital Market, Corporate Governance, and ESG, introduced by Silvia Pugi, Board Member of CEC European Managers;
• Paola Vitale, National Coordinator of the Young Group at Federmanager and Chief Financial Officer Discovery & Medical at Cytiva Danaher, presented by Maria De Renzis, National Coordinator of Federmanager Minerva.

The session was moderated by Sara Cirone, President of Hub del Territorio Italia and National Coordinator of the Women on Board program.

A European Perspective on Corporate Governance

The Brussels event focused on discussions about the various European corporate governance models and regulatory frameworks, with particular emphasis on the protection of underrepresented groups, inclusion policies, and strategies for reducing the gender pay gap.

MEP Elisabetta Gualmini expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative, stating:

“I am deeply proud to participate in this stage of the Women on Board 2025 project. It is an initiative of great significance, aimed at raising awareness of the importance of gender equality and encouraging greater female representation in managerial roles.”

She added:

“Thanks to this European gathering, we have been able to analyze the progress made in recent years, such as the Women on Board Directive and the Pay Transparency Directive, both aimed at eliminating the gender pay gap within the EU. However, the EU’s work does not stop here: the Commission has recently presented its Roadmap for Women’s Rights and the 2025 Gender Equality Report. We will continue our efforts to break the glass ceiling and achieve true gender equity.”

The Value of Best Practices and Inclusion Strategies

Cristina Mezzanotte, President of Manageritalia Emilia-Romagna and founder of the Women on Board project, highlighted the event’s value:

“This is the first time that the Women on Board community has engaged with European best practices on gender representation. The latest Women Manageritalia Report shows that only 20% of managerial positions in Italy are held by women. Today, we had the opportunity to explore the strategies adopted in other European countries and bring home new ideas to promote merit-based leadership, ensuring equal career opportunities for all genders.”

Maria De Renzis, National Coordinator of Federmanager Minerva, also emphasized the educational value of the initiative:

“We are proud to be part of Women on Board also in this 2025 edition. This training program provides women managers with practical tools to understand corporate governance dynamics and close the gender gap. The Brussels event, hosted at the prestigious headquarters of CEC European Managers, once again underscored the importance of inclusion, representation, and women’s empowerment at the European level.”

Women on Board 2025: A Key Initiative for Female Leadership

Women on Board 2025 continues to be a pivotal initiative for enhancing female talent and promoting a fairer, more inclusive corporate model.

The program is free of charge and primarily designed for women but remains open to men as well. It includes 15 training sessions across Italy, concluding in June 2025.

At the end of the program, participants will be added to a qualified online database, accessible to companies looking for managers and professionals for their governance bodies, facilitating the matching of skills with career opportunities.

Accedi alla campagna BeyondBias in italiano [+]

20 Recommendations for Managers: The BeyondBias Campaign

During the event, CEC European Managers officially launched the BeyondBias campaign, sharing materials and resources translated into Italian, available at the following link:

🔗 Access the BeyondBias campaign in Italian [+]

The BeyondBias campaign consists of 20 practical recommendations for managers, aimed at counteracting unconscious biases and fostering fairer and more inclusive workplaces.

The availability of these materials in Italian equips Italian managers with concrete tools to implement a more equitable and merit-based leadership.

The event also featured prominent figures from the European institutional and corporate landscape, including Silvia Pugi, Board Member of CEC European Managers, who introduced a session dedicated to European policies for inclusive governance.

“Bringing Women on Board 2025 to Brussels at the CEC European Managers headquarters meant providing women managers with a tangible opportunity to engage in dialogue with European institutions and learn from the best international practices. The presentation of the BeyondBias campaign further strengthens our commitment to promoting a fairer and more inclusive management culture at the European level.”

Silvia Pugi
Deputy Secretary General, CEC European Managers

Women on Board 2025 will continue its journey with additional training sessions across Italy until June 2025.

For more information: www.percorsowomenonboard.it