Women in communication: interview with Eleonora Rocca founder of Digital Innovation Days

Coming of age is certainly an important milestone, both for a person and for a brand and, in this very particular case, for ours.
Since the female has turned 18, we have decided to start a Women Empowerment project that focuses on women who work in the field of communication.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Eleonora Rocca, founder of the Digital Innovation Days, who told us about her incredible experience as a woman in the world of marketing and digital.

1. What is "being a woman" like in the world of communication?

My experience as a woman in the world of communication has been very varied and eventful. I started at HP when I was 20, and at the same time I started law school and I was studying English because London has always been my dream. At 23, however, I realized that I did not want to be a lawyer, so I did a master's degree in marketing and communication. And from there my vertical career in this world began. I started from the world of sales and project coordination and then embarked on a path as an entrepreneur, which had its first impetus when Mashable in 2015 asked me to organize the first Mashable social media days and I accepted, transforming them in a few years into a real business with what later took the name of Digital Innovations Days. If you are interested in the event, here is all the information.

I lived first in Rome, then in Milan and then in London, realizing what was a dream I had as a young girl, and where, in addition to the Digital Innovation Days project, I continue my career in marketing, a discipline that has allowed me to develop my two souls: that of sales and that of a creative person with a passion for digital.

In "being a woman throughout this journey I have found difficulties and continue to find them, even in London. The tech for example is 90% managed by men, and I also had the impression in the company that if you stand up in meeting and you are the only woman, even if you are a strong leader, there is always a bit of awe, as if in the back of the man's brain unfortunately it is still a bit strange to see a woman at the table.
In the business environment it is worse. 99% of the interlocutors are men, women are very few. At Singularity University in California, there were 90 world leaders, only 10 women. In my new board they are all men. The Bocconi start up training project? Out of 8 teachers, I was the only woman. Among the 14 speakers in Monte Carlo for a dedicated block chain event, I was the only woman.
We are in the minority, and the feeling I have, even from colleagues who respect me, is that for men you are always the younger sister to be protected and pampered. Which is also beautiful, but up to a certain point, because I am also an entrepreneur.
Very often, moreover, they ask me: "and when a family?". Let's clarify one thing: we don't all have to do things the same way, or in the same order. Everyone is free to make their own choice, we are not obliged to all move in the same way. It is a very important message to pass because, even if we have made progress and there are many realities that inspire women and create contamination, communities, we still have to work on it.

2. 3 words you associate with women empowerment

Personality, self-esteem and determination. We must tell the girls not to be afraid to jump in, to stop not believing in it enough or not to believe that we are up to something. We must already make contamination at university, educate girls on the concept of women empowerment and make them understand what real opportunities there are on the market.

3. What would you say to the 18-year-old you and the 18-year-olds today?

To the 18-year-old me I would say to learn to be more diplomatic, which helps in many situations. I have become more so since I have lived in the UK, because there is a modus vivendi. Over the years I have learned from the British how important it is to let things slip on you and that you cannot fight against everything and everyone, you have to choose where to invest your energies, as my ex very good boss told me.
To today's girls, even if it may seem contradictory: detach yourself a little from social media, don't be fooled by the idea that being an influencer is a simple thing because that too is a job, and requires effort. But also don't be fooled by life on social media, that's not real life, because as much as we can be authentic, we are never 100% authentic because nobody wants to share the negative parts of life, and reality is made up of both positive events. than negatives. Concentrate on your inner self, asking yourself and trying to understand what you really like to do, what are your inspirations. Experiment, write a diary, draw, travel, cook, try to understand what your passions may be, cultivate them, go beyond the patterns they impose on us, really listen to what you want to do.

4. What should be done to develop women empowerment?

Mentoring is very important, supporting the younger figures with mentors, experienced and accomplished people. However, they must be outside their work context, from the division in which they work, which are not influenced by the dynamics of the work team, and which can inspire independently of everything.
Another very nice initiative, proposed on Twitter, is the figure of the sponsor, someone who takes you forward from a career point of view. More than inspiring you, it takes your skills and makes you grow, it carries you forward in the company. It is important to know how to work alongside the right people, and it should be taught already in university, at school, not to see who is higher in rank or better as a competitor but as someone who can make you grow, with whom you can do a real job. team. Having self-esteem is important, having determination and knowing how to behave, but you must also be humble, have the ability to say "he is better than me" and have the desire to support him in order to grow.