The 2026 awards ceremony of the sixth edition of the Minerva Prize, promoted by Unindustria and Federmanager Roma to enhance the excellence of female managerial culture in the productive fabric of Rome and Lazio, took place today at the Ara Pacis in Rome.
«The Award promotes an inclusive business culture, recognizing gender equality as a strategic lever for growth and innovation and enhancing leadership models capable of inspiring businesses – declares Giuseppe Biazzo President of Unindustria – As regards female employment in Lazio, our Region presents a relatively favorable situation compared to the Italian average: in the second quarter of 2026 the regional female employment rate stood at 57.9%, compared to the national 54.8%. However, it remains essential to strengthen not only the participation of women in the workplace but also to promote their access to roles of responsibility. In 2024, our territory stands out with 6,450 women managers in the private sector, equal to 28.7% of the total, the highest share in Italy, against a national average of 22.7%. Rome plays a decisive role, concentrating 96% of Lazio's managers: 6,212 professionals, equal to 19% of the national total. These are important results, but there is still a lot to do to overcome gender disparities, guarantee equal opportunities for professional growth and make female leadership increasingly widespread and representative in the business world."
«Rewarding the excellence of women managers means valorising those who drive the competitiveness of our companies every day – declared the President of Federmanager Rome, Antonio Amato – the latest INPS data confirm that Lazio is the first region in Italy for female presence in private management, exceeding the national average by more than 6 percentage points, while Rome is the second Italian province for female managers after Milan. However, CONSOB 2025 findings show that in listed companies, compared to 44% of women on the Boards of Directors, there are just 17 CEOs and 21 Presidents in the whole of Italy. In the regional territory, however, the data held up to 2023 show that 69.8% of companies do not have any women on the board of directors. Recently Federmanager Roma obtained certification for gender equality thanks to the adoption of good concrete practices, we are convinced that it is essential to overcome these obstacles and close the salary and career gap. Among managerial roles in Italy, the gender pay gap still reaches the unacceptable figure of 30.8% (ISTAT data). The Minerva Award celebrates the managers and companies protagonists of this change to confirm Lazio as a model of excellence, in which female leadership increasingly contributes to strategic decisions and the industrial development of the territory".
Also taking part in the awards ceremony were Simona Renata Baldassarre, Councilor for Equal Opportunities of the Lazio Region; Valeria Baglio Councilor for Productive Activities of the Municipality of Rome, Paola Severino, President of the LUISS School of Law, former Minister of Justice, who offered a contribution of reflection on the themes of leadership, talent and the valorisation of skills. The round table, moderated by Rai journalist Roberto Inciocchi, which saw the participation of Alda Paola Baldi, vice president of Unindustria with responsibility for Human Capital; Marisella Cardaci, coordinator of Federmanager Minerva Roma; and Maurizio Mosca, of the Winning Women Institute, represented an opportunity to explore the role of gender policies, good corporate practices and inclusive leadership in promoting the growth of organizations and the competitiveness of the system, as concrete elements of growth for businesses and the territory.
THE AWARDS OF THE 2026 MINERVA EDITION ARE:
CATEGORY VIRTUOUS COMPANIES distinguished for the adoption of good practices and innovative policies regarding gender equality
For Large Businesses: LEONARDO ABBVIE ENEL ITALIA FIBERCOP PHILIP MORRIS ITALIA
For Medium Enterprises: UNILEVER ITALIA MKT OPERATIONS
For Small Businesses: SELF GARDEN
CATEGORY WOMEN MANAGERS who have been able to express transformative female leadership within their organizations:
Dr. CINQUE Stefania Chief Transformation Officer - Director of Human Resources and Organization, Information Systems, Real Estate - RAI WAY
Dr. CORTIS Loretana Executive Vice President, Director of Institutional Affairs – FINCANTIERI
Dr. DANESE Maria Enrica Director of Corporate Communications & Sustainability at TIM
Eng. LERARIO Carmen Milena Antonella Head of Leonardo Space Services Center of Excellence
Eng. NATALE Angela Chief Quality Officer - AVIO
YOUNG TALENT CATEGORY awarded for their degree theses dedicated to gender equality in the world of work, the valorization of female talent and the themes of inclusion and empowerment: GIOVANNI DI FILIPPO, MARTINA GISSI, GIULIA ROSSI, AURORA VENTRIGLIA
