NewsLab

The “steel” lady of Italy, Emma Marcegaglia, was named the head of Italy’s Confidustria National Employers’ association in a major first for her country’s male – dominated business elite. The new president received standing ovation from her peers and a large bouquet of red roses from the former president. It took a century for a woman to achieve this. Women make up around five percent of the board members of Italy’s listed companies and only nine percent of high-level management positions, according to a study by Milan’s Bocconi University. For Marcegaglia, it is another major conquest. She became the first woman to head the federation’s Young Businesspeople arm in 1996 and is currently vice president for energy, political, industrial and environmental coordination.