Female leadership and AI: creativity as a driver of global change

How to transform creativity into real tools of change to respond to global challenges starting from economic, inclusive and sustainable growth. It is the sense of an interdisciplinary reflection desired by theAssociation of Italian Women Diplomats and Managers (DID) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the World Creativity and Innovation Day. Established by the UN in 2017, not by chance close to the birth of an undisputed genius, Leonardo Da Vinci (15 April 1452), the anniversary of 21 April calls for global celebration of ingenuity, both individual and collective, as the true wealth of today’s nations. An invitation collected by DID with the event ‘Generating vision to create the future: towards new models of inclusive, innovative and creative leadership’at the Circolo degli Esteri in Rome.

“Not only an opportunity for discussion across the board and beyond genres, but – he explains Serena Lippidiplomat and president of the Did – a ‘motivational’ meeting, to explore the theme of leadership change starting from the most virtuous models and translating ideas and good practices into concrete results”. What is at stake – summarizes the deputy general secretary of the Farnesina, Carlo Lo Cascio – is learning to build leadership models capable of combining inclusion, innovation and strategic vision in a time that requires new skills and languages ​​to guide change. “Balanced leadership increases the ability to read the present day, understand phenomena and address problems”, added Lo Cascio, recalling how inclusive leadership is a reality at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Why innovate? How does female leadership differ from male leadership? Is AI male? These are some of the questions that are the starting point of a detailed debate, moderated by director of AGI, Rita Lofanowhich brought leading figures from the world of business, research, public administration and defense to discuss their respective experiences. With a common belief: leadership, when authentic, is good for people even before the performance of the group, as he claims Maria Francesca AcetiCEO of Deltha Pharma.

In this case, in fact, he builds innovation, “not so much to compete and chase the competitor, but to anticipate him”, he underlines for his part Gianna Martinengopresident of DKTS as well as founder and president of Women&Tech ETS. With them, they also shared their human and professional leadership experience Francesca Panessaastrophysicist at INAF, Maria Cristina Pisaniof the National Gender Equality Observatory, former consultant to the Presidency of the Council, Blerina Sinaimeri professor of AI-Decision Sciences at Luiss in Rome e Guendalina Afternoonwriter, teacher and cultural influencer who became famous as ‘Professor X’, for her project that brings young people closer to the great classics.

Among those present was also the retired general Massimo Panizzi who presented his leadership experience to the public as “responsibility and service”, regardless – he pointed out – of gender issues: “skill, enthusiasm, courage and heart. In my life I have found these qualities more in women than in men”, says the former Alpine commander. Also for this reason, Sinaimeri predicts – “it could be women, tomorrow, who write the rules of AI”. “Leadership, to be defined as such, must be inclusive, human and kind”, he reiterates for his part Fabrizio Lobassodeputy general director for the Italian System of the Mae. The book he signed – “I care about you. On the path of rounded leadership” – talks about leadership “without sharp edges and empathetic, capable of transforming itself into an accelerator of success”.

While the newspaper, observes Lofano, mercilessly gives us the reality of a global leaderism without true leaders, Lobasso points straight to a model of leader which – it is the shared hope – will make the difference if it establishes itself: that of a leader – he concludes – who in the company, as in the public administration or in international organizations “ensures that his interlocutor can be the best version of himself”.