Gender equity and management in Italian cultural sector

The article argues that Italy's cultural and creative industries (ICC) suffer from a lack of separation between ownership and management, which hinders professionalization and gender equity. It notes that while women are highly represented in the cultural workforce, they are underrepresented in top roles. The author, Stefano Monti, proposes that promoting external management figures through incentives could accelerate women's access to leadership positions without waiting for generational turnover. He emphasizes that merit, not gender, should be the criterion for leadership, and that mismanagement represents a missed opportunity for sector growth. The piece critiques rhetorical celebrations of women's contributions that overlook structural reforms. Monti is a partner at Monti&Taft, active in management and strategic positioning.