Training, professional growth and the enhancement of female talent were at the heart of the meeting that saw the Rector of the University of Trieste, Donata Vianelli, as a guest of Wärtsilä as part of the initiative Training as a lever for continuous professional development: Stories of Women Growing.

The event provided an opportunity to reflect on the role that universities and businesses can play together in promoting more inclusive working environments, able to recognise and nurture talent, starting with female talent. In this context, particular attention was devoted to the value of training as a means of supporting professional paths that are stronger, more aware and open to growth.

In her speech, the Rector highlighted the importance of structured collaboration between the University and the productive sector, understood as a reciprocal exchange of skills, perspectives and needs. On the one hand, the University helps train people who are prepared to face the transformations of the world of work; on the other, dialogue with companies makes it possible to gain a closer understanding of how professional roles are evolving and of the cultural and organisational challenges shaping contemporary contexts.

From this perspective, the theme of female empowerment is linked not only to access to opportunities, but also to the possibility of consolidating skills, responsibilities and leadership over time, overcoming barriers and gaps that still limit the full recognition of women’s potential.

Alongside Rector Donata Vianelli, the panel, moderated by RAI journalist Francesca Terranova, featured contributions from Emanuela Rusconi, General Manager, Maintenance Management, and Paola Russo, a teacher at the Volta Institute in Trieste, together with a group of female students. The discussion focused on women’s professional growth, inclusion and the value of training as a concrete lever to support personal development and reduce the gender gap in education and career paths.

On this occasion, the Rector also met Gianluca Bertossi, Managing Director of Wärtsilä Italia, together with other company executives, representatives and staff, laying the groundwork for further areas of future collaboration. The visit then continued in several areas of the production site, including the WL&SA workshop, the Technical Labs and Product Validation, offering an opportunity to gain a closer look at the company’s activities, processes and operational contexts.