No.born and raised in Tehran, graduated in Information Sciences and specialized in Artificial Intelligence, Darya Majidi, 54, as an entrepreneur almost always found herself dealing with male interlocutors. Over the years as Councilor for Innovation at the Municipality of Livorno, from 2009 to 2014, it has seen women lose their jobs to be replaced by robots designed by male minds. The experience, therefore, led her to question how to ensure that digital technology, so important in our daily life, becomes inclusive. Avoiding the risk that innovation, with all the growth and career potential that it brings with it, cuts out women and leaves them in marginal positions.
Darya Majidi: a positive impact for women
This is why he began to get busy, in a concrete way, creating an association, Women 4.0and a consulting firm, the Daxo Groupof which he is founder and CEO, who is in charge of digital transformation and female empowerment. From there other projects started, always with the aim of having a positive impact for women. And therefore, on the future of everyone and everyone. The first step? Orient the girls, their energies, their passions.
Let’s start with the data. How many women are there in ICT, that is, in information and communication technologies?
Only 15 percent, according to estimates by the World Economic Forum. It means that 85 percent of the software that governs our lives is created and controlled by humans. Do we really want to delegate the future to them, without fielding our skills, our values? By renouncing to be protagonists of innovation? I really do not think so. This is why I decided to commit myself. When did it start to activate? Maybe when I saw my husband returning to work a few days after my birth. Or when, working to bring technology to companies and hospitals, I saw that I was only comparing myself with men. Or, finally, when as councilor for innovation in my city, Livorno, from 2009 to 2014, I realized how women were the first to be replaced by robots in companies, while walking around. On the one hand, well-paid careers were emerging in the digital world, on the other traditional, underpaid jobs. The risk of being left out was great. Something had to be done. For them and for young people: I was the first woman to create an incubator and coworking space, where about twenty start-ups have been born so far. In 2018 I wrote the book Donne 4.0, and from there the association was born.
And what are you focusing on today?
We have created a Pnrr Observatory where with a quantitative approach we measure the impact of the measures on the gender gap: according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, about 20 percent can have an impact, while 80 is neutral. We really want to measure 80, to understand what works and what doesn’t. For example: they presented the Fund for women’s entrepreneurship but after a day the money was already gone: as an entrepreneur, I say there was a mistake. Again: there are many implementing decrees for rewarding companies that promote gender equality. In short, there is so much to do and to keep an eye on. The Manifesto of Women 4.0 summarizes the steps necessary to promote the entry and empowerment of women in the world of technologies. We, with the reskilling and upskilling courses, act concretely so that they do not lag behind. And with the new StartupHER initiative we will select the three best female projects that we will help to grow. But first of all we need the training of the girls, who must be encouraged to know the Stem subjects.
This summer you have organized for the first time AIxGIRLS, a free tech camp in Volterra for students who have graduated from the fourth grade. How did it go?
Very good. We had 57 applications for 20 positions. We oriented the girls selected for a week on Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, they were curious and motivated. Yet, to the question: “how many of you think you will be able to enter the sector?”, The answer was unanimous: none. He impressed us very much. If the best ones close themselves off because they think they are not up to it, it means that the path to awareness is still long. Girls don’t realize the impact they can have. But skills are not enough if you don’t have the courage to propose yourself, to take power.
Power is a sensitive issue, it scares many women. Because?
They don’t come forward because they have a negative idea of it, not awareness and leadership. But I feel that something is changing. According to a Persian saying, the drops come together and create the ocean. Being digital means having the tools to be protagonists of change, and not undergo it. The three C’s are needed: skills, heart and courage.
iO Donna © REPRODUCTION RESERVED