Loredana, Engineer and Leader: a story of technology and people

From automated factories to AI, the journey of a woman who has combined technical expertise, vision, and a strong focus on relationships

Daughter of an Olivetti employee and the third of three sisters—all of whom chose a humanities path—Loredana, from an early age, developed a deep passion for technology, mathematics, and everything with a technical and operational dimension. A practical curiosity that still defines her today: within her family, she is known as the “fix-it-all mom.”

A nonconformist choice

On her mother’s side, male relatives have been engineers for generations. Perhaps for this reason, with pride and determination, Loredana chose Electronic Engineering—the most challenging program at the University of Palermo. A demanding and male-dominated environment that became fertile ground for expressing her passion and talent.

She graduated with top honors, the only woman in her year in Palermo in that field.

First encounter with Italtel and the legacy of Marisa Bellisario

Even before graduating, Loredana participated in an Italtel scholarship for women in electronic engineering, dedicated to Marisa Bellisario, CEO of the group in the 1980s. Among many candidates—mostly from Milan—she was the youngest and was awarded the “Young Manager Program” master’s at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, one of the most prestigious and selective business schools in the world.

Shortly after graduating, in 1992, she joined Italtel at the Carini plant near Palermo, also named after Marisa Bellisario—a recurring thread in her professional journey.

Here she tackled one of her first major challenges: factory automation, working with international teams on testing technologies for electronic boards and advanced control systems.

Growing, changing, leading

In the factory, she managed teams composed entirely of men—highly experienced technicians. Initial skepticism was inevitable: not so much about her gender, but about being an engineer who had “only studied from books.”

Senior colleagues often tested her with seemingly simple requests designed to challenge her practical skills. One episode stood out: a colleague, pretending to have forgotten his glasses, asked her to read a measurement using a vernier caliper—something she knew how to use well.

Test after test, trust in her grew.

Her team began calling her “Engineer Loredana,” and she started shaping her leadership style based on competence, listening, and presence.

During these years, Loredana became the mother of two children. After her second maternity leave, she moved into the software division, a strategic area for Italtel.

From Networking to Client and Institutional Relations

Her path continued in networking within Italtel Engineering, where she worked on Cisco solutions and earned several certifications. During this phase, she worked closely with the client TIM, gaining exposure to the commercial area as a technical advisor and, for a period, as an account manager.

She later became Head of Technical Unit AIS – Application Integration & Services – for the Private & Public Business Unit, strengthening her expertise in managing complex projects and integrating advanced technological solutions.

In recent years, she has also taken on the role of Site Manager for the Palermo office, representing Italtel internally—performing functions similar to an HR Manager—and externally, in relations with institutions, educational organizations, and research centers. She actively contributes to the development of the regional technology ecosystem.

The Palermo site is a hub of expertise, especially among senior professionals. Italtel’s long technological history is also a strong attraction for younger generations. The working model is based on structured collaboration and a solid organizational architecture. Loredana describes it as a true “collective intelligence,” enabling continuous knowledge and experience sharing.

Focus on Sustainability and Internal Audit

Throughout her career, Loredana has worked across multiple technical and organizational areas, engaging with diverse people, contexts, and perspectives. This journey has given her both a broad and practical understanding of the organization, as well as a deep sensitivity to its internal dynamics.

The trust she has built over time is grounded in a work style based on listening, presence, and attention to relationships—qualities that now define her role as Deputy Internal Audit and Sustainability.

In this capacity, she promotes a more integrated approach to audit and sustainability, aiming to place ethical, social, environmental, and governance values at the center of corporate decision-making.

Looking ahead: Artificial Intelligence

For Loredana, Artificial Intelligence is the most disruptive technology of our time—a revolution reshaping how we work and live, requiring awareness and responsibility.

Critical thinking, the ability to evaluate responses, attention to AI “hallucinations,” and skill in crafting prompts are essential. Technology remains a powerful tool: it is up to people to guide it with rationality and responsibility.

Women, STEM, and sisterhood

Loredana does not hide the challenges of working in a predominantly male technical environment. Women, she explains, often have to prove themselves ten times more. Mistakes or mediocrity are rarely tolerated.

Her message to young women pursuing STEM careers is clear: support each other, build networks, and strengthen sisterhood. Acknowledge that discrimination still exists and that tools like gender quotas are currently necessary to ensure representation.

She also advances this commitment through her involvement in the foundation dedicated to Marisa Bellisario in Sicily, where she serves as a member. Her contributions—including acting as a role model and speaking about innovative technologies like AI—represent the common thread connecting her journey to the entrepreneurial legacy of Marisa Bellisario.