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On October 17 and 18, Rome hosted the 25th edition of the international seminar “Women, Economy and Power”, promoted by the Bellisario Foundation.
This year’s theme, “Governing the Present, Shaping the Future,” was at the heart of two days filled with reflections, experiences, and testimonies, all united by a clear message: there can be no sustainable future without the genuine empowerment and appreciation of women.
As Lella Golfo, president and tireless driving force of the Foundation, reminded everyone, “to govern” is not a neutral term, but a choice of responsibility and vision. Governing does not mean exercising power through force or arrogance, but guiding change with awareness, empathy, and the ability to build together.
These words deeply resonate with our own experience at Regenesi, where we believe that sustainability is not only environmental but also profoundly social.
Among the featured voices of the seminar was Maria Silvia Pazzi, founder and CEO of Regenesi, who was invited to take part in the panel on “Women & Venture Capital”, alongside
Anna Amati, Paolo Cellini, Innocenzo Cipolletta, Noemi Ferrari, Luigi Gallo, Tamara Laurisio, Marco Nannini, and Laura Orestano, in a discussion moderated by Cristina Sivieri Tagliabue.
A lineup of outstanding individuals, diverse in their experiences and roles, yet united by a shared conviction: investing in women means investing in the future.
Women and Venture Capital: a Cultural, Not Just Economic, Challenge
The starting point in Italy remains complex. According to data from Unioncamere (first quarter of 2025), only 13.8% of innovative startups are majority female-owned.
This figure is growing, yet it still lags behind international levels and, above all, the inclusivity standards of more mature markets such as the United States.
And yet, the evidence is clear: when women-founded companies manage to consolidate, they often outperform the average in terms of return on investment (ROI).
The real obstacle, therefore, is not entrepreneurial capability, but access to capital, a challenge that reaches deep into the cultural and systemic roots of how we do business.
The panel discussion highlighted how urgent it is to shift perspective: it’s not about “helping women”, but about recognizing their value as drivers of innovation, inclusion, and sustainable growth.
Because diversity, when it is genuine and acknowledged, is never merely an act of fairness - it’s a competitive advantage.
Beauty as a Lever for Sustainability
For Regenesi, born from the visionary intuition of a woman, the enhancement of female talent has always been part of the company’s DNA.
Our story is a concrete example of how innovation, beauty, and responsibility can come together.
We have transformed waste materials into sophisticated fashion and design accessories; we have built an ecosystem of artisans, technologists, and designers working in balance between creativity and circularity; and today, with Regenstech and its patented technologies, we are bringing sustainability into the very heart of textile waste recovery processes both pre- and post-consumer.
But there is a common thread running through it all: a feminine vision of the future, one that does not divide but restores harmony, that combines sensitivity and precision, aesthetics and ethics.
Beauty, understood as a universal language, is the key to generating lasting value: because it does not merely please, but inspires, educates, and transforms.
Governing the Future Is a Collective Act
In her speech, Maria Silvia Pazzi reminded us that for sustainability to be truly authentic, it must first and foremost be social.
We cannot speak of a sustainable future without valuing the people - all the people - who make it possible.
In this sense, women are not a category to be included, but a resource to be unleashed.
Because as the Bellisario Foundation demonstrates through the vision of Lella Golfo and the many women who bring it to life governing the present means building the conditions for a better future.
And this future, we are certain, will be all the more sustainable the more feminine it becomes.