Balancing talents

Luisa Pescio: maternity as a way to learn soft skills

Luisa Pescio, Web Shop Analyst at Esaote’s Sales Operation department, decided to join the company not only to test her skills, as she is very interested in technology and science, but also because she was looking for an organization that could provide the necessary resources to navigate a challenging personal situation. As a mother of two, Arianna, 7, and Filippo, 3, she sees motherhood as a true school of life.

“Motherhood is like getting a master’s degree,” she explains. “You develop a deep sense of empathy in a hands-on way, while learning organizational skills and how to deal with the unexpected. Multitasking is no longer a buzzword, but a real necessity that requires you to always be present and aware. In my job, I have to have these skills and use them every day.” It involves developing soft skills in the field, which can also be achieved by working remotely and having a flexible work schedule that helps bring teams together rather than dividing them.

“My colleagues gave me a very warm and enthusiastic welcome,” she adds. “E-commerce is a complex field, involving many different business functions. When working with biomedical devices, clear and detailed communication with customers is essential and can only be achieved through effective collaboration with all parties involved in the process. My studies in the humanities have proven to be very useful in this regard, as they have enabled me to communicate complex ideas in a way that is easy to understand.”

Based on her experience, she doesn’t fit the mold of someone who is trying to find balance between her personal life and her professional life. Instead, she acts as a bridge between the two worlds, facilitating a constant exchange of energy and skills. “Working at Esaote allows me to put my strategic thinking into practice in a tangible way and to pass on to my daughter the values of independence and commitment that I also learned.”

The field she works in, e-commerce, is highly complex and interdisciplinary. She has a Communications degree, which has helped her build strong relationships, manage feedback well, and take a creative and responsible approach, especially when it comes to integrating AI innovations into e-commerce.

Tiziana Realfonso: imperfection as a driving force for progress

Tiziana Realfonso is a Regional Quality Manager in the Florence office and is an active supporter of gender equality in the STEM field. As a biomedical engineer, she has served as an advocate for women in a field that still has a long way to go to achieve gender equality, particularly in terms of female representation and the historical presence of women in senior positions. However, the biomedical sector is paving the way for change, with a significantly higher percentage of women than in other areas of science and technology.

“We won’t see a significant change at the top until the next generation, but things are starting to move forward,” she says. “There’s a system in place that works well, but there’s always room for improvement. In my experience in the quality industry, I have learned that the biggest obstacle is the illusion of perfection, which prevents you from looking at the product and context dynamically.”

Her role is to ensure that business processes comply with the set quality standards and that products or services meet customers’ expectations, paying close attention to various aspects. Her passion for change is what drew her to Esaote, a company that gives her the opportunity to work on a wide range of cross-cutting projects. “Being independent is one of my top priorities, and I’m very much independent here. I feel like the people around me trust me, and that gives me the confidence that I’m living up to the task and the responsibility that I’ve been given.”

Inclusiveness, a critical issue in a time of cultural change, is another key aspect of her efforts. “Perhaps it would be better to talk about coexistence,” she explains. “The team, and society more broadly, is only truly valued when we recognize all kinds of differences, not just gender differences, but also cultural, generational, physical, cognitive, and sensory differences. It’s about learning to respect each other.”

She believes that respect comes from being bold enough to step outside of one’s comfort zone in order to learn about and appreciate differences and the opportunities they offer for progress.  She believes that an attitude of acceptance and patience can help people to improve themselves and adapt to a world that is constantly changing. It is therefore important to be able to adapt when things don’t go as planned or when faced with complex issues. 

Lucia Dimola: the importance of sharing experience and energy

Lucia Dimola is an example of this active adaptation, not only in her private life but also in her professional life. Her motto is: “I don’t want it to be easy, I want it to be worth it.” Besides working at Esaote, which is currently undergoing a transformation, she is involved in campaigning against ableism. She uses her Instagram and blog to help people understand what it’s like to live with cystic fibrosis and other conditions.

“I’ve already beaten one form of cancer and I’m now facing another, along with diabetes. But I’m not going to let that get me down. I don’t want others to see me as a warrior because I don’t use my energy for fighting, I use it to live as well as I can,” she says. She is really into CrossFit, which has significantly improved her quality of life, and is committed to keeping her body in shape. In her role as an ambassador for Telethon, Lucia acts as a representative of the LIFC (Italian Cystic Fibrosis League) and tries to motivate colleagues to participate in support initiatives within the workplace. “My requests to support the association have been met with enthusiasm. In the past, my parents hosted a fundraiser feast in partnership with the nonprofit organization Enea to support research into neuroblastoma, the 'children's cancer' I battled at the age of three. Back then, there was no organization dedicated to raising funds for scientific research against neuroblastoma, and this is why my family decided to establish one”.

In the 11 years she has worked for Esaote, Lucia Dimola’s ability to balance and express a combination of realism and optimism has made her a leading figure. Through her job, which includes sorting mail and making deliveries, she has been able to connect with a lot of people and build meaningful relationships. As you walk by her small office, what immediately strikes you is the positive and creative energy that emanates from the drawings, greeting cards, photographs and vibrant colors. "I feel I can consider some of the people I have met at work as friends.” But now Dimola has recently requested a new role that would allow her to work remotely, so she can better manage the use of her respirator due to the persistent cough she deals with daily. She suffers from an invisible disease that requires concrete solutions and lifestyle changes to creatively solve her daily challenges. “I like to put myself out there, it’s exciting;” it’s an attitude that the company needs to share as well.

Giulia Corsi: the pleasure of memories

Giulia Corsi works in the Support and Business Intelligence department and, in particular, is in charge of Sales Support for the Emilia-Romagna region. She has worked in the IT industry and then in the food and beverage industry, but made the switch to healthcare partly because of its values and partly because of the opportunity for a healthy work-life balance: “I feel I’m in the right place now. Upon completion of each project, I’m conscious of the fact that a hospital or diagnostic facility will have access to new, more advanced tools that will facilitate the prevention and treatment of patients. Working in this field inspires me and makes me proud – and it’s not just a figure of speech.”

Having experienced a variety of stimuli in her professional and private life, she has noticed some links with her passion as a professional sommelier, which she shares with her partner through their online magazine Il Gusto Relativo: “The taste of a wine also lies in its evocative capacity, in its unique way of preserving memories. Wine is enjoyable when it has a recognizable pattern that lets us associate it with a feeling,” she explains. “Here at Esaote, this passion was instilled in me by my manager, who for 30 years has seen firsthand the potential of a history that is handed down, even if the patterns are constantly evolving. The probes manufactured in Florence are a testament to our long-standing reputation for technological expertise and craftsmanship, both of which have long been recognized worldwide.”

She sees a positive intergenerational influence, and although the entire management team in the Florence office is comprised of men, she has found an openness to flexibility and a caring approach that transcends the constraints of gender roles. “I think remote work is a great way to do your job better, especially if you’re not under a lot of control, which is the way it is at our company. You need to be well to be able to work well. It’s very important to meet colleagues in person, of course, so we’re hoping to have more chances to get together, even if it’s just to replace the coffee machine.”

These are just some of the stories that demonstrate how personal and professional experiences can be harmoniously intertwined for mutual growth and enrichment. All of them, with their different backgrounds and passions, show us the value of an open, inclusive and change-oriented vision that helps Esaote grow and improve. Each has found her own personal balance that she is proud to bring to the company, whether it is balancing motherhood and working in a high-tech environment, promoting gender equality in STEM fields, addressing health challenges with courage and determination, or applying new value-based skills to healthcare.