On November 25th, Lella Golfo, Italian journalist, politician, entrepreneur and President of the Marisa Bellisario Foundation, presented in New York her last book, “Ad Alta Quota,” a story about work rights for women. The presentation took place at the Italian Cultural Institute of New York [2] in occasion of the International Day for the elimination of violence against women.

The panel at The Italian Cultural Institute was moderated by Mario Calvo Platero from Il Sole 24 Ore and saw also the participation of Mariafrancesca Carli from JP Morgan, Elisabetta Bartoloni from Heidrick & Struggles, Ilaria Costa from Iace, Monica Ermacosa from Bvlgari, Luigi Gubitosi from Rai and Stefano Lucchini from Eni. Also the Consul General Natalia Quintavalle attended the meeting with the author of the book.

“This book is a love message towards women and towards politics,” says Lella, telling that the women cause was something she always cared about since she was a young girl. Indeed, in her book, the author explains how she started her fight to defend women’s rights when she was just 18 tears old, supporting the women of her beloved Calabria region who asked to have boots to wear while working in the fields. A social battle that culminated when she arrived at the Parliament, in 2008, introducing the famous law in regards to the so-called “quote rosa” (an essential tool to increase the presence of women within public societies listed in the stock exchange), approved in 2011.

“Thanks to the approval of my law, now, in Italy, the number of women who are part of the administrative committee has increased by a 17.2%, while in the US is still at 14%. This demonstrates that for once, Italy, in regards to equality issues, is ahead,” affirms Ms. Golfo.

With this book, “Ad Alta Quota,” Lella Golfo tells her experience, her political and personal efforts “to change a little part of the world” and bring women to vertexes of power. However, she concludes reminding that women have still a lot of work to do and battles to fight. As long as they stay together and together stand out for their rights.