Sitting down with a sector leader: Talking International Women's Day with Gioia Ghezzi of ATM

Every year for International Women’s Day, UITP has a proud history of working to do our part to advance gender equality within public transport.

We can’t do this without our members. Their collaboration is crucial in helping to bring about a more inclusive and equal sector.

In a world where difference is valued and celebrated, we can envision a public transport that is equal parts diverse and equitable.

We know that this vision is shared by UITP members across the globe, and today we’re beginning our official output for the 2023 International Women’s Day and the approach to #EmbraceEquity.

Up first, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Gioia Ghezzi, Chairperson of ATM in Milano, Italy where UITP is hosting our latest Executive and Policy Board meetings, to gather her thoughts on equality, diversity and what more needs to be done to make public transport a sector for everyone…

Q: The focus of this year’s International Women’s Day is all about embracing equity by working towards a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination – a world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. How would you like to personally acknowledge 8 March?

We know that climate change disproportionally affects women. By drastically reducing emissions, the transportation industry can have a significant effect in reducing and mitigating climate change. The industry also has a critical role in ensuring equitable access, which is a very important tool in reducing social disparity, particularly in areas that are deprived. Finally, women in our industry have shown a high degree of attention to the topic of sustainability in the wider sense. We can work as an industry to advance women in leadership positions, to provide access to mobility for all women, and to substantially abate emissions…

Q: At UITP we’re working to highlight our own role in advancing gender equality. What work is ATM Milano doing to bring about a more gender balanced sector.

We are pushing to bring more women within the organisation – at all levels. While we are doing well in terms of gender balance at the management level, we would like to see more women approach ATM and thrive at our company more broadly. We are campaigning to promote a woman-friendly image of the industry, providing parenting-friendly shifts, and supporting the women who join us. The percentage of women is increasing, but we are aware much more needs to be done. We also proactively monitor salaries to ensure that there is no pay gap between men and women in the same position.

Q: Looking at your own successful career within the sector, what advice would you give to women who want to advance their own career in public transport? And what would you say to women who have not yet considered a career in urban mobility?

There is a revolution happening in this industry, which is pivotal in the transition to a sustainable economy. If you want to change the world, public transport is one way of doing it. Innovation, sustainability, equity, inclusion, access are key words in what we are currently trying to achieve, and these are topics where women have a lot to contribute. My key advice would remain though that of studying, of continuing to study, and to stay close to STEM disciplines.

Q: And finally, how would you describe working in public transport – in one sentence?

A great privilege: the opportunity of making a positive impact on the world.

Thank you Gioia for her time and wise words – it’s great to hear about the work being carried out at ATM in Milano to bring about lasting change!

We know that with voices such as Gioia on board, we can all work together to #EmbraceEquity.

Stay tuned for more of our official output for International Women’s Day 2023!