WOMEN IN SCIENCE 29 CHEMICALS KNOWLEDGE HUB Issue 1 / July 2025 for women in underserved areas or with family commitments, while boosting autonomy and focus. However, challenges remain: blurred work-life boundaries, reduced visibility and slower professional growth due to less direct interaction. Fortunately, my current company demonstrates real progress in supporting working mothers. Remote work has given women freedom to manage careers and family without compromise. However, true innovation will come when we stop viewing work-life balance as a concession and start recognising it as empowerment. How important is it that young scientists observe women as mentors, speakers and leaders in their field? How much would that help in feeling a stronger sense of belonging and part of the team? Valentina: Seeing women in leadership roles as mentors and speakers is incredibly valuable. Their visibility gives young scientists the confidence to believe in themselves and pursue their ambitions, while motivating them to strive for continuous growth. These role models serve as living proof that dedication and hard work can lead to recognition and success. Most importantly, they create a powerful sense of belonging, showing everyone that they too can be part of the scientific community’s future. Have you felt more of a camaraderie with female staff and colleagues because of the issues you all face in the pharmaceutical field? Equally, have there been times when you have expected that support and sense of belonging only to find it lacking at your place of work? Simona: Throughout my years in the pharmaceutical industry, I’ve been fortunate to work with many women – in fact, more female than male managers in my department. I’ve frequently experienced a special camaraderie with female colleagues, particularly as women’s representation in our field continues to grow. I find mutual understanding often comes more naturally in direct interactions with women. While I recognise my experience may not be universal, I’ve consistently found the support and sense of belonging I hoped for from my female colleagues. knowledge sharing. While creating dedicated spaces to address gender-specific challenges has undeniable value, I believe we should champion inclusive networking that transcends gender boundaries. The most effective professional networks are those built on diversity, mutual respect and shared expertise. By fostering open dialogue and opportunities that encompass all professionals, we ensure every voice contributes to meaningful progress, ultimately benefiting our entire industry. This balanced approach allows for both targeted discussions when needed and broader collaboration that drives inclusive advancement. It is also important to recognise that there will be differences in different disciplines. For example, nutrition often has more females than other fields might have. Has that ever been a consideration in your career choices in the pharmaceutical field? Paola: No, gender distribution has never influenced my career decisions. Beyond pharmaceuticals, I’ve held quality roles in both the food and cosmetics industries, where I observed a strong female presence although not significantly different from what I’ve encountered in pharma. This may reflect my focus on quality functions, where gender representation tends to be more balanced compared to areas like production or commercial. My career choices have always been driven by professional interests and opportunities rather than gender demographics. Much of the workforce has been working online or WFH for the past couple of years. Have you noticed whether this new way of working has improved or hindered the situation of women in the workplace? Alessia: My experience reflects both the promise and challenges of remote work. During my first pregnancy in lockdown, I worked for a company initially resistant to remote arrangements. While pandemic measures eventually created lasting benefits for women, I still faced palpable distrust and had to constantly prove my productivity. The advantages are undeniable: better work-life balance, time flexibility and reduced commuting. Remote work has increased inclusion, particularly
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