Milan , held in the Rossana Orlandi space . Please , tell us about the day … The event was created to celebrate the anniversary of the first year of the project ’ s development in Italy and involved fourteen lighting professionals : Giordana Arcesilai , Camila Blanco , Daria Casciani , Simona Cosentino , Giusy Gallina , Claudia Giacomobello , Liliana Iadeluca , Lisa Marchesi , Marta Naddeo , Tania Rossini , Sarah Elise Sartore and Stefania Toro . As special guests , the WiL Russia ambassador Olga Tuzova and Martina Frattura of WiL Portugal . The schedule of the day was very intense , but most of the morning was dedicated to the training . So , led by a coach , we worked and experimented with some tools useful to identify the priorities for the development of our business . We are all professionals , but what is often missing is the time dedicated to our training and to the elaboration of a business strategy that can guide our actions and allow us to maintain the focus by making the best use of our time , which is often divided between work and family management . As a group – or team of light , as our colleague Arcesilai defined us –, if I had to summarize what we are trying to do , I would say that we are trying to create a strong , welcoming , and open network , able to overcome gender stereotypes and throw the basis for experimenting with new ways of collaboration , leadership , and mentoring . The participation and interest shown by the Italian colleagues who work abroad are important facts that I noticed ; many of them left the country to follow their dream elsewhere , and now they hold important roles in international studies . However , this project is in some way bringing them closer to us , we feel they are very close and supportive with us . I must say that in this kind of context , extraordinary things are happening : for instance , we go from the possibility of easily receiving indications and support on regulations abroad , to being able to confront ourselves on projects that others have already dealt with , making use of their experience , up to the launch of collaborations or real “ task forces ” to face large projects or particularly difficult working situations . It is an extended network , also able to welcome you if you ’ re falling .
What numbers are we talking about ? The project is already supported by female designers in around 50 different countries . We are now 70 “ ambassadors ” all over the world . We are in constant contact with each other , thanks also to the commitment of the promoters who keep the group compact also through engaging initiatives such as WiL social roulette and WiL in lockdown .
Staying on the subject of lockdown , today we are more aware of how much the virtual connection with the world can help us . What are the objectives achieved and to be achieved for WiL _ Italy ? In this first year , we have tried to make a strong impact , consistent with the goals of
" Join the movement ": lo slogan e l ' invito ad aderire al progetto / " Join the movement ": the motto and the invitation to join the project
the international project . With the support of formalighting we created the first Women in Lighting Permanent Corner , to support the professionals during the video recording and encourage them to make their own videointerview , in order to tell their story , their successes , and their great passion for the work they do , with the aim of increasing the international database and inspire others . To this , we added a whole campaign on social channels : on WiL _ Italy , in addition to sharing international initiatives , we started to share the profiles of individual professionals through the production of original content , capable of highlighting their work and showing the specifics of each one of them . The main goal remains to continue to give visibility to Italian professionals in the sector and to increase their prestige , and at the same time to create models to follow , stabilize a balance , and encourage people to choose to work in lighting . And then , more generally , to contribute to the diffusion of the culture of light and make the figure of the lighting designer known also in Italy .
On this very subject , I know you are the author of another interview project … Among the recent initiatives of WiL _ Italy , there was a series of video interviews , # SOSlighting , made during the lockdown , which I curated personally . Together with the lighting designers Giordana Arcesilai , Martina Alagna ( from London ), Chiara Carucci ( from Stockholm ), Martina Frattura ( from Lisbon ), and Sarah Elise Sartore , we gave life to five episodes full of practical tips and suggestions to improve your stay at home , making the best use of natural and artificial light . Together we did a great deal of work on the content to make it simple and understandable ; all this was possible because they are extraordinary colleagues who know how to get out of their comfort zone and get involved , if it is for a good cause . Another important step was the on-line meeting of last October 29th , designed to welcome all the new professionals who in the past months have contacted me expressing interest and willingness to know the WiL project . The meeting , which was attended by about 30 professionals , was structured through evidence and stories of what really happened in this first year , directly from the voice of the protagonists of WiL . My special thanks go to Susanna Antico , Giacomo Rossi , and the aforementioned lighting designers , as well as to all the colleagues who have been working with me for the development of the project since a year now , for their constant support .
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