At StartUp Terminal, we believe our diversity is our strength. As International Woman’s Day grows near, we celebrate the achievements of women around the world.
To kick off our celebration, we’ve asked Italy-based Arianna Pacchiarotti, Medical Doctor, Director of public IVF Center in Rome, Professor, few questions on her experience achieving success in the field of healthcare, and what advice she has for women entering the workforce today.
Excerpts:
ST: Please tell us briefly about you.
Arianna: I am a gynecologist, specialist in assisted reproduction; I have been dealing with this since I was at the beginning of my studies and I am currently the Director of one of the most important public in vitro fertilization centers in Italy.
I am a university professor qualified as an associate professor and I am president of a non-profit association for the prevention of infertility that promotes information and training campaigns at all levels
ST: Who is a woman that inspires you the most and why?
Arianna: I would like to say that the woman I was inspired by is a famous woman at the height of her career, but in truth two were my examples of women:
the first is my mother, a doctor with a great passion for her work, always discreet, but with a love for others beyond human possibilities. Wife of a doctor, mother of 5 children all graduated in medicine and with the same attitude to work,; we grew up with bread and disease, without realizing it we have matured in us the importance of knowing our bodies, our feelings and learn from our fears. From her my love for medicine;
the second is Maria, our baby sitter, suffering from ovarian sterility, I remember her crying between my grandmother’s knees for the shame and pain of not having children. It was from her that I chose my specialization in gynecology and super specialization in reproductive medicine.
ST: How are you celebrating this year’s International Women’s Day?
Arianna: In my heart and in my mind every day is International Women’s Day and, as every first Friday of the month, I will dedicate my “Stork Day” offering free consultations to anyone who wants to know the status of their fertility, the signs of the body, express their fears and confide their shame.
ST: What is the most important message you want to send out to all the women around the world on this occasion?
Arianna: It is a trad: Self-Esteem. Opportunity. Courage
ST: What according to you is ‘women empowerment’?
Arianna: I return to the topic of self-esteem.
I would like the woman to realize the role she plays in every animal species.
The strength of life within life, two hearts in one body, feeling the imperceptible, this is the real power that women have and then have the courage to regain this power when nature would have taken it away from us; to rely on science, on their own strength and abandon the shame.
ST: What would you say are the main challenges facing women at present globally?
Arianna: It seems crazy, but the biggest challenge in my opinion is to help men understand how their lives are possible because they are surrounded by women.
