Interview with Valentina Toscano, Key Account Specialist at MATIX
Despite progress made in recent years, female representation in technology sectors remains a global challenge. According to the WomenTech Network report, only 26% of the global tech workforce is made up of women. In Europe, the situation is equally complex: PwC’s annual report reveals that only 22% of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) positions are held by women, with a further drop to 19% for senior roles. Italy, according to the Gender Equality Index, ranks last in Europe for gender equality in the workplace. This under-representation is not just a question of equity: studies have shown that companies with greater gender diversity perform better in terms of innovation and profitability.
At AzzurroDigitale we have embarked on a journey that will lead us to achieve the Gender Equality Certification (UNI/PdR 125:2022). This initiative is not limited to improving gender balance, but also promotes policies to protect parenthood and work-life balance, creating an environment that fosters the well-being and professional growth of all. With this in mind, we recently appointed the Gender Equality Committee, which will be responsible for implementing all the necessary measures to ensure equity, inclusiveness and equality within the workplace. A small but important action, which we hope will contribute to making AzzurroDigitale a space of well-being and protection for those who work there.
Valentina Toscano: Professional between MATIX and Women in Plastics
In this context, Valentina Toscano represents a concrete example of how women can bring value to sectors with a predominantly male component. Valentina is the only woman in MATIX, an innovative company in the industrial IoT sector, where she holds the role of Key Account Specialist. At the same time, she is actively involved in the Women in Plastics (WIPs) association, where she contributes to the Empowerment group, dedicated to the professional growth of women in the sector.
Valentina’s role at MATIX brings her to work closely with international clients, supporting them in the implementation of the platform for monitoring industrial assets. As she herself points out, to cover this type of role it is essential to maintain “focus” in every aspect of the work: “I find myself having to carry out operational, management and strategic activities, and it is important to know how to develop them in parallel so that projects with clients see constant development and growth”.
Thanks to its contribution, the company Cirkul, based in the States, with production completely outsourced and suppliers located in the USA, Mexico and China, has integrated the MATIX EAM platform into its suppliers’ processes, improving the forecasting and maintenance capacity of the mold fleet. “Thanks to this implementation, the team of tooling managers is able to generate a forecast of when the molds will need to be remade, cross-referencing the data we collect on cycle time, strokes and maintenance orders, with those relating to the six-month production orders that come to them from the marketing team”, Valentina said.
Personal commitment to Women in Plastics
Valentina’s experience with Women in Plastics is equally significant. The association, founded in October 2024, has as its main objectives inclusiveness, sustainability, education and professional networking. Valentina explains how the Empowerment group offers concrete tools for the development of members, such as mentoring programs and training meetings on topics such as professional growth and self-leadership.
“Being in WIPs means sharing” – says Valentina – “of networks first and foremost, for example some WIPs participated in the AzzurroDigitale event in SMACT on November 26, which then opened up scenarios for possible collaborations between companies; but also sharing logics, innovations and perspectives on the plastics sector or on how markets move at a regional level”.
Valentina’s work and non-work experiences are deeply interconnected. Her work at MATIX allows her to develop technical and interpersonal skills that enrich her contribution to Women in Plastics, while the association offers her new perspectives and a support network. This synergy demonstrates how diversity and inclusion can be strategic levers for both individual and corporate success.
A vision for the future
“I am the only woman in MATIX, one of the few under 30 in the Women in Plastics association, I do not have a STEM degree, some of my clients’ suppliers still struggle to talk to me instead of my engineer colleague. But despite this, I am a point of reference for my colleagues and for clients, who trust my work, both thanks to the technical skills I have developed but also thanks to the sensitivity that characterizes me”. Valentina Toscano’s path highlights how the female presence in the technological and manufacturing sectors can be a source of innovation and positive change. Women, like Valentina, stand out as pioneers, paving the way and inspiring new generations to explore careers in sectors that are still little frequented. “To open the doors to women in this sector, we need legislative intervention, a push from the labor market and the commitment of companies that truly believe in this change” – Valentina declared – “but I believe that, especially at this time, it is essential to offer concrete examples of successful female entrepreneurship”.
Initiatives such as the Gender Equality Certification and associations such as Women in Plastics represent crucial elements towards a more equitable and sustainable future, in which skills, sensitivity and diversity are not only recognized, but also fully valued.
