Creating awareness and driving change: the Nokia team shares the SupportHer project
We asked Alberto Marionni and other colleagues at Nokia to share their experiences and reflections at the end of the meetings with the SupportHer team.
Silvia Gabbioneta, D&I Manager at Nokia Italy, begins by describing the common approach Nokia adopted in joining the project. “There are dynamics that are not always openly visible, but intuition can detect them: small changes in behavior, signals we cannot interpret, absences that leave questions unanswered. In the workplace, we often do not know how to read these signs or how to act appropriately. Addressing the issue of gender-based violence requires sensitivity, specific skills, and, above all, an organizational culture capable of recognizing these signals without looking away. Our participation in SupportHer stems from this awareness. At Nokia Italy, we want to go beyond mere awareness-raising: our goal is to transform awareness into daily commitment and tangible actions.”
Laura Gorla, Operations Specialist, Lab Support, explains: “I was driven by the need to understand whether I could provide support to women in difficulty. I strengthened my deep awareness that the problem of gender-based violence is real, that it does not happen only to ‘other people,’ as we are often led to think. Now I feel an even stronger desire to continue implementing the strategies we agreed upon during the meetings, and that sense of strength comes from the unity and cohesion of the group we formed.”
By joining the SupportHer project, Nokia embraced Dada OP’s goal of fostering real change—change that touches people and culture, but most importantly, change that is deep, lasting, and strengthened by an active and growing community. “Personally, I experienced this project as a great opportunity for personal growth, and I am grateful to the company for offering it: how could I refuse?” shares Cristina Caroi, Executive Assistant. “Unfortunately, I had to realize how little we really know about a topic we all think we understand, while the information available to the general public—including myself—is mostly sensationalized and superficial. Even today, biases and cultural models persist that unconsciously support gender-based violence, sometimes even among those motivated to combat it. What I liked most were the speakers: clear, direct, and decisive, yet able to listen and engage participants. Through discussions with colleagues, I gained important insights and food for deep personal reflection. Implementing visible actions as we would like may not be easy—many ideas require a lot of energy—but we will do our best. In any case, I think the course alone has already made an impact, and each of us will be able to benefit from it, even in our daily lives. And that is no small thing!”
Nokia employees first attended awareness webinars, then a practical training course providing guidelines on how and when to intervene if witnessing incidents of gender-based violence, and finally, a concluding session for feedback and discussion. Overall, this experience undoubtedly left a mark. “I chose to participate in this project to delve into a sensitive and, I would say, urgently needed topic. Gender-based violence affects many people, often silently, and I wanted to contribute to raising awareness and driving change, even in my small way. I was also intrigued by the opportunity to hear from various sector experts—not something that happens every day,” explains Paola Perego, Operations Specialist. “I take away a greater awareness of recognizing subtle aspects or dynamics of the problem that may seem hidden but actually signal violence that I might have previously underestimated. I also take away the sense of unity, of teamwork, seeing colleagues united for the same purpose: understanding how to better tackle the problem. I was amazed to see how many people in our area are committed to this issue, and I was also impressed to be part of a working group striving to create a safe and respectful space within our company, where everyone can express themselves freely and receive support with active participation from all. I appreciated the variety of contributions during the meetings. I especially valued that the topic was approached from multiple perspectives—psychological, legal, social—and it made me feel part of something meaningful. What’s next? I want to continue learning and, in my own small way, raise awareness around me. I believe change starts with small actions, and each of us can make a difference.”
Finally, Angela di Paola, CNS GBC Sales & Business Operations and RSU, shares: “I once witnessed physical and verbal violence on the street, a man against a woman, and I asked myself: What can I do? This project felt like an answer to my question, a way to not be just a helpless bystander. Through SupportHer, I learned that gender-based violence manifests in many forms, and understanding and confronting it requires preparation and personal work on one’s emotional side, which could otherwise hinder our ability to act without violating others’ freedom. During the meetings, what struck me most was realizing that, no matter how much we want to help, we cannot assist someone who does not want to seek help.”
This reminds us that the very first step in helping someone close to us who is a victim of violence is creating an environment that the person perceives as safe, welcoming, and judgment-free. Perhaps this is the very first and most important step that the SupportHer project aims to bring into the world: to communicate to victims that they are not alone and that they can ask for help.