The real challenge? Defending every victim with the same determination

A multifaceted entrepreneur with dual degrees in Motor Sciences and Nutrition, as well as a lecturer, consultant, and spokesperson, over time Daria Illy has built an original professional path that is no longer associated solely with her family’s company, a leader in coffee production. In recent months, her journey has expanded further with a new entrepreneurial venture in Oman and her participation, as an actress, in On Life, a film by director Rodolfo Bisatti. “A film that brings together cinema and social reflection,” the entrepreneur explains. “For me, it was an intense and deeply meaningful experience: it all started with a small role and a few scenes filmed in my home, and then I became completely involved in the project. I play an entrepreneur who decides to challenge herself by enrolling in a futuristic course run by young digital natives. The topic is timely and invites deep reflection. I highly recommend watching it.”

You’re currently writing a book on the topic of governance. Can you give us a preview?
It’s a project I had in mind for some time: a practical and accessible book, designed not only for professionals but also for anyone interested in authentic accounts from entrepreneurs who have faced moments of transition, such as revising family agreements or separating from their original companies. It is also the story of united families, capable of facing challenges together and strengthening their bonds. Family adventures, for better or worse, with both cohesive dynamics and more complex ones—always told with a touch of irony. I don’t want to offer ready-made solutions, but rather open new questions. Because governing today means not only making decisions, but learning to inhabit nuance and to read silence.

Let’s move on to gender-based violence. What is your commitment as an entrepreneur and public figure?
I have been engaged in women’s empowerment on countless occasions, but at the same time I have always supported the importance of a broader principle: equality understood as the recognition of every person’s value and dignity, regardless of gender. Globally, according to the latest UNODC and UN Women data, about 81% of homicide victims are men, yet there is no word for “male homicide.” This is a fact that often goes unnoticed, but it highlights a complex reality in which violence takes on different forms and contexts, affecting everyone. I deeply believe that the real challenge is to recognize every form of violence and to defend every victim with the same determination. My fight is for a society capable of seeing the human being first: because equity does not grow out of opposition, but out of mutual respect and the awareness that dignity has no gender.

Opening an office in Oman is not a common choice: what motivated you as a woman manager in such a different cultural context?
My first encounter with the country in 2022 was unforgettable: I landed without my luggage—lost along the way—and without a phone. At the airport, I was struck by a sign that read, “If more people had passed through Oman, humanity would not know cruelty and abuse.” In that moment, I understood that this country holds profound insights. Later, I fell in love with its light and its fragrances. I chose to open an office there to build a bridge between two worlds that I feel are complementary; my family has always had ties of friendship and business with this land. Oman is a country with an ancient culture, extraordinarily rich in diversity—of landscapes, traditions, and languages. It is a welcoming place, offering stability and vision, and capable of preserving a deep respect for community and dialogue.

In your work in Oman, you’ve had the chance to observe the situation of women. What impression did you get?
I met many determined women who confidently and competently navigate professional and institutional fields. They are generally recognized for their abilities, not for stereotypes. In terms of education and qualifications, in 2021 about 60.7% of women of working age held advanced degrees. In the public sector, women represent about 42% of the workforce in administrative and managerial positions.

Returning to On Life, the film explores the digital world and social media: do you think these tools can become fertile ground for new forms of gender-based violence?
Unfortunately, yes. Distance, speed, and anonymity easily become tools of attack. According to ISTAT, nearly 70% of girls and boys aged 11 to 19 experienced offensive, aggressive, or exclusionary behavior—online or offline—within the last year. Cyberbullying affects everyone, without distinction. Artificial intelligence, if not regulated (and I am sure it will be), opens a new frontier of risk: deepfakes, identity theft, manipulation of images and videos. According to organizations working on digital violence, more than 97% of victims have experienced some form of tech-facilitated abuse. Those who are not prepared risk being more exposed—often without even realizing it.

Have you encountered episodes or testimonies that particularly struck you regarding the link between online violence and real-life consequences?
I have met people in despair: their sons and daughters had been victims of cyberbullying, often through WhatsApp groups or through content shared improperly. I have supported people who were blackmailed online. It is hard to share these experiences: episodes in which we bear no guilt can still cause us shame. Institutions are doing their best, and the postal police have led awareness campaigns, but unfortunately the phenomenon continues. We must be cautious in sharing our images: today everything can be manipulated, and what is false can appear real. Our public image can become a form of vulnerability.

You have a twelve-year-old daughter. How do you address the topic of gender-based violence, including online?
School education plays a fundamental role, but it is not enough on its own. Sometimes we think certain events don’t concern us, that they could never happen to us or to our children. This is why I try to approach the topic concretely, recounting stories of girls and boys who—on TikTok or in messaging groups—find themselves facing threats, mockery, or isolation. At least once a week we sit at the table and talk openly. Being a family also means sharing, listening, and discussing—starting from testimonies, data, and knowledge. Only through constant conversation can we build a culture of prevention and mutual respect.