Gender equality. Interview with Bruna Cerea

The Gambero Rosso Foundation, created with the aim of bringing attention and putting emphasis to social and research issues, created this column dedicated to women. Here we interviewed Bruna Cerea, the progenitor, together with her beloved Vittorio, of one of the most famous and competent families in the restaurant and catering sector.

Interview with Bruna Cerea

In your work experience, what were the obstacles you faced as a woman?

In the stereotypes of the world we live in, it's the globally recognised idea that it's men who are more predisposed to occupy managerial roles. Their more decisive and serious approach to things means that they are perceived as of greater value. As a woman, it was not always easy to compare myself with men, affirming my role. What is sometimes overlooked, however, is that most women (like me) in addition to working are also mothers and therefore have to do double the work to ensure that the two lives can fit together.

How did you manage to overcome these obstacles and reach your current position?

Certainly what helped was my stubbornness, my willpower and self-confidence. Furthermore, I have always believed that a smile could help me face the most difficult moments and I made it my best "business card".

In your current role, what management leverage are you using to facilitate the female world?

In general, I strongly believe in women and their abilities. For me they are the ones who have an edge! In addition to work, many of them have children and still manage to get things done right. They are bold and very careful. They have a great attention to detail in everything they do. Their touch is indistinguishable. In my work, I have tried to surround myself with women. Some of our managerial figures are and recently we have expanded our staff by adding female figures. In general, I prefer younger elements, they are more innovative and gritty and very fast also from an IT point of view.

What proposals or changes would you propose to government authorities to speed up the achievement of gender equality?

I believe that the concept of inequality is now out of date. I don't find much of a difference. We, as a company, are primarily not doing it. In our restaurant, for example, we used to reserve price-free menus for women sitting at the table. It was a gesture of gallantry, normal in those days. With certainty it was the man paying the bill. Today, however, nothing is so obvious anymore. It often happens that women pay the bill, perhaps to offer lunch or dinner to their partner. Our approach has changed. At the table we ask who to give prices to and who not to.

Looking at the world of work in general, I believe that women are managing to assert themselves more than in the past. Certainly for them the road to success is more uphill than that of a man.

What methods and what formulas do you suggest to raise awareness and make the male world aware of this gap? A gap which, moreover, also has consequences on GDP.

Since it has been shown that women have all the credentials to fill managerial roles and that their skills are sometimes even higher than those of men, I believe it is necessary to adjust their salaries in order to recognise their value also from an economic point of view.

 What message or advice do you feel you can give to women who have the ability and desire to emerge, in particular to those who are still struggling and to younger generations?

The advice I would like to give to all women is to demand to be respected and valued. To be combative and not to be afraid of confrontation with men. To place themselves on the same level and assert themselves, first of all thanks to their abilities, rather than, possibly, for their physical appearance.

 Tell us an anecdote (positive or negative) of one of your experiences on the subject.

My most recent experience on the subject concerns the choice of giving or not the menu with prices to the women at the table. A few days ago a customer contacted us specifically requesting to offer her husband lunch for their anniversary. At the restaurant, I saw the astonishment in his eyes when one of my boys presented the prices to the lady. Amazement that however made him smile and that made him happy for her nice gesture.

photography by Simone Casetta