An edition dedicated to courage and equality
On Friday, November 21, 2025, the 13th edition of the “Semplicemente Donna” Award took place at the Polisportiva di Montecchio Vesponi hall, the annual event through which Menci celebrates stories of determination, talent, and gender equality.
This year’s edition brought to the stage three extraordinary guests: Emma Palombi, Alessandra Campedelli, and Antonella Celletti — women of different ages, experiences, and backgrounds, united by their ability to overcome boundaries and prejudices, opening new paths for themselves and for future generations.
Emma Palombi’s Flight
Emma Palombi, Colonel Pilot of the Italian Air Force, shared her story beginning with the first course that opened the doors of the Academy to women.
After earning her military pilot’s license in the United States, she carried out extensive operational activity on various aircraft, participating in international missions, humanitarian flights, and State operations. In recent years, she has held key roles in personnel selection, training, and management, demonstrating how leadership can combine discipline, flexibility, and human awareness.
Alessandra Campedelli’s Inclusive Sport
The story of Alessandra Campedelli highlighted the power of sport as a tool for inclusion.
A former field hockey player and now volleyball coach, she first worked with the Italian Women’s Deaf National Team, later became head coach of the Iranian Women’s National Team, and most recently helped build the Pakistani Women’s Volleyball National Team, in environments still marked by strong limitations for women.
Her work has shown how a network of people and institutions can open real spaces of freedom, even where it seems impossible — proving that the playing field can become a true laboratory for rights and self-determination.
Antonella Celletti’s Sky
With Antonella Celletti, the first female pilot and later the first female captain in Alitalia, the conversation turned to the world of civil aviation.
Her lifelong dream, nurtured since childhood, led her through demanding selections and years of rigorous training, without ever giving up on the idea of balancing career and family life. Her words conveyed the wonder of someone who has never stopped looking up at the sky, reminding everyone that the emotion of a sunset seen from above never fades into routine.
A Dialogue with the Community
During the evening, the three guests engaged with an audience of employees, institutions, and local representatives, discussing themes such as shared family responsibilities, the presence of women in leadership roles, and the importance of training and positive role models for younger generations.
The atmosphere was one of authenticity and participation — personal stories became starting points for collective reflection on how everyone can contribute, in their own way, to building a more fair and inclusive society.
Menci’s Commitment to Gender Equality
For Menci, the “Semplicemente Donna” Award remains a cornerstone of its social and cultural engagement: not only a recognition, but also an annual opportunity to celebrate diversity and challenge stereotypes, beginning within the workplace and extending to the wider community.
The initiative is part of the company’s broader gender equality program, a strategic and value-based choice aimed at promoting environments where every person feels heard, respected, and represented.
“Each edition of Semplicemente Donna reminds us how important it is to pause and listen. The stories of Emma, Alessandra, and Antonella showed us that determination, competence, and the courage to be oneself can become true drivers of change — in the workplace and in society,” said Massimo Menci, General Director of the Menci Group.
“This project is an integral part of who we are as a company: a path that connects culture, values, and people, encouraging us to build a fairer, more open, and more conscious environment every day.”
“Semplicemente Donna is a window into the future we want to promote,” added Michela Romizi, CEO of the Menci Group. “A future where competence and merit are beyond gender, and where companies have the courage to stand as ambassadors of an inclusive culture. For us, this is the truest meaning of social responsibility: giving back value to the community and to people, with coherence and continuity.”
A Change That Keeps Growing
The 2025 edition concluded with a moment of conviviality, but above all with the shared awareness that — as Emma, Alessandra, and Antonella demonstrated — change is built one step at a time, one flight at a time, one courageous choice at a time. An invitation to everyone to keep believing that every story can be the starting point for new possibilities.
