Why they reached out to us
Gender equity is an economic opportunity, a driver of growth and innovation that businesses, organizations, and institutions cannot afford to overlook. Unfortunately, according to the World Economic Forum, at the current pace, it will take 134 years for Italy to achieve full gender parity (source: Global Gender Gap Report 2024, World Economic Forum).
To promote gender equality in research and innovation, in 2020, the European Commission announced the adoption of the Gender Equality Plan as a prerequisite for accessing Horizon Europe funding. This led universities to establish dedicated bodies responsible for its implementation.
This is the case of the University of Brescia (Italy), which created the Gender Commission to develop and enforce its Gender Equality Plan.
Since 2023, Bold Stories has been supporting the Gender Commission of the University of Brescia with consulting and training programs related to its Gender Equality Plan. When the need arose to create a video course on gender issues, the Commission once again chose to rely on us.
Knowledge becomes a powerful tool to uncover biases, prejudices, and potential discrimination within the workplace.
Experience Highlights
Bold Stories developed a course tailored for students, faculty, and administrative staff at the University.
This led to the creation of the Introductory Course on Gender Issues, a 7-episode video series covering:
- The Gender Equality Plan
- Bias, stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination
- Gender and intersectionality
- Inclusive language
- Work-life balance
- Harassment and violence
- Gender budgeting
Through the voice of Deborah Morese, renowned voice actress and TV host, we guided participants through key topics. The goal was to structure the Commission’s experience (2022-2024) into an engaging, accessible format, making gender-related discussions inclusive and approachable, rather than complex or divisive.
Understanding the benefits of gender equity is essential to creating environments where people’s uniqueness is valued—generating benefits not only for individuals but for organizations as a whole. It’s a growth and innovation opportunity for businesses, institutions, and society.
Results
The course, made available on the university’s internal platform, successfully reached its intended audience, offering a structured approach to gender-related topics.
Additionally, it helped the Gender Commission enhance its awareness and reputation, making its mission more widely recognized within the university. This engagement fosters an environment where individuals can thrive, develop ideas, and create value.