Opening the doors to professional growth: two job shadowing experiences in Growens

In Growens, where creativity meets technology, we always look forward to fostering growth, not just for our clients and employees but for the broader community as well. Understanding the pivotal role that early professional exposure plays in shaping future leaders, especially women, we recently welcomed Caterina Pisani and Rossella Piotti, two brilliant students from LUISS Business School in Milan, for a job shadowing experience.

Job shadowing offers an unparalleled view into the daily operations of seasoned professionals, providing a learning environment outside textbooks and classrooms. Today, we are pleased to share the insights and learnings from Caterina and Rossella’s experience at Growens. Their perspectives not only shed light on the daily responsibilities of our team but also emphasize the impact of real-world exposure.

So, without further ado, let’s dive into what Caterina and Rossella learned from shadowing Dr. Maria Giulia Ganassini, Corporate Communications Manager, and Dr. Chiara Scesa, Design Manager, at Growens.

Our job shadowing experience. What did we learn? 

Job shadowing offers students a valuable opportunity to experience the professional world firsthand, giving them a tangible glimpse into their potential future careers. This hands-on experience enables individuals transitioning into the professional world to observe and actively engage in the daily tasks of seasoned professionals in their desired field.

We are Caterina Pisani and Rossella Piotti, students from LUISS Business School in Milan. We’d like to share our job shadowing experience at Growens and, in particular, focus on what we’ve learned from it.

The job shadowing experience is an initiative from LUISS Business School designed to bring students, specifically women, closer to STEM disciplines. This opportunity aligns with the GROW (Generating Real Opportunities for Women) projects — in collaboration with Terna and Italgas — presented in November 2022. For the duration of the project, each group of students was paired with a company from the project. Our team was tasked with the challenge for Italgas, where we aimed to analyse the relationship between educational initiatives and the annual performance evolution of Italgas Group employees.

All female students participating in the GROW project had the opportunity to spend a day shadowing a female manager. We were assigned to the same company, Growens, where we shadowed Dr. Maria Giulia Ganassini, Corporate Communications Manager, and Dr. Chiara Scesa, Design Manager.

Caterina Pisani: my experience with Maria Giulia Ganassini 

During the job shadowing, I had the opportunity to closely observe the daily activities of the manager I was shadowing, Maria Giulia Ganassini. Not only did I witness her expertise firsthand during brainstorming sessions centred on establishing the right tone of voice, but I was also invited to join pivotal client meetings where the latest product updates were presented. As a bonus to this enlightening experience, I participated in an in-depth workshop on diversity and inclusion. Here, we delved into a range of subjects, with a notable emphasis on understanding and countering biases.

It was an invigorating and enriching experience from various perspectives. During the session, I also had the chance to interact with Martina Cotichella, Product Marketing Manager; Chiara Scesa, Design Manager; and Marta Piccolini, Partner Marketing Manager. Each of these accomplished women generously shared glimpses of their professional journeys, the milestones that marked their careers, and the ambitious goals they’ve set for the future.

From this experience, I take away the importance of soft skills: effective communication, which is fundamental within a team, time management, and meeting deadlines. Above all, collaborating with colleagues is key to achieving set objectives. Foremost among these insights was the understanding that collaboration with colleagues isn’t just beneficial — it’s paramount to the successful attainment of predetermined objectives. This initiative hasn’t merely provided me with knowledge; it has ignited a fervent inspiration within me, fueling my resolve to continuously invest in both my personal and professional development.

Rossella Piotti: my experience with Chiara Scesa 

The value of the conversations and questions during my job shadowing day was immensely enriching. Just in a few hours,Chiara Scesa, the Manager I job shadowed, managed to convey her passion and the dedication she puts into improving both her work and that of her team. One of the day’s highlights was my opportunity to be a part of an alignment meeting. This particular meeting was geared towards mapping out future projects and strategizing for an upcoming speech that Chiara, alongside her esteemed colleague Federico Fabiano, was scheduled to deliver at a dedicated event for designers.

I eagerly embraced this chance to delve into a sector previously unknown to me. Throughout the experience, I proactively posed questions about the work environment. My curiosity wasn’t just confined to the tasks and responsibilities; I was equally keen on uncovering the more human facet of the job — the genuine dynamics, camaraderie, and interactions that played out among the colleagues.

It was an experience I would highly recommend to students, regardless of gender. It offers a firsthand glimpse into the intricate tapestry of the professional realm, shedding light on both the world of work and the nuanced interplay of corporate dynamics.

The original article was published on the Innovation Blog.