The stories of the female entrepreneurs involved in the “Female Intelligence in AI” project
“Try, try hard and try everything”. This is the mantra that Vanessa Guerzoni uses to tackle every new challenge. Curious, enterprising and optimistic by nature, Vanessa has been able to transform her basic training in artificial intelligence into a real asset in her work and life. Hers is one of those stories that better than any data can illustrate the value of digital empowerment, especially for those working in small or technologically unstructured contexts.
A solid background, but far from technology
Vanessa was born in 1981, lives in Bologna and works as a designer at Area 7 Design, a micro-enterprise that specialises in exhibition stands and shop fittings. With a technical diploma in ceramics and a degree in industrial design from the ISIA in Faenza, her professional career has taken her from design to planning and visual communication. She is the only employee of the company, the other three are partners, and the only one with real digital training, thanks to an advanced training course in business digitalisation taken in 2013.
Yet, despite her daily use of technical software, Vanessa felt she was lagging behind the current technological landscape.
Encountering the project and the intuition about AI
After learning about the opportunity while reading the news on the Bologna Chamber of Commerce website, Vanessa decided to enrol in the course Intelligenze al femminile nell'IA: competenze per imprenditrici e professioniste (Female Intelligence in AI: Skills for Women Entrepreneurs and Professionals), promoted by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale with the support of the Google.org AI Opportunity Fund and in collaboration with the Bologna Chamber of Commerce and Punto Impresa Digitale.
New skills, immediate impact
Vanessa participated in the first training group, led by Sara Elli of Quadmark. The course, consisting of theoretical modules on Coursera and live practical sessions, allowed her to move from a superficial knowledge of AI to practical and productive use in a very short time. One of the most significant impacts of the course became apparent during an urgent project for a client: the creation of a 3D video presentation of a stand. With the help of a video interpolation tool recommended during the course, Vanessa was able to drastically reduce rendering times while maintaining smooth, professional quality. "It was a result that would have taken hours of work before, but now it was much faster. I applied it right away."
Towards a new work-life balance
In addition to improving productivity, artificial intelligence has also become a tool for Vanessa to balance her private and professional life. Passionate about carpentry, vintage furniture and mountain biking, Vanessa dreams of reducing the time she spends at the computer so she can have more time for herself. AI can help in this regard: ‘I hope it will help free us from the constraints of time. It's an ally, not a threat.’
During the course, she also greatly appreciated the opportunity to interact with other professionals, discovering unexpected uses for AI in areas such as statistical data analysis and legal verification. ‘It's a vast world. It was useful to compare different sectors.’
A concrete example of female empowerment
Vanessa's story is a powerful example of rapid learning and practical application. In just a few months, she has acquired new skills, started integrating AI tools into her daily work and gained greater awareness of the opportunities offered by technology.
Although she feels she has to ‘run to keep up’, she is not giving up. In fact, she is already ready for an advanced level of the course and is clamouring for regular updates: ‘Maybe every six months, even if it's just to understand where the world is going.’
Her message to those who feel left behind or frightened by the digital future is simple but powerful: ‘You have to try, try everything. If one path doesn't work, find another. Don't give up at the first mistake.’
A real impact, a voice to be heard
Vanessa is one of many voices confirming how our projects can have a real impact, especially when we manage to identify the need for updating and the desire for change in contexts where opportunities are still few and far between. Her story is an invitation to bet on the potential of women, even (and especially) in unconventional sectors of innovation.
