Beyond fleets and infrastructure: Navigazione Laghi invests in its people to build a more inclusive company fit for the times
The Ente Governativo is transforming a centuries-old tradition into a model of equality and social sustainability. For decades, the story of inland navigation has been written almost exclusively by men. A world of engines, command bridges and technical know-how passed down from father to son, like a family secret kept alive on the waters of Italy’s great lakes. Today, that historic heritage of knowledge and traditions is facing its most ambitious challenge: modernising the fleet while, at the same time, renewing the organisation’s culture. Under the guidance of Government Manager Pietro Marrapodi, Navigazione Laghi has embarked on a journey aimed at moving beyond the symbolic gestures of International Women’s Day to achieve genuine, deep and structural change. The goal is clear: to transform the company into a place where talent and competence have no gender, where a career can finally sail alongside personal and family commitments. The helm of this new course has been entrusted to the external relations department, which has taken on the challenge of translating social values into concrete actions. The starting point has been listening. The new company direction has opened up to local communities and, above all, to the people who every day make it possible to deliver the service. This is not a cosmetic operation, but a commitment to urgently relevant issues. In collaboration with the Policlinico di Milano, a training programme was launched on the occasion of 25 November, to provide tools for awareness and support against gender-based violence. A working group has been established, with representatives from every Department, so that change is not imposed from above but grows from internal dialogue to build genuine shared engagement. The most tangible sign of this evolution is the adoption of the gender equality certification system – a step that commits the Authority to measuring itself against objective benchmarks, monitoring selection processes, pay equity and growth opportunities.
Social impact changes do not happen overnight. They are long journeys, to be structured step by step – so as not to make women a species apart, to be protected – actively involving all workers, both men and women, and building equal opportunities grounded in merit and the proactive contribution of every employee.
It is a “gentle revolution” that fits into a broader revival plan. Alongside the strategic planning for fleet and infrastructure renewal, Navigazione Laghi is investing heavily in the people who work in this great company, its true driving force. The idea is that a more inclusive organisation is also more efficient, effective and closer to citizens. The future of navigation lies not only in hybrid engines and modern docks, but above all in the ability to value every single person, ensuring that no one has to choose between professional ambition and quality of life.
A long and articulate journey, certainly, and like every human process, perfectible. But the course is set: Navigazione Laghi is proving that it is possible to remain true to one’s roots while transforming, navigating towards a future that is fairer and more accessible to everyone.
