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For Catia Scarimbolo, theatre is not just a profession but a way of preserving identity, strengthening connections, and creating space for unheard voices. “I have a touring theatre company that also manages a municipal theatre”, she explains. In her dual role, Catia leads the organisational side of the theatre while also writing the plays for her company. Her journey into theatre stems from a passion she developed in her youth. “We were about 20 years old, doing amateur dramatics at university. We decided not to leave Puglia but to continue working here. There was nothing similar back then”.

What makes her company unique is its emphasis on the audience. “Our acting is youthful but also intergenerational. The artist must always engage with the audience in the final production, during rehearsals and in the creation process. The audience is always at the centre of our attention”, she says.

While she feels fortunate to work within a supportive team, stepping outside that environment highlights women’s challenges. “Inside our group, there is great complicity and collaboration, even regarding female matters”, she shares. “But when you compare yourself with the outside world, you see the difference—especially in southern Italy. You feel alone as a woman because male figures are predominant. Sometimes what a woman does is not considered a priority or given much attention. But despite this, we are a solid presence, and we are becoming an example for other theatre companies”.

When asked about the resources needed for improvement, she is clear: “We need more opportunities for women—training opportunities, spaces to listen to women’s needs. Sometimes we don’t even recognise our needs as individuals and as workers. Creating opportunities like our Living Lab meetings is essential because they can offer impactful experiences and good practices to share”.

Her connection with the GRASS CEILING project has reinforced her belief in staying true to her roots. “We chose to stay in our region, not to leave, because we didn’t want to give up our identity. This project helped me understand our roots better—our connection to the land and countryside. Just as we produce good oil, we can also produce good theatrical performances. Our performances have a unique identity that cannot be found elsewhere”, she explains. The experience has also sparked new collaborations: “Being here with all these female colleagues has been inspiring. Now, so many ideas and projects are taking shape”. For Catia, theatre is an ever-evolving creative process. “I love that there is never a boundary between different languages. You can find connections between an agricultural company and a theatre company, or between a theatre director and a farmer. Research always brings surprises—it’s vital for me because life works like this too. Acting, much like agricultural activities, is a ritual in itself”.

Annalisa Pellegrini is not just a producer of lavender essential oil—she is an entrepreneur with a clear vision of sustainability, independence, and personal growth. “I have been in charge of the cultivation of medicinal plants, specifically lavender, for about five or six years”, she explains. Her journey into this field of work began in 2019 when she and her brother decided to use an unused piece of family land. Seeing the resilience of lavender and its minimal water consumption, she realised its potential as an agricultural crop for the future, particularly in light of climate change.

What sets her products apart is the craftsmanship and the knowledge that comes with them. “Together with the sale of the product, we always provide information to help our customers make the most of the lavender essential oil”, she says. While many people know about lavender’s relaxing properties, Annalisa highlights its holistic benefits, noting that it contains around 130 different substances that interact with the body, mind and soul.

Like many women in business, she has had to overcome challenges, though she insists that her main obstacle was economic rather than societal. “Certainly, there was scepticism from the agricultural sector, but I haven’t encountered many difficulties other than financial ones”, she admits. Unlike many entrepreneurs, she has consciously chosen not to rely on public funding. “I never believed in public financing, so I never relied on it, even if I could. A public fund pushes people to be productive immediately. However, on the contrary, I intended to study, understand, and sometimes even fail“. This approach has allowed her to experiment and refine her business at her own pace.

At present, Annalisa is focused on rebranding. Initially centred solely on lavender, her business has expanded to include other medicinal plants, requiring a complete redesign of her brand, packaging, and marketing materials. “To do the rebranding, I need economic resources, since everything—from graphic design to packaging—requires investment”, she explains. However, she is true to her philosophy and financing this change through sales rather than seeking external support.

For Annalisa, the most fulfilling aspects of her work are the human connections and the creative process. “I like the interaction with people and the fact that they benefit from my work. It’s not just a sales project; it’s an energetic exchange“, she says. Through her business, she has formed lasting friendships and found immense satisfaction in developing new products.

Her advice to women looking to start their ventures is clear: “Firstly, I recommend them to believe in themselves and not seek external help. There will be moments of discouragement and closed doors, but we can only succeed if we are strong and self-confident. So be brave! It takes a lot of courage.”

For Letizia Cuonzo, olive trees symbolise more than just agriculture—they represent resilience. At 45, she owns Azienda Cuonzo, an organic olive farm in Palombaio, a suburb of Bitonto. Her father founded the business in the early 1970s, installing a traditional oil mill. When he passed the company on to her in 2010, she boldly decided to convert the entire farm to organic agriculture. “My business is special because of the organic nature of my product“, she says. But it’s not just about producing high-quality olive oil—Letizia has also opened her farm to tourists and schoolchildren. “I want people to see first-hand the journey of our oil, from harvesting to bottling, and to understand the stories behind the product they buy”.

Taking over a male-dominated business was not easy. “I wasn’t just a businesswoman—I was also a mother”, she explains. “Managing everything was complicated, especially since I inherited a farm that men had always run. I had to change the mindset of my employees and everyone in the company. I had to balance my work with my family life, my children’s schedules, and the demanding nature of running a business”. Bureaucracy has also been a significant challenge. “Financial support is crucial, but Italy’s slow bureaucratic system makes it difficult”, she notes. “Applying for funding often means facing endless paperwork, which slows down our progress. Regional and European public grants help, especially for young and female entrepreneurs, but the process needs to be simplified”.

Despite these challenges, Letizia is committed to staying ahead through knowledge and innovation. “I’ve implemented a state-of-the-art olive planting system to improve oil quality and make my business more competitive. Keeping up with industry advancements is key”.

Letizia is generally optimistic about EU agricultural policies but sees room for improvement. Policies should do more to support organic conversion. “It’s not ideal for small organic farms like mine to have non-organic farms nearby—we must constantly be on alert for cross-contamination. If more incentives were given to encourage organic farming, we could create larger organic areas, adding value to our work, and strengthening the reputation of Italian and Puglian olive oil”.

What Letizia loves most about her work is the human connection. “I enjoy the care that goes into every step of production—monitoring the harvest, overseeing the bottling process. But even more than that, I love sharing our story”, she says. My farm isn’t just about oil—culture and tradition. I open my business to those who want to learn, hear about my family’s journey, and recover and preserve the history of our region”.

Letizia is part of Biodistretto delle Lame, an organisation of organic farms. But the GRASS CEILING project has been of great significance to her. “Meeting seven other female innovators has been an incredible experience. I realised that the struggles I faced were not mine alone—other women had gone through the same. It was a moment of growth, inspiring us to think about future collaborations and business networks”.

Her ultimate advice? Learn from olive trees. They withstand storms, adapt, and endure. That’s what makes them extraordinary. So be like the olive tree—resilient, strong, and unwavering in the pursuit of your dreams”.