We continue our study of the role of women in the eyewear industry (the first three parts were published in November, February and March), starting from the axiom that many private companies are led by women, especially in this difficult moment.
Confirmation of this theory comes with the seventh edition of the report “Women in the Workplace” (2021), the leading study on women’s status in the workplace in the USA, drafted by McKinsey in partnership with LeanIn.Org. The research study focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and on issues including diversity, equality and inclusion.
Women in the Workplace was compiled thanks to the contribution of 423 participating organizations and the results of 65,000 interviews of employees, including women from diverse backgrounds and categories such as black women, LGBTQ+ women, and women with disabilities.
The study reveals how women managers are more active than their male counterparts in promoting the wellbeing of employees and diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives mentioned previously, but this work is not formally acknowledged. The risk of this lack of acknowledgement by companies is clear: the loss of women managers, who have skilfully grasped the situation and are successfully tackling contingent problems.
Meanwhile, the Manageritalia research study offers positive indications on the increase of women in the workplace. The survey, carried out exclusively in Italy, reveals that in the last 12 years the number of women managers has increased by 56% and women currently occupy 19% of total management roles.
The role of women managers is therefore beneficial at a qualitative level, and there are signs that this can be accompanied by consistent growth levels in the future. In the eyewear industry, there are some excellent examples of women managers, both in large corporate groups and in SMEs, worldwide. Let’s look at some examples.The big names
Alessandra Nathan
Barbara Salimbeni
The multinational Marchon Eyewear counts two exceptional women managers in its ranks: Alessandra Nathan and Barbara Salimbeni.
Ms. Nathan has garnered over thirty years of experience in the eyewear industry, having worked there since 1989 with a focus on international retailing for markets in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
After a period in Safilo for 10 years, she began her experience in Marchon Eyewear, where she has been for over 20 years now and where she has gathered experience also in brand management, marketing, and sports retail channels. She is currently the Export Sales Director for the EMEA market.
Barbara Salimbeni joined the Italian branch of Marchon Eyewear in 2015 as Trade Marketing Director for the EMEA area, and since 2017 she has been Vice President of Global Trade Marketing. Before joining the Group, she had a number of senior roles in marketing, trade marketing and advertising, not only in eyewear but also in the fashion and technology markets both in Italy and Hong Kong. She has worked for companies such as Safilo, Vodafone, Leo Burnett, Moschino and DBA.
The Padua group Safilo has chosen Connie Sing Ching Lai as Senior Commercial Head APAC & Greater China. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences and a Master’s in Economics from the University of Hong Kong, and then attending courses in executive management at ISEAD and IMD, Connie began her career in Nestlé Hong Kong. With thirty years of experience in leading international companies, she joined Safilo in 2018.
The SMEs
We can also find women managers in the SMEs who are making an important contribution to the industry, from both management and creative points of view.
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Roberta Baines, for example, is one of the founders and current CEO of Tavat Eyewear. From the very beginning, Roberta has worked to promote culture, collaboration, authenticity and innovative thinking. Tavat is famous for its timeless and iconic glasses.
Another key player with a reputation for high quality is Marleen D'heedene who has been co-owner since 2000 of the Belgian brand Henau Eyewear. Together with her husband, the creative designer of the brand, she has set up an international award-winning company that combines functionality with avantgarde design and craftsmanship.
The career of Rebecca Giefer, current CEO of Modo Americas, is proof of how a woman can climb the corporate ladder. Ms. Giefer in fact began her career in the New York branch of Modo Eyewear, in the Customer Services division in 2004, and was promoted to COO in 2014, before becoming CEO in 2019. Since 2018, she has also been a partner in the company. In 2016, Rebecca was voted as one of the most influential women in the eyewear industry by Vision Monday.
The imprinting left by Karen Kirk on English brand Kirk & Kirk, as Creative Director, is unmistakeable. And Karen herself explained her role to WMIDO: “My role is to guide and plan the collections. I studied Graphic Design and I worked in London for many years before venturing into eyewear design. I am also responsible for everything to do with visual communication, and ensuring that it is aligned to the values and aesthetics of our brand”.
Our study of managers in the optical/eyewear sector will continue in the near future with other examples of excellence that shine strong in the industry.