In our series of inspirational women, we feature Paola Diana, a true ambassador for women’s rights and equality. She is not afraid to talk about the difficult topics and challenge the status que in order to break down the misogyny that drives a lot of injustices.
Paola is a Women’s Rights Advisor to the City of London and a Global Ambassador for Women’s Rights. She has a whole list of titles besides these too so read on to find out what this amazing woman has achieved and continues to fight for.
Paola Diana Women’s Rights Advisor to the City of London challenges misogyny and inequality
Proud to call herself a feminist, the CEO, bestselling author and political activist Paola Diana is a mouthpiece for female equality in the UK and beyond. Having experienced both domestic violence and sexual discrimination throughout her life, Paola is outspoken and unrelenting in her pursuit of sexual equality globally. Championing women no matter the personal cost, Diana has built a reputation for calling out hypocrisy and being unafraid to say the unsayable.
“The fight for women’s rights is my lifelong mission. Female empowerment is much more than a secondary issue or the issue of a minority. It is a disruptive power that will change the social system in which we all live for the better. It is a creative force that will shape our society to follow a completely different path, where inclusion, empathy, respect, happiness and peace will flourish.”
A London based entrepreneur and global campaigner for women’s rights Paola Diana has dedicated her life to championing equality and calling out injustice particularly in business and politics. Coming from Italy where fewer than 50% of women have jobs and where male voices dominate politics and business, Paola has forged a career on speaking truth to power and standing up for women from all walks of life.
In the UK Paola is Woman’s Advisor to the City of London where she is working with campaigners including Jess Philips MP and Baroness Jenkin organising a series of events with the Old Bailey to raise awareness of the unfair treatment of women in the courts with subjects including Domestic Abuse, Female Genital Mutilation and Gender and the Law.
Paola Diana shook the Italian political patriarchy
In her previous career as a political campaigner in her birth country of Italy, Paola founded the organisation PariMerito (Equal Merit), which she used to lobby the Italian Government to pass new equality laws in the workplace, including a new bill requiring every company board to have minimum 30% female representation. Prior to starting PariMerito Paola ran a Think Tank in support of the former Prime Minister and President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi’s political campaign, which had a focus on issues including welfare, female employment and structural policies in favour of the family and equal opportunities.
An entrepreneur who started her first business as a single mother of two in her 20s, Diana’s hugely successful company Artemide Recruitment has established itself as a market leader in recruitment globally. Diana is recognised as one of London’s most influential service providers for high-net-worth individuals, families and corporations around the world and is included in Spear’s Magazine’s top 500 Most Influential globally. A market leader in its field and valued at over £5million Paola Diana’s company has a global client base with offices across the world including London, Rome, Milan, New York City and the Middle East. Diana remains the sole owner of her company with expansion into the USA and Europe planned for the coming years.
You can read more about Paola Diana and her work, and also watch her talk about domestic violence and why it needs to be on the agenda on International Women’s Day video here.
Recommended events in 2023
International Women’s Day: Wednesday 8th March
The Conduit Club: Global Thinkers Forum: Innovation, Change & Education for Women in the Digital Age.
City of London Old Bailey Series
In her role as Woman’s Rights advisor to the City of London Paola Diana has organised as series of closed-door events for the judiciary which include:
Monday 20th March 2023: Iran Woman. Life. Freedom
Monday 24th April 2023: Gender and the Penal System
Paola Diana is host of The Game Changers Podcast and You Tube Channel where she speaks to inspirational champions of change – successful women and men who have faced huge personal and professional challenges and who have all dramatically changed their lives and the lives of others for the better.
You might also enjoy reading about the other women we feature in this series of inspirational women during March on Women’s History Month. Starting with the UK’s top 50 equity trailblazers in 2023.
