A century ago, care, dignity, and humane work were built into an unusual workplace before welfare HR and CSR strategies became buzz-words. What happened?
Before hashtags and handbooks this is an example of real humane leadership, and 100 years later, we are still catching up to Luisa Spagnoli. Many remember her name for the fashion maison. Few know she is the mind behind the renowned Italian chocolatier Perugina.
During World War I, when the men were at the front she hired all women in her factory, but not only, she understood and supported them in their needs. She created one of the world’s first corporate childcare services ever making it possible for working mothers to stay close to their children during the day, allowing breaks for breastfeeding. Not because of welfare compliance, but because she understood and cared. They had childcare, dignity, and purpose. We have burnout!
A woman once gave working mothers everything we still fight for.
She believed business should be built on dignity, respect, and shared wellbeing. Her leadership was quiet, practical, deeply humane and above all ahead of her time.
What would she say today?
Luisa Spagnoli didn’t wait for change. She embodied it.
She didn’t talk much, she acted.
She didn’t ask for permission or empowerment, she used her own power of empathy and care.
She didn’t let anyone reduce her because of her gender, she expanded her “role” because of her courage not just for herself but for others too.
She didn’t wait for policy. She saw a need and created care-based solutions inside her factory.
To me it is a complete absurdity she could do that (as a woman) in the early 1900 and we, in 2025, still find her not only revolutionary but can’t make what she did.
We keep talking about the Future Of Work, but maybe it’s time we look harder at the Past Of Work, when leaders like Spagnoli led with compassion, courage, and care.
I am sharing this to evoke those same qualities in others, and ask one simple question (maybe two): What are we waiting for? Why we keep forgetting the past and repeating the same mistakes?
We do not need more data to “advance” inclusion. We need compassion, care and courage!
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