The session, introduced and moderated by Massimo Cardolicchio and Katarina Halabicova, member of BRG Donna, guided the audience through a deeper understanding of this topic: why it matters, how it relates to gender dynamics, and the impact it can have within the workplace.
To explore the subject with scientific depth, they welcomed Rita Chiesa, Associate Professor at the University of Bologna and Director of the Second Cycle Degree in Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology.
Rita began by clarifying what "Impostor Syndrome" truly means. Despite its name, she reminded us that it is not a clinical condition, but rather a social and cultural experience that can influence anyone, yet one that can be addressed and managed.
The interactive session opened with a practical exercise on how people react to receiving compliments. The responses echoed the core emotional patterns of impostor thinking:
These mindsets can translate into counterproductive behaviors, such as overworking, anxiety, and heightened fear of evaluation, especially within performance-driven work environments.
Rita also highlighted how these dynamics tend to be more prevalent among younger women, often due to societal expectations and ingrained gender biases. Participants enriched the discussion by sharing reflections on the importance of feedback, the need to rethink how we define “failure,” and the role companies play in creating supportive cultures.
Massimo and Katarina then presented interesting insights from the internal survey launched the week before the event, comparing our internal data with external literature. The analysis confirmed well-known trends in the research and offered a clear picture of how this phenomenon also resonates, to some extent, within Maserati. The results were analyzed by considering gender, age, and geographic origin, confirming what existing research has already highlighted.
A heartfelt thank you to the BRG Maserati Donna for making this event possible, and to all participants for their thoughtful questions and contributions.
Maserati S.p.A.
Viale Ciro Menotti, 322 – 41121, Modena (MO), Italy
Company registered under Italian law - VAT: IT 08245890010 R.E.A. Modena 347990
Share capital: 80.000.000 €, fully paid-up
Direction and coordination under Article 2497 of the Italian Civil Code: Stellantis N.V.
maserati@pec.fcagroup.com
www.maserati.com
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