Women in Legal Business - Sara Citterio

Sara Citterio is General Counsel at Trussardi, a historic Italian fashion and lifestyle house navigating a period of commercial and brand transformation. Legal in that context is not a back-office function. It is present in licensing decisions, brand protection strategy, and the commercial structures that determine how the brand reaches new markets. Her role is to be at that table early enough to shape the options, not late enough to only vet them. The tool she has developed for that positioning is precision: the ability to frame complex situations as a set of choices, each with its risk quantified and a recommended path attached.

Looking at your career path, what unique leadership trait has been most instrumental in allowing you to "move the needle" within your organization?

The leadership trait that has most helped me “move the needle” is influence through clarity: translating legal complexity into clear business choices. When the business feels pressure—timelines, budgets, uncertainty—legal can either slow the room down or guide it forward. I learned to frame issues as options, quantify risk where possible, and recommend a path (or maybe two, if possible), not just identify problems. That approach builds trust, accelerates decisions, and positions legal as a partner who enables outcomes responsibly.

Reflecting on the past year, what is the most significant positive change you have observed regarding gender equality and female representation within the upper echelons of the Italian legal market?

In 2025, I saw further signs from leadership teams to link diversity goals to measurable action, i.e. succession planning and visibility of high-potential women. I also noticed more women being appointed to roles with strategic exposure, not only “support” functions. It’s not parity yet, but the conversation is becoming less symbolic—and that is a significant step forward.

How do you personally advocate for the inclusion of more women in high-stakes decision-making?

As the goal should never be symbolic inclusion but ensuring the best decision-makers are in the room, I try to advocate by (i) making representation visible (who speaks, who leads key workstreams); (ii) insisting on objective selection criteria (skills, impact, readiness), and (iii) sponsoring and supporting talented women by giving them high-visibility ownership.

In a sector historically rooted in traditional structures, what is the single most important cultural shift still required to ensure that the Italian legal business becomes a truly meritocratic environment for the next generation of women?

The most important shift (and this goes not only for women but for all legal professionals at large) is moving from rewarding constant availability to rewarding sustained impact. Too often, “commitment” is only measured by hours, responsiveness, and presence—metrics that penalize caregivers and disproportionately affect women (who still have in society a double role of professionals and main caregivers in families). A meritocratic culture needs clear expectations, realistic resourcing, and leadership that values outcomes, judgment, and collaboration.

Success is rarely a solo journey. How has collaboration with other women (in-house or external) influenced your approach to business, and how are you paying that forward within your team?

Collaboration with other women has been (and continues to be) both a strategic asset and a source of resilience. It sharpened my perspective on negotiation, influence without authority, and navigating bias with professionalism—not bitterness. I pay it forward by creating structured opportunities: I’ve always given opportunities to young women professionals to express themselves and thrive under careful guidance but at a distance that allowed them to take the lead, knowing they could count on strong but not suffocating support behind them, giving them the space to learn without the fear of making mistakes

One "hard truth" or piece of advice for young women entering the legal profession today?

Do excellent work, but also build relationships and networks, and communicate your impact clearly. Choose environments that invest in you, and don’t confuse endurance with success. Sustainable careers are built on strong skills, strong alliances, and boundaries that protect your wellbeing.