Women in Legal Business - Jessica Meloni

Jessica Meloni is Vice President Europe Legal Counsel at CEVA Logistics, one of the world’s largest third-party logistics providers, operating across more than 160 countries. Legal at that scale is a live operational system: commercial contracts in dozens of jurisdictions, regulatory compliance across supply chains that cross every major border, disputes that arise in real time as freight moves. The volume requires industrialised legal thinking. The variety requires a lawyer who can move between customs regulation, employment law, and complex commercial litigation without losing precision at any point.

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

I believe that my main asset has been my curiosity and the empathy for my stakeholders. By immersing myself in the mechanics of the business, I’ve learned to speak the language of other functions, truly understanding their pressures and goals. This has allowed me to evolve from a technical guardian into a strategic bridge-builder, transforming dense legal complexities into practical, actionable solutions that empower the organization rather than slowing it down.

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?

We are witnessing a shift: seeing more women in boardrooms and C-suite positions within major Italian groups is no longer an anomaly, although there is still to do. While EU mandates on gender quotas and pay transparency are providing a necessary structural push, the cultural evolution remains still gradual. I am optimistic, however, that we are moving toward a future where parity is not just a regulatory requirement, but a natural outcome of a truly meritocratic system.

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

I advocate for inclusion through a merit first approach that actively helps dismantle the unspoken guilt often associated with stepping outside traditional ways of working. Part of my role is to challenge the need for constant self-justification and to create environments where people feel legitimate in how they deliver value. This also means addressing confidence barriers such as impostor syndrome, which still disproportionately affect women in senior roles. By normalising trust, flexibility and respect for personal and family time, I try to enable talented professionals, regardless of gender, to lead and make decisions with clarity, confidence and impact.

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 critical shift is the de-stigmatization of flexibility. We must embrace a hybrid model that values both the power of face-to-face connection and the necessity of autonomy. In a national landscape where parental leave parity is still lagging, providing a guilt-free, flexible environment is the only way to ensure women can manage the complexities of family life while ascending to leadership roles on their own terms.

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?

Community is one of my cornerstones. There is a unique, limitless power in female solidarity—sharing the daily 'micro-challenges,' from balancing personal responsibilities to navigating career pivots. Within my team, I foster this by ensuring junior women have direct access to senior role models. I want them to see, in real-time, that professional excellence and personal fulfilment are not mutually exclusive, but mutually reinforcing.

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

“Do not fear breaking the mold. In a traditional profession, your creativity is your greatest competitive advantage—use it boldly, regardless of your age or gender”