Engagement as a recipe for innovation: the vision of Donatella De Vita (Pirelli Group)

Lors du HR Evolution Summit 2026, Donatella De Vita, Global Head of Welfare, Engagement, and Inclusion at Pirelli, shared an analysis where engagement is not a simple directive, but the final result of a carefully cultivated ecosystem. For her, the success of an organization relies on a precise "recipe" combining passion, trust, and creativity. 

For Pirelli, this approach is rooted in a strong identity paradox: being a "150-year-old startup". This philosophy makes it possible to combine a centuries-old history built on a passion for the product with a constant ability to look to the future and anticipate technological changes.

The company's approach is based on the conviction that engagement stems from three essential ingredients: passion for what you do, mutual trust that allows you to express your best ideas, and innovation, even in the most modest tasks. This clarity redefines the employee experience through the prism of inclusion, which is broken down into three fundamental pillars: being seen, being respected for your ideas, and staying connected to others. Talents do not simply come for a job, but to become actors in a collective story where their individual contribution truly makes a difference.

This strategy produces profound results on the agility and resilience of the group. By cultivating a diffused leadership that nourishes creativity and competence, Pirelli manages to maintain the energy of a startup while relying on solid historical roots. It is this framework of absolute trust that allows each employee to give their best and transform innovation into a continuous and shared process.

This vision takes on its full meaning in the face of current transformation challenges. As Donatella De Vita points out, the essential thing is to keep moving: being able to draw from your roots while taking on new challenges through a culture that values people above all else. The responsibility of the company is to create this secure and stimulating environment where the sense of belonging becomes the natural driver of global performance.

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