Costanza Hermanin

Director of the Inclusive Leadership Initiative at the School of Transnational Governance of the European University Institute and Professor of EU Politica at the College of Europe in Bruges

Costanza Hermanin is presently directing the Inclusive Leadership for Sustainable Governance Initiative at the European University Institute. She is the President of the Italian NGO EquALL. Costanza Hermanin is a Policy Leader Fellow at the European University Institute in Florence. She has been teaching for over ten years in various universities across Europe: Sciences-Po Paris, the College of Europe in Bruges, and LUISS and John Cabot in Rome. Costanza got her PhD from the European University Institute in Florence and was then awarded a Fulbright Postdoc Scholarship that she spent partly at Columbia Law School and partly at UC Berkeley.

She has been authoring and editing academic publications (among them: "Fighting Discrimination in Europe”, Routledge, 2012) as well as policy papers. She is among the funding members of Berkeley’s comparative antidiscrimination policy study group, a network of more than 500 scholars and practitioners from all over the world. Her research focuses on the European Union’s decision-making and policy, especially in the areas of justice and home affairs, on migration in Europe and Italy and equality law. At John Cabot, she teaches classes on comparative politics, nationalism ethnicity and integration and gender issues.

Throughout her career she also worked in the cabinet of Italy’s Minister of Justice (2016-2018). Previously, she was a Senior Analyst at the European Policy Institute of the Open Society Foundations in Brussels and held positions within the European Commission, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs,  and the Robert Schumann Center for Advanced studies.

In 2012 she got, with Pierpaolo Settembri, the Pademia award for outstanding teaching on parliamentary democracy in Europe. She is a member of the European Commission Against Racism and Xenophobia of the Council of Europe for Italy.

Participating in the "Generative AI: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead" panel at the European Leadership Academy was a truly transformative experience. Meeting 29 incredible young women from diverse backgrounds was both humbling and inspiring. The Academy showed me firsthand the immense impact that can be achieved when young women are given the right opportunities and a platform to grow. I left the Academy feeling more empowered and optimistic than ever.

Maro Manoli

CEO & Co-Founder, E-mbracelet

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It may sound cliché, but the best part of the European Leadership Academy were the caring and passionate people who contributed to it, after the end of the European Leadership Academy, I now feel the most confident and passionate that I have ever been. Importantly, the program was completely free of charge, as an ambitious young woman whose family has always struggled financially, the European Leadership academy was a dream come true in many ways.

Veronika Anna Denner

Student. Represented Austria at the 2024 Summer School in Warsaw

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This transformative journey has prepared me for anything life may throw my way. What touched me most was the opportunity to connect with girls who, like me, share the same dreams yet are wonderfully diverse. They truly inspired me in countless ways. I learned so much about myself throughout this process; the school has impacted every facet of my identity, teaching me self-confidence and the imporance of colaborartions with others.

Lara Markelj

Student. Represented Slovenia at the 2024 Summer School in Warsaw

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I knew that the Summer School for Female Leadership in the Digital Age was going to be an incredible experience but I didn't expect it to be life-changing! With a jam-packed week full of both interesting and challenging discussions, panels, masterclasses & workshops, I left each day feeling inspired and invigorated. I would encourage any young woman interested to apply regardless of your background and experiences - the European Leadership Academy provides an environment for all young women to thrive in.

Amy Calleja

Student. Represented Malta at the 2022 Summer School in Prague

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Sisterhood, support and inspiration are just some of the aspects that we have experienced! The European Leadership Academy is an exceptional and priceless program which opened our horizons for the future. For me, one of the best characteristics of the program was its holistic approach. The range of speakers and experts was extraordinary just as their kindness and openness to answer our questions and connect with us.

Katharina Hertel

Student. Represented Germany at the 2022 Summer School in Prague

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