Stefania Ferrero, Chief Marketing & Solutions Portfolio Officer of Comau, has been chosen as one of the Top 11 Women Shaping the Future of Robotics in 2026 by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the voice of the global robotics industry that represents national robot associations, academia, and manufacturers of industrial and service robots from over twenty countries globally. The announcement was made today in an IFR press release featuring the women honored.
To give women in the industry more visibility and acknowledgment, the annual Women in Robotics award recognizes outstanding female leaders whose work is reinforcing the strategic value of diversity within the technology sector and influencing the direction of robotics worldwide.
This recognition also reflects Comau’s broader commitment to human-centric automation and sustainable industrial transformation.
Yet according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025, women account for an increasing share of workers worldwide and now represent over 40% of the global labor force. However, women’s participation is uneven across industries. In consumer-facing services, education, and care-related sectors, women make up more than half of the workforce, whereas manufacturing remains well below those levels and does not appear among the ten most gender-balanced industries, with female representation under 35%. This gap aligns with the broader picture in STEM, where women hold fewer than 30% of roles in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Robotics is entering a phase in which advanced technology powered by AI and new business models are increasingly connected to human development” emphasized in commenting on the recognition. “Being selected by IFR reinforces the importance of building inclusive leadership models and strengthening collaboration between industry, education, and institutions to shape the future of automation.
Stefania Ferrero
Chief Marketing & Solutions Portfolio Officer of Comau
Stefania Ferrero, the only Italian woman in the list, has been awarded for her role in guiding long-term strategy, as well as for her ability to translate complex engineering capabilities into clear market perspectives and accessible concepts. Beyond her strategic role, she actively promotes STEM education, cross-generational upskilling, and greater female representation in engineering and robotics leadership. As a founding member of Comau’s DEI committee, she also contributes to initiatives aimed at fostering an inclusive workplace where people have equal opportunities and feel respected and supported. An active voice within the global robotics community, Stefania participates in IFR executive roundtables and engages with leading academic institutions – including dialogue sessions with Politecnico of Turin and Milan, and Harvard Business School – to explore the evolving role of automation in manufacturing transformation and the future of work.
