From particle physics to people leadership: Manuela Venturi on data and helping others shine

In this episode of our Women in Leadership series, we sat down with Manuela Venturi, Director of Data & Analytics at team.blue, to explore her extraordinary journey from discovering the Higgs boson at CERN - the European Organization for Nuclear Research - to building data teams that power business decisions. Manuela's story is one of curiosity, resilience and the courage to learn in unfamiliar territories. Her leadership philosophy centres on a powerful belief: great leadership means helping others shine, while never letting gender define what you can achieve.

Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your professional background?

I’m from Florence, Italy, the cradle of the Renaissance, as we like to say. I lived in Germany and Switzerland before returning to Florence after exactly 20 years.

I’ve always been curious and eager to explore new things. As a child, I wanted to become an archaeologist. Later, I dreamt of being an FBI agent specialising in extra-terrestrial encounters, probably influenced by watching “X-Files” too much. Eventually, I chose what felt like a safer path and studied Astrophysics. That soon evolved into high-energy particle physics, which led me to CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research), working on the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

I was incredibly fortunate to be there at a pivotal moment. After two decades of preparation, the collider was switched on and, right in front of us, the mysteries of nature began to unfold. There was a sense that every day could bring a fundamental discovery and then it happened. The Higgs boson signal was clear and undeniable, opening an entirely new world of exploration.

Those years shaped me deeply. In many ways, I will always be a scientist at heart, driven by the pursuit of “the truth”. Later, my experience in business and consulting added a more pragmatic lens, perhaps the natural evolution of most dreamers as they grow older and wiser.

What led you to join team.blue, and how has your experience been since you started?

I joined team.blue in 2022 as Director of Data & Analytics, with the mandate to build a central data team. This meant covering the entire data stack, from ingestion into our central data warehouse, to commercial KPI reporting, through to advanced analytics and predictive modelling.

The foundations already existed in strong local teams across key regions. Bringing together different experiences, cultures and ways of working into one team.blue approach has been both challenging and rewarding. The goal has always been to leverage the best of each and create an environment where everyone has the space to shine and bloom.

How would you describe your current role, and what does a typical working day look like for you?

No two days are the same, and that’s exactly what I enjoy. I personally thrive on juggling multiple priorities, supporting the team across parallel requests, helping resolve issues as they arise, and generally trying to bring a sense of energy and enjoyment into everything we do.

Looking back, what have been some of the most challenging moments in your career so far?

When I started in my role, my technical background was not as strong as that of many people around me, and that was certainly challenging at first. At the time, there was no AI to turn to for instant support. I learned by doing, by making mistakes, and by sometimes feeling very self-conscious.

What made the difference was the people around me. My team has always been generous, patient and supportive, and they still are today. That collective spirit helped me grow into the role.

At any point in your career, did you ever question whether you belonged in the roles you were taking on?

As I look back at my choices and all the sliding doors I have crossed, I realise I never questioned whether I could do something as a woman. That was simply not part of my thinking.

My mindset has always been to learn, to try, and to put in the effort. That approach has served me well, although my husband might disagree and point out a few things I still cannot do, despite all efforts, such as reading a map.

How would you describe your leadership style today? Has it changed over time?

Over the years, I’ve come to realise that great leadership is about helping others shine. By nature, I like to be in control and get things done my way. My role has taught me how to rely on others, to let go, and to appreciate the value of gentle guidance rather than constant direction.

Have there been people or experiences that have had a strong influence on the way you lead?

I’ve been fortunate to have several inspiring mentors. Two stand out in particular. The first is Fabiola Giannotti, former Director-General of CERN, who led the ATLAS experiment during my PhD years. She was a powerful role model for young women in physics. She was charismatic, intelligent and authentic, and through her example she showed us that we could dare to be whatever we wanted to be. Witnessing that had a lasting impact on me.

The second is Stephen Ewart, team.blue’s Chief Revenue Officer. I deeply value working with Steve and admire his persistence, empathy and the way he genuinely invests in people. He is a strong supporter of women, not just in words but in action, and he truly believes in diversity as a driver of growth.

How has team.blue supported you in balancing professional responsibilities with family life?

My time at team.blue has been quite a journey. I had two of my three children after joining, which made for a real rollercoaster. The company supported me with flexibility, and the team was always ready to step in. My children have even appeared in a few work events and more than one Zoom meeting along the way.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to leadership roles?

It's ok to be different, it's ok to feel scared, don't be so sure that others are not. What you're doing is probably something difficult, something that only a few have done before, and only a few would be able to do like you're doing. Be proud of yourself! Don't apologize if not needed. Look at yourself in the mirror and say "well done" more often.

How do you personally approach balance and prioritisation in a very busy professional and personal life?

With three young children, working long hours is simply not an option. That means being extremely focused and efficient with the time I have. I prioritise clarity, speed and getting things right first time. I trust my intuition and my ability to manage complexity.

When the children are older, I may need to find a hobby again. Suggestions are welcome.

Do you see AI as a tool that can help level the playing field in leadership, especially for women?

This is a very important question. The speed and nature of the AI revolution currently tend to favour men, particularly because of the strong playground aspect of new technologies. While women were steadily gaining ground in fields such as data science and research, I recently attended an AI forum where only 3 out of 300 participants were women.

We cannot allow this imbalance to persist. We need to actively bring women, especially young women and students, closer to these topics, highlighting positive role models and showing that they belong in these spaces.

At team.blue, and within our newly established AI and Data function, we are committed to ensuring that AI serves everyone, across genders, ages and levels of expertise.

To close, is there a principle or piece of advice that continues to guide you in your work and life?

There is one quote that resonates deeply with me, and that I could have written myself for how much I believe in it: “I don’t really think about other people’s opinions or expectations. The only ones I have are my own, to improve and get better.”

This is what I hope to pass on to my daughter, who will grow up in the 2040s and beyond, in a world where being defined or limited by gender will hopefully feel like a strange and outdated concept.