RMC25 – Stefania Monni

photographer: jonne lucia op de weegh© | make-up artist: violeta marinova and jano osman from art of colors

tno

tno believes in the strength of women, and that everyone should have the same opportunities to take part and to grow. in society, and also as an employee and colleague. by combining our unique strengths we can innovate and impact society. we love to showcase some of our talented tno women by collaborating with equals for international women’s day. by highlighting our women in tech and leadership, we hope to show girls and women that they are welcome in these roles. let’s continue to inspire and innovate! would you like to work at tno? check out our vacancies!

stefania monni(she/her)

senior scientist antenna and microwaves at tno

about

i was born in cagliari, italy, in 1974, where i obtained the msc. in electronic engineering. i came to the netherlands for my msc thesis and stayed for the ph.d. in electrical engineering with the tu/e. currently, i am a senior scientist at tno radar technology department, where i lead the antenna team, being responsible for the definition and technical coordination of the research activities, and since 2018 i am also with the chip integration technology centre. in 2024 i joined tu/e as part-time professor. since 2022 i am president of the european association on antennas and propagation.

why do you think it is important that role models need to be visible?

it’s crucial for people to not only be visible but also share their stories. role models are often seen as successful individuals, but sharing how they overcame challenges, missteps, and difficulties is just as important. this shows there’s no single path to success.
and there is not a single role model, as we may be inspired by multiple people for different aspects.
common portrayals of role models as confident and authoritative can send a misleading message. many women struggle with self-doubt, take on responsibility for problems, and seek conflict-avoiding, conciliatory solutions—qualities often mistaken for weakness. similarly, their emotional language is often misjudged as immature.
as a result, women often have to work harder to overcome biases and prove their abilities. sharing stories of success achieved through what’s perceived as “weakness” is key to breaking these stereotypes.
the strength to overcome challenges comes from pursuing your passion. stay determined, be humble enough to acknowledge mistakes and grow from them, consider advice from others, but ultimately carve your own path.
and find your own special quality: this will be your superpower!

tno

tno believes in the strength of women, and that everyone should have the same opportunities to take part and to grow. in society, and also as an employee and colleague. by combining our unique strengths we can innovate and impact society. we love to showcase some of our talented tno women by collaborating with equals for international women’s day. by highlighting our women in tech and leadership, we hope to show girls and women that they are welcome in these roles. let’s continue to inspire and innovate! would you like to work at tno? check out our vacancies!