In the occasion of Women’s Day, we have interviewed Jones Boniburini, our company’s founder. Jones has talked with us about the difficulties that she faced in being a young entrepreneur and at the same time a mom and a wife, but thanks to her resourcefulness and her desire to do it she realized her dreams: starting her first activity in 68’, when she was 23, and, in 76’, creating Serigrafia 76 together with her husband Giancarlo Mammi.
How have you started and learned the job?
“After the school, in 1966, I was a girl a I started sending curricula for sharing what I studied at the Art Institute: webbing. After some years of research, a little craftsman, who had two activities, called me. One of those activities was a screenprinting technology based on the riverside of Crostole, inside a shack. My first remuneration was 120 lyres/hour. In 1968, the boss wanted to stop the activity: at that moment, I decided to invest on my little experience and on my desire to realize my dreams…I had learned a job and the moment to get involved was right.. I was really determined and I knew that it would have been my way: for that reason I signed 7 million promissory notes for acquiring the activity. My dad did not know that.”
What difficulties did you face at the beginning?
“The greatest difficulties were to be stronger at the first appearance: I was a little girl and I was talking with Goldoni, Lombardini, Fiat Trattori. Even the relationship with banks was very difficult, only after some years I realized that in those years my dad had talked with them for giving me the possibility to have the loan…from that moment, everything started with first clients and the first three employees.”
When was the first moment you realized you could do it?
“Since the first period I was very determined on the aimed desire. I have to say that one of the first great satisfaction was to have the first contract with Fiat Group, specifically with Agriful.”
Today, you are a grandma and 76 is guided by your daughter Elisa and by Fausto Mazzali: is it possible to be a female entrepreneur and at the same time a mom? What was the winning formula?
“It has been possible but not easy: my rule was to dedicate all the non-working time to my daughter. For some years, I had these two worlds linked between each other, Elisa and 76… today these worlds are reunited.”
What suggestion do you have for a woman who wants to be an entrepreneur?
“Without any doubt, my first advice is to do something that represents your personality, something ‘liked’. The second one is maybe the most important: be determined… do not stop when you face first difficulties and someone who says ‘no’. Finally, the collaboration with employees is very important: create a sincere and true relationship with them.”