Morena Bernardini

Morena Bernardini, Secretary General of MBDA, nominated by Forbes Italie as one of the 100 most influential women in Italy in 2023. Photo credit: MBDA

Morena follows through with her ideas. When she was three years old this funny, lively woman - feminine to the tips of her varnished nails – who is now the Secretary General of the European defence group MBDA, told her family that she would be an aerospace engineer or an astronaut when she grew up. “I don’t know where I got this idea from because my parents weren’t in this sector at all. I guess I was just born like that,” she laughs.

Our discussion over lunch on the terrace of the MBDA chalet during the Paris Air Show 2023 is interrupted by the roar of the French fighter plane, the Rafale, demonstrating its can-do. Morena immediately gets up to watch the aircraft and take photos. She comes back to sit down, all smiles, apologizing. “Sorry, I can’t help myself!”

““Never think – a priori – that others are better than you are””

This is unsurprising coming from a woman who would sit in front of the TV when she was a tiny tot to watch “with tears in my eyes” the Ariane rocket lifting off.

Fortunately Morena loved mathematics and it was therefore a natural progression to study aerospace engineering at Rome’s Sapienza University. She read astronautics... She explains that this involves studying the mechanics of celestial bodies. Why did I ask?! Morena, however, regrets that at the first engineering school exam “most of the female students drop out because they think that perhaps they aren’t up to it… they don’t have enough trust in themselves and are influenced by prejudice… But we must believe in ourselves!”  The course was hard for everyone, and, ultimately, of the 300 students present at the beginning, only seven finished, Morena amongst them.

She wrote her end of studies thesis from within the Italian Air Force, devoting herself to the study of a mini-space launcher fired from a fighter plane. Morena then started preparing a move to California, where she planned to do a doctorate at Caltech and, at the same time, join her future husband, Paolo, who at the time worked for NASA (he discovered the presence of an ocean of hydrocarbons under the surface of Titan!) But she changed her mind. “I interviewed with Astrium for a position as a mission analyst engineer and I was more interested in that!” The only problem was that Astrium Space Transportation is based in France… and Morena didn't speak a word of French at the time. That didn’t discourage her though! She learned the language “by watching BFM TV,” she laughs. It’s difficult to imagine when you listen to her perfect French, the only clue to her Italianness being a slight, lilting accent and twirling hands. She shrugs, as though anyone could learn a foreign language as easily.

Morena with French, Italian and British students at the Paris Air Show 2023. Photo credit: MBDA

Morena likes to express herself, especially to share her knowledge. She’s able to explain in simple terms the fundamental issues of space. Even if you don't speak Italian well, you have to listen to her give a TEDx talk where she speaks for fifteen minutes without a single note or hesitation!

Following a reorganisation of the Airbus group in 2014, Astrium was absorbed into the Airbus Defense and Space division. Morena was appointed manager of the group’s relations with the space agencies and ministries responsible for Space of the ESA (European Space Agency) member states. She later occupied a similar position at Airbus Safran Launchers, before joining Thales Alenia Space in 2018. She returned to ArianeGroup as Director of Strategy, a position she held until January 2023 when she was appointed Secretary General of MBDA. She’s only 40 years old.

“The role of Secretary General varies from one person to another, from one organisation to another. Every Secretary General decides how they want to approach this job. As far as I’m concerned listening and humanity are fundamental values and I think that leadership by example is the most effective tool. Being Secretary General is, for me, to be the alter-ego of the CEO. It means supporting him, confronting him, being there when he can't be. It’s also being the linchpin of the executive committee, but also embodying the company's values, particularly those of passion and technological innovation in the service of the armed forces,” she explains.

“I'm going at it a little strong,” she admits, “but you don't fire a missile if you're not ready to receive one. I’m not afraid of anything and I react thinking of those who do not dare to do so.”

Morena finds it counterproductive to promote women simply because of their gender. For her, a position must above all be filled by the most qualified person. But she advises women to “never think – a priori – that others are better than you are.”

Above all, this young mother of two, recommends young women to “very carefully choose the person who’ll be at your side. It has to be someone who will boost, support and encourage you.” She clearly made the right choice!