Meet Silvia

At Viola we aim to tackle issues of gender violence with efficient responses and solutions and to create safe spaces for people across Europe. We have assembled a highly skilled and educated group of people to help solve these issues. Meet Silvia from our team who is working towards a safer society.

Silvia Barbareschi is the Chief Scientist at Viola and a PhD student in Business and Administration at UC Berkeley. Among other things, she strives to understand how the social environment shapes an individual’s decisions and how to design effective policies to uncover economic, gender, and racial inequalities. Silvia is very enthusiastic about her role in data collection and analysis and says that “Viola is my safe place. Viola is the opportunity to change”.

Originally intending to volunteer, Silvia’s fascination with Viola’s project and its emphasis on public safety led her to become an integral part of the team. Recognizing the behavioral effects of low public safety and how it can limit personal freedom, she understands the significance of Viola’s provision of support and safety tools. She hopes for improvements in public safety, enabling individuals to feel safer and more at ease.

The core principle of Viola resonates deeply with Silvia, particularly its role in addressing the fear many people, especially women, experience during nighttime. By serving as a reliable and accessible safety tool, Viola empowers individuals to reclaim their freedom and navigate public spaces with confidence. Silvia recognizes the transformative potential of Viola in reshaping social norms and breaking down barriers.

When reflecting on her experience with Viola, Silvia highlights the team as her favorite aspect. Composed of individuals with diverse backgrounds and skill sets but united by a shared passion, the Viola team inspires her to challenge societal norms and effect change. Their collaborative efforts serve as a driving force behind Viola’s success.

Looking toward the future, Silvia envisions Viola as a pre-installed app on every phone, eliminating the need for users to download it from an app store. She emphasizes the importance of continued collaboration within the team and the potential for expanding their impact through collaborations with other projects.

Riley McRaven