Mexico. Female leadership has proven to be a key factor in the evolution of companies, driving innovation, sustainability and equity. In Latin America, various initiatives have emerged to close this gap and promote the participation of women in different sectors, including engineering and technology.
Precisely, in recent years, female participation in the labor market has increased in Latin America. According to the Economic Commission for Latin America, the female labor participation rate reached 53.5% during 2022, and subsequently increased to 54.4% in the first quarter of 2023, reflecting greater labor inclusion thanks to training programs and gender policies.
In Mexico, data from Deloitte reveals that women's participation in large technology companies represents almost 33% of the sector's workforce, which reflects their key role in the industry.
Under this scenario, Sandra Matus, Marketing Director for Panduit LATAM, highlights the importance of implementing initiatives to reduce the wage gap and increase the representation of women in leadership positions, with laws that make companies report a proportion of men and women on their payrolls, promoting greater transparency and equity.
"The combination of government policies and business efforts can accelerate gender parity in the labor market, as has been seen in recent years," Matus said.
However, she added, there are still several challenges that limit women's access to strategic positions within organizations. Among them are:
Cultural barriers: The perception persists that women must assume greater responsibility in the home, which impacts their availability for full-time jobs. This social expectation translates into fewer opportunities for promotion and difficulties in balancing work and personal life.
Wage gap: In Latin America, women earn between 15% and 30% less than men for equivalent work.
Access to STEM education: Although education has improved, women are still a minority in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. Gaps in academic training limit their access to well-paid jobs with high growth potential.
Occupational segregation: Women are overrepresented in traditionally feminized sectors, such as education, arts, and services, which unfortunately tend to have lower remuneration compared to sectors such as technology, engineering, and finance. This reinforces the barriers to accessing strategic and decision-making positions.
Lack of equitable policies: The absence of laws guaranteeing equal access to affordable childcare and equal parental leave limits opportunities for professional growth.
Strategies to empower female leadership
According to Matus, to close the gender gap and strengthen the presence of women in business, companies must adopt concrete measures. Among them, he suggests, the implementation of inclusive policies, the development of mentoring programs and the creation of equitable work environments.
Precisely, organizations such as Panduit have taken the initiative in this line through internal programs such as "Panduit LATAM Women's Network" and "Panduit Empowering Women's Success". These seek to develop female talent through socialization events, microlearning and cultural coaching. "Both programs have allowed women within Panduit to strengthen their leadership skills and expand their opportunities for professional growth," Matus said.
She added that new technological tools also represent a great opportunity to reduce the gender gap. "Online education platforms allow more women to access training in technical and business areas without the traditional barriers of time and space. Today, thanks to technology and artificial intelligence, it is possible to automate repetitive and administrative tasks, allowing women to focus on strategic activities within their organizations," said the Marketing Director for Panduit LATAM.
"The challenge lies in accelerating these changes and ensuring that leadership opportunities for women are not just a long-term goal, but a tangible reality in the present. Companies, governments and society in general have a responsibility to continue promoting gender equality to build a fairer, more equitable and prosperous work environment for all," Matus said.
For the executive, companies that promote greater gender diversity in their leadership teams have been shown to obtain better financial results. This is thanks to the promotion of a more equitable and sustainable organizational culture; as well as greater innovation, improved decision-making and strengthening corporate social responsibility.
"Female leadership not only brings diversity of thought, but has also been linked to a greater orientation towards sustainability and business ethics. Women in leadership positions tend to prioritize practices that favor employee well-being and corporate responsibility, key aspects for the long-term success of any organization," concluded the Marketing Director for Panduit LATAM.
