On may 18th the fourth edition of the 2023 Perspectives Seminar: Women, talent and development – From dialogue to action in a post-pandemic world.

The welcoming and presentation of the seminar where in charge of Meney de la Peza, president of the Alumni Association; Dr. Arturo Fernandez, ITAM’s dean; Blanca Esta Perez, president of the Inclusion and Diversity Commission of the Corporate Coordinating Council (CCE); and Francisco Cervantes, president of the CCE. They agreed that despite women constituting 51% of the population, their participation in the economy, in top management positions and in politics is low. Likewise, they were in agreement it is necessary to provide women with more opportunities to grow and develop themselves professionally, as well as sensitivity to recognize that their talent and strategic vision is needed.

Dr. Arturo Fernandez pointed that the seminar is framed within the institutional endeavor Women’s initiative along with many other efforts to which ITAM is committed for the inclusion and development of women that are part of its community . He assured that the 21st century will be the women’s century, in which they will be fully involved in economic and social activities, double their human talent in activities outside the home, and increase their participation in the labor market.

Talent, vision and opportunity

The Seminar began with the analysis table ‘Advances in the subject’ Marta Vaca, director of Delphi Consulting & Advisory; Silvia Dávalos, general manager of Public Policies and Commissions of the CCE; and Ana María Díaz Bonnet, responsible of the Universities Network Projects at ITAM, analyzed from the academic and business sectors the role of women in executive duties of companies, as wells as the optimal scenarios to promote their participation and generate a real impact on corporate innovation, profitability and competitiveness. Concluding that talent doesn’t have gender, that what generates value is diversity of thought and that enforcing a gender quote does not necessarily generates gender equity within companies.

To follow, during the ‘Counselors in Mexico, relevance and contributions to the Board’ analysis table Magdalena Carral, co-founder and CEO of Carral Sierra and Lorenza Langarica, partner in Mijares, Angoitia, Cortes y Fuentes, shared they experiences and points of view about the role of women in management boards. They focused their exposition in the way that women participation provides different a different approach and vision during strategic decision making. They emphasized that the presence of women in boards can serve as a way to motivate young women to pursue leadership careers and roles.

During the analysis table ‘The future of work’, Perla Ruiz, CFO of Korn Ferry México, and José María Becerro, ITAM professor and researcher, examined the changes that technology and, more specifically, the pandemic, have brought to the work force. They pointed out how the pandemic brought positive changes for women, since the number of women in leadership positions in Mexico has doubled, and yet, the perception that achieving those roles is a challenging for women persists. Among the challenges to consider for the future of employment, they mentioned the consideration of women preferring to work from home without stopping their professional development.

Acknowledgment and inspiration among generations

The analysis table ‘Success cases in cultural and talent development, a corporate vision’, with the participation of Ana Gabriela Rodríguez, director of Talent and Culture Acquisition at BBVA México, and Magdalena Zapata, L’Oreal México General Manager, who shared their experience and opinions on gender equity, diversity and inclusion in companies.

The panel, titled ‘The relevance of corporate organisms in women development’, was moderated by Andrea Alcaraz, Technical Coordinator of the Business Coordinating Council (CCE), and had the participation of Lilia Marcela Heredia, President of CMIC in Mexico City, and Lysette Bravo, leader of D&I/Gender Equity in the Association of Banks of Mexico (ABA). The importance of implementing better inclusion and gender equity practices was addressed and the lack of progress to allow women more participation in corporate organisms was recognized.

During the ‘Gender Equity Initiatives’ analysis table, América Taracido, ITAM professor and María Aramoni, ambassador of Women in Finance, presented the 2023 Gender Equity Award, given by the Mexican Institute of Finance Executives (IMEF) and Women in Finance to the companies that manage to generate a culture of gender equity based on four criteria: policies that promote the incorporation, retention and professional development with a gender perspective; creation of positions based on gender equity; reduction of the wage gap between men and women within the hole organization; and actions that allow equal conditions inside and outside the companies.

During the las analysis table, ‘Inspiring new generations’, Francisco Pérez González, Dean of the Division of Business Administration and Accounting at ITAM interviewed Daniela Ruiz Massieu, director of EPIC Lab at ITAM and member of the Stanford Business School Board. Daniela explained that the EPIC Lab is an innovation, creativity and venture center, founded in 2014 to promote entrepreneurship to young peopleand share that entrepreneurship is a professional path different to performance in the public and private sector. She clarified that its purpose is not to create companies but to educate the youth with a mentality of entrepreneurship and, when they are ready, connect them with people able to boost them.

Women’s Initiative: institutional engagement

The closing of the Seminar was in charge of Alejandra Peralta Borja, VP for Advancement and Institutional Communication, and of Sylvia Meljem, Chair of the Department of Accounting at ITAM who, besides thanking the speakers and attendees, pointed out the activities that are carried out by ITAM on gender issues, in order to promote equity and respect among all the members of the itamita community, sucha as the Women’s Initiative, ITAM for Her, the Protocol for the Prevention and Response to Cases of Gender-Based Violence, as well as training courses on gender based issues for professors and students, among others. Alejandra Peralta pointed out, as well, the culture of generosity that the institute instills, particularly the more than 11 funds and more than a thousand donors that are part of ITAM’s community.

On the other hand, during the Seminar the Mexican Mathematics Olympiad initiative was presented, through which girls and young women receive support so they can develop their abilities in a male dominated area. Likewise, the Them Fund [Fondo Ellas] initiative was presented, it promotes the financial empowering of women, providing advice and financial support to help their projects