The book Women’s Participation on Boards of Directors emerges as an essential work dives in the current situation for women in the corporate environment, specially in the chance of accessing senior management positions and being part of Boards of Directors. The focus of this research is founded in analyzing the challenges women face to achieve full inclusion in these areas. Besides, it suggests strategies to reduce the gender gap in out country.

The book launch took place las november 29th in Deloitte facilities with the presence of Yvette Mucharraz y Cano, Director of CIMAD; Fernanda Llergo, Dean of the Panamerican University and IPADE; Rosario Avilés, Associate Director of CIMAD, and Daniel Aguiñaga, Leader Associate of Deloitte’s Corporate Government. They remembered it was in a gathering at ITAM when Dr. Sylvia Meljem started the conversation about this initiative, gathering the efforts of several universities with a common vision, backed with researchers and experts in talent development.

This book is a result of the collaboration of six prestigious institutions: Technological Autonomous Institute of Mexico [Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM)], Anáhuac University, Iberoamerican Unicersity, Autonomous University of Mexico [Universidad Autónoma de México (UNAM)], Panamerican University and the Women in Senior Management Research [Center el Centro de Investigación de la Mujer en la Alta Dirección (CIMAD)] from IPADE Business School. It had also the participation of Deloitte and Mendel as strategic allies. This book not only looks to understand, but to solve a current issue: the lack of inclusion of women in the Boards of Directors in Mexico.

From ITAM’s perspective it’s key to recognize the participation as co-authors like Sylvia Meljem, Chair of the Department of Accounting and Director of the Accounting Business Center, and Ana María Díaz Bonnet. Both have been recognized at ITAM for promoting initiatives that encourage women participation in professional areas, leading the Organizing Committee of the Women, Talent and Development Annual Seminar.

Chapter 4, by ITAM researchers, has as an objective to identify key skills and abilities for a woman’s profile that set her apart in her way to Boards of Directors. Through a thorough research, in which Counselors and Directors participated, findings revealed the urgent need of implementing leadership programs designed specially for women. These programs must not only encourage the creation of effective networks that allow the access to executive positions, but also contribute the construction of a corporate culture that appreciates and encourage the development of distinctive skills in a female profile.

This is a valuable project for its remarkable purpose: include female empowerment within companies to enable women with undiscovered potential to enter and grow, thus improving the quality of business development and growth of organizations.

The book presentation at ITAM will take place during the Women, Talent and Development Perspective Seminar on May 2024.