By José Ángel de la Paz

The latest Fortune 500 list posted a record of 33 female CEOs. Although this was a milestone, the final number paints a troubling picture: out of the 500 people in top management positions at the companies with the highest revenue, less than 7% are women.

In 2020, to commemorate International Women's Day, the United Nations created the theme “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”, to take stock of our progress and reduce persistent inequalities.

In an interview, a student, a graduate and a professor from EGADE Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey share their thoughts on March 8th and the full and equal participation of women in all areas of society:

• Tannia Rodríguez Limón, student of the Master in Business Management at EGADE Business School, and Business & Marketing Planner at Alquimia.
• María de los Ángeles Martínez Olguín, graduate of the Master in Finance at EGADE Business School, and Head of Finance at Bank of China's branch in Mexico.
• María Concepción del Alto, professor and director of the Master in Finance at EGADE Business School in Monterrey.

What is it about the women you admire that you find inspiring?

Tannia Rodriguez Limon (TRL): I feel lucky to be among successful women who have left their mark on me. The overall knowledge we pass on to others is the success to which we must aspire. I find inspiration in all these women who, from their fields, have lifted me and others so that their ceiling becomes the ground from which we can build on.

María de los Ángeles Martínez Olguín (MMO): Their courage and the ongoing pursuit of their passion and inventiveness, as well as the perseverance and resilience with which they face life to defend their ideas and achieve their goals.

Maria Concepcion del Alto (MCA): Their dedication, passion and humane spirit. The women I most admire are my mother and older sister because thanks to their love, dedication and vision I have achieved what I have now.

Which are the traits you value in female leaders?

TRL: What I find as a common trait in all the female leaders I love and admire is determination. Each of them has different strengths but they all have the heart and drive to succeed and improve.

MMO: Empathy, responsibility, trustworthiness, organization, high self-esteem, perseverance, adaptability to challenges and environments, perseverance, resilience and accountability.

MCA: Our sense of awareness to the needs of others, our strength and willingness to face challenges, as well as the coherence between what’s been said and done, are what make us excellent leaders.

What are the challenges that women in business face and how can they overcome them?

TRL: Unfortunately, Mexico is still a country where senior management positions, regardless of the industry, are dominated by men. And, although I've met many fine men, I've also come across sexist and dominant individuals who treat you according to how you look. How we could overcome some of those “invisible” barriers? By staying confident in your knowledge, standing your ground in meetings, and not allowing anyone to belittle you. Because of our upbringing and culture, we tend to be helpful, diligent, and “polite”. However, there are times when we must leave this behind and assume our role as professionals, where we express our opinions, demand the attention and respect we deserve and strive for equality in the workplace.

MMO: We face the challenge of not being recognized, supported and promoted as professionals based on our worth, knowledge and competence, as well as a disparity in wages and rights. Women can overcome these challenges with perseverance and hard work, but also by building a support network among women. 

MCA: As women, it is a challenge to balance our personal and professional lives. We live in a very competitive world, with extremely high standards in the workplace and, because of our nature, we are called upon to be mothers, the most difficult and exhausting task there is. Thankfully, many organizations are now taking a turn. For example, they are extending maternity leave and providing the opportunity to work remotely, which is very helpful. Behind the scenes, there is a lack of equal access to opportunities and there are still biases about women's capability to handle managerial positions, which is why we need to make radical changes in our culture.

What would be your advice to women so that they can achieve their full potential both on a professional and personal level?

TRL: Believe in yourself. If you don't know something, learn. If you're afraid of doing something, dare to do it, it's okay. If you don't feel confident, train, practice and repeat. Be confident, but also equip yourself with tools to successfully react to the challenges. If it is something you are passionate about, there are no excuses for not making it today.

MMO: Get out of the comfort zone, don't be afraid, and believe in yourself and your ability to achieve what you set out to do. Be consistent and perseverant with your tasks to achieve your goals and you will reap the fruits of your effort and dedication.

MCA: First, analyze your priorities very carefully and focus your efforts on what is most relevant in your life, according to each stage. For example, if you have a toddler, spend time with him when he needs you most; you can postpone some other battles for later. Second, get a mentor to help you deal with the decisions that come your way, or to help you see your potential and how to unleash it. Third, choose a job that allows you to thrive, one that has a supportive work environment for women at various stages. And finally, work on developing valuable relationships.

 

If the whole world could listen to you, what message would you like to give on International Women's Day?

TRL: We need to support each other, today we have a lot more opportunities than our grandmothers and great-grandmothers, it's our responsibility to achieve great things with that! We must do and be more for future women. Pursuing gender equity is not a war of the sexes; we must find solutions to live in a better Mexico and that is up to all of us.

MMO: You are absolutely unique, harness your full potential without fear or social barriers and you will be amazed at what you can achieve and at the woman you can become. Let's learn to support each other, we all need one another.

MCA: You can achieve anything. Hardships make you stronger, and with every challenge, you will also find an opportunity.