Woman Forward is a non-profit institution that creates value in organisations by promoting female talent and gender equality. Mirian Izquierdo, a lawyer and economist, is its president. The author of several books on European issues and international trade, as well as on women's leadership, talks to PROA on the challenges of equality in corporate governance.
It also presents the Women Joining Boards' courseThe aim is to train current and future female directors, taking into account practical aspects, in relation to the corporate governance of organisations, in particular on sustainability issues, including specific training also for family businesses.
In Woman Forward they analyse and promote the presence of women in management positions. Where do we stand in Spain?
In addition to promoting equality measures and fostering female talent, we carry out research on topics such as women's participation in economic decision-making or the creation of value from equality in companies.
The truth is that, despite the progress made, and despite the fact that more and more companies want to promote cultural transformations that create the conditions for greater equality, Spain is progressing more slowly in comparison with the main European countries, although in general all of them are experiencing reluctance, derived from structural barriers existing in the organisations.
What will it take for companies to accelerate the process of bringing female talent onto their boards?
There are corporate barriers that sometimes remain unconsciously when it comes to selection, recruitment, promotion, allowing co-responsibility between personal and professional life... It is also necessary to adopt actions to disseminate the value that diversity creates, to maintain a certain pressure from the market: consumers, investors and others. stakeholders of the company's value chain, and to encourage legislation that promotes greater diversity in organisations.
Another important aspect has to do with training. Training is key to increasing the presence of women in decision-making positions. Actions to make women more visible and work on their personal brand are not enough. They need to be trained in strategy and to understand the company's business. Strategic and financial training is essential for management positions, while training in corporate governance is essential to serve well on advisory boards and boards of directors. If you also have a background in sustainability, your chances of getting on a board increase today.
Are women still perceived differently in positions of responsibility?
It may seem unbelievable but, even today, two thirds of male managers still perceive women to be worse professionally than their male colleagues in managerial positions. This is reflected in our research "Men's perception of equality in Spanish companies"The survey was conducted among male managers and board members in various sectors.
This means that the need to strategically align real and effective equality policies in organisations has not yet been fully taken on board. However, attention must be paid to the third that does perceive women as fully equal, and therefore represents an opportunity to move forward, and based on which the Foundation is launching the strategy "Ceos levers of change towards equality", with participation in the "Business equality index", and in a ranking of companies for equality. (You can participate free of charge through the website of the foundation by entering the coupon "2023RankingIgualdadWF" in the foundation's shop). The index will allow companies to obtain a report and know their level of equality management in their sector and company size.
March sees the start of the Women Joining Boards' courseThe focus is on corporate governance and the relationship of boards of directors to their stakeholders. stakeholders. What does it consist of?
It is a training programme for current and future female directors in the corporate governance of organisations, within the framework of what is known as the new humanist capitalism or the capitalism of stakeholders. The way of managing is changing, as are the challenges that companies are facing hand in hand with civil society. As a result, there are new requirements that boards must meet to promote issues such as digital or cultural transformation, but also the reporting of non-financial information or sustainability in its environmental, social and good governance aspects. The course is carried out with the collaboration of top professionals from EY, Garrigues Abogados, Augere and several of the main Excellent Search firms that carry out board searches.
What makes it different from other training programmes??
We have paid special attention to the perspective of family businesses and sustainability. It is also a very practical course, because we see cases of large companies and organisations related to sustainability and the reporting of non-financial information. In this sense, different practices are carried out, such as the simulation of a real board and its dynamics, as an essential part of corporate governance.
The course includes a personal interview with head hunters, which allows you to receive advice from them and your eventual inclusion in selection processes.
Who is the target group for this training and when can I register?
The course is designed primarily for people in an executive position, board members, or future board members, but also for CEOs, managers of large and medium-sized companies, especially if they are companies that are thinking of setting up an advisory board or board of directors. The training is also open to men and can be financed through Fundae.
For further information, please contact info@womanforward.org or by clicking on this link to the Woman Forward website.