Conducted primarily in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries, the study identified 1,500 Executive Leaders approximately from the largest companies in each sector of the IberoAmerican economy. We interviewed 407 of them via structured meetings. These interviews included women executives from 10 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela.
We grouped the Executive Leaders in regions of geographic affinity by countries with a similar business culture to fully analyze the information gathered. Brazil and Mexico constituted a group in themselves; Spain and Portugal came together under Iberia; Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela as the Andean Region and, in the Southern Cone, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.
Each interview was classified according to the Roles currently occupied by the executive leaders interviewed and according to the industrial Sector where they accumulate most of their experience.
Of the 407 Leaders interviewed, 171 (42%) have responsibility as Board Members and 13% of the participating executives have that task as their main activity. It should be noted that 169 women currently hold the role of CEO or Managing Director—representing 42% of the total.This is an important sample of high-level executives who hold the highest positions in their respective organizations. There are 221 Women Leaders (54%) in this study who hold positions as Board Members, CEOs, or Managing Directors.
The graph represents the percentage of the 407 women leaders in each sector of the economy. The industrial Sectors in which the executives work reflect to a great extent the distribution of business in the countries under consideration. The consumer & retail sector is the most represented, followed by financial services, technology and telecommunications. Other smaller sectors, such as education and non-profit organizations, are also included.
The best advice I was given in my career and that I would share with all women: networking is the key to success.