Zona Franca and UVigo launch program to boost female leadership in Galicia

Zona Franca and the Universidade de Vigo have announced a new collaborative program aimed at increasing female leadership and representation in Galician companies. The initiative follows data from the ARDÁN Report indicating that 83% of analyzed companies in the region are currently led by men.

The program will be developed through a participatory process, involving professional women to identify and address specific barriers to advancement, such as the “sticky floor” and “glass ceiling” phenomena. The first of three planned sessions was held recently to gather input from female executives and professionals.

During the event, experts discussed the impact of artificial intelligence on recruitment biases and the necessity of gender diversity for corporate competitiveness. Institutional leaders, including David Regades of Zona Franca and Rector Carmen García Mateo of the Universidade de Vigo, emphasized that the initiative is both a matter of justice and a strategic necessity to avoid losing significant professional talent.