Mexico City, March 13, 2025. In the framework of International Women's Day, the Pan American City held the Congress for Women Entrepreneurs and Leadersan event that brought together outstanding women leaders from the business, social and sports spheres to share their experiences, challenges and visions on women's leadership.
The event, promoted by Nicole Azis y Rafael Guerrastudents of Business and Management, in conjunction with the Alumni Society of Ciudad Panamericana, had the participation of more than 10 expert panelists, who shared their experiences and strategies to promote equal opportunities in the professional sphere.
The congress, which featured several main panel discussions, addressed issues such as work-life balance, the importance of balance between personal and professional life, the importance of mentoring, and mentoringgender equity and the impact of female leadership in society.. Speakers from various sectors shared their perspectives on how women can break down barriers and build a more equitable future.
Inspiration and female leadership at the Pan American
During the inauguration of the congress, Dr. Fernanda Dr. Fernanda Llergo BayRector General of the Universidad Panamericana and IPADE, highlighted the importance of this type of space to to celebrate women's leadership..
"This Congress on Being a Woman, Entrepreneur and Leader is an initiative of the students of Ciudad Panamericana and is a tribute to the strength, creativity and determination of women who defy limits and transcend expectations. tribute to the strength, creativity and determination of women who defy limits and transcend expectations."said the Rector General.
She also added: "We recognize that female leadership is not only essential to the progress of society, but also a reflection of the inherent dignity of every woman, which deserves to be celebrated and empowered.".
Women in business transformation
The first panel, entitled Care in all its domainswas moderated by Dr. Llergo. In this space, the panelists Silvia DávilaPresident of Danone for Latin America; Paloma GutiérrezCountry Head of General Mills Mexico; and Fernanda GuarroGeneral Manager of 3M Mexico, reflected on how leadership transcends professional and personal boundaries.
Silvia Dávila highlighted the importance of diversity and inclusion in the business environment, noting that. "leadership is not just about what you do, but what you do through others.".
For her part, Paloma Gutiérrez shared her experience on how to integrate family and work life: "Balance is not about dividing, but about integrating these two worlds. I don't have a personal calendar and a work calendar. It is one because my whole life is there," she said.she said.
Fernanda Guarro, on the other hand, spoke about the need for public policies that support women in the redistribution of work burdens. that support women in the redistribution of work burdens, especially in the care of children and the home.especially in the care of children and the home: "Speaking from a public policy issue, it is something that today in the current administration is starting to be put in the conversation, but we have to see from what is talked about to what is executed".he stated.
Mentoring and equity: keys to women's leadership
The second panel, How do we get us all there?explored the impact of mentoring as a key tool for the growth and development of women in different fields. Moderated by Teresa EspeletaPanamericana alumna, this panel included the participation of Claudia Ruiz MassieuFederal Congresswoman; Daniela AnciraCEO of La Cana; Mariangel Coghlanarchitect and interior designer; and Wendy Aguilarformer Olympic swimmer.
Claudia Ruiz highlighted the importance of gender quotas in politics. quotas in politics and how they have and how they have helped to open spaces for women in decision-making positions. "Today we have, by constitutional mandate, to ensure that there is parity in the integration of governments, and this has helped us women to reach and contribute from our unique perspective. this has helped women to reach out and contribute from our unique perspective.".
Daniela Ancira shared her experience working with women deprived of liberty and how her organization seeks to reintegrate them into society through training and employment programs. "We are dedicated to implementing social reinsertion programs with a gender perspective, and if I have learned anything, it is that, if we really get to the bottom of the problem, to understand the root of the problem, we can change things"she explained.
Mariangel Coghlan addressed the importance of harmony between personal and harmony between personal and professional life: "Harmony is a musical concept, and in life what you have to achieve is this harmony, in which, if you have to pay attention to the project or the client, of course, but also but also be present in the here and now with your family.".
While Wendy Aguilar reflected on how sport taught her to balance the demands of high performance with motherhood: "Sport taught me to understand cycles and temporality. Professional life is endless, but there are times when you're going to have to step back and others when you bet more on a field because it needs you".
Leadership and sorority
The last panel of the event was formed by Janet Morganwith a 30-year career in the Mexican Foreign Service; Regina García Cuellarthe first woman director of the Association of Banks of Mexico; and Erika Elizondo PeñaDirector of People and Organization at Iberdrola Mexico, who shared their reflections on leadership, sisterhood and the challenges faced by women in the professional sphere.
Janet Morgan, reflected on the challenges challenges of balancing personal and professional lifeespecially in a demanding field such as diplomacy. She shared how, during her career, she faced the pressure of being a mother and a professional at the same time, and how self-criticism sometimes led her to question her ability to fulfill both responsibilities. However, she stressed the importance of being compassionate with herself and seeking a balance that allows her to grow both personally and professionally.
Regina García spoke about the structural challenges faced by women in the banking industry. She mentioned that, although there has been progress, there are still barriers related to long working hours and lack of policies that support women in key stages, such as maternity. barriers related to long working hours and the lack of policies that support women in key stages, such as maternity, still exist.
Finally, Erika Elizondo shared her experience in promoting inclusion and diversity within organizations. She highlighted the importance of creating mentoring and leadership development programs for women, as well as fostering a culture of sisterhood in the workplace. She also spoke about how impostor syndrome can affect women's performance and the need to work on self-confidence and empowerment from an early age.
Time for equity, inclusion and collaborative work
The event concluded with a message from Dr. Santiago García Álvarezrector of the Universidad Panamericana, Mexico City campus, who highlighted the university's commitment to the formation of leaders that leaders who will have a positive impact on society.
"It is time for equity, inclusion and collaborative work, where complementarity between men and women will allow us to build a fairer society with greater opportunities for all "said the rector.
The Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders 2025 Congress reaffirmed the role of Universidad Panamericana as a benchmark in the promotion of women's leadership, equal opportunities and academic excellence.
Learn more about the mission of Universidad Panamericana at: https://www.up.edu.mx/sobre-la-universidad-fundamentos-y-valores/
