Having women in leadership positions within organizations is a strategic decision. A study analyzing more than 1,000 publicly traded companies in 12 countries found that those with greater female representation at the executive level were 21% more likely to outperform their peers in profits and 27% more likely to create long-term value. Evidence shows that female leadership drives economic growth and enhances corporate productivity.
Furthermore, women are well-qualified to assume these positions. In Latin America, 6 out of 10 women enroll in higher education, compared to fewer than half of men. However, these educational advantages do not translate into equal access to decision-making roles within organizations.
In companies across Latin America and the Caribbean, women hold only 15% of board seats and 11% of senior management positions. In a world of work where equality remains elusive, closing leadership gaps requires recognizing women’s talents and capabilities, and advancing an equal opportunity agenda to ensure their access to decision-making roles.
How Can Women’s Skills Be Strengthened to Expand Their Leadership Opportunities?
Online courses have expanded access to professional development tools, enabling more people to strengthen their capabilities and skills from anywhere. In Latin America and the Caribbean, female participation in online education has shown significant progress.
Recognizing this opportunity, the IDB, with support from the Gender Parity Initiatives (IPG), transformed an in-person course into a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). Through the IPG, public-private partnerships are fostered to reduce leadership gaps and promote equal opportunities for men and women in employment and entrepreneurship.
The course “Female Leadership: Boost Your Skills and Drive Change” is a globally accessible resource, available in Spanish, English, and Portuguese. Since its launch in 2021, more than 20,000 women have been trained, strengthening their leadership skills through tools focused on self-awareness, emotional intelligence, personal branding, high-impact communication, and leadership strategies.
Voices of Women that Are Proof of Impact
Women who completed this course not only acquired management and decision-making skills but also strengthened their confidence to apply for and assume leadership roles. They have also been able to drive transformations in their organizations, paving the way for other women.
“Thanks to the lessons learned from this course, I was able to promote the implementation of a new waste recycling system within the organization. This allowed us to recycle both solid and organic materials that were previously discarded, generating new resources that we can now reinvest in the project.” Carlota – Honduras, 2024
To maximize its impact, the course has been adapted to three delivery modes:
- Specialized virtual classrooms (Ecuador and Brazil)
- Online programs with coaching sessions (Belize and Honduras)
- In-person programs with coaching (Guatemala)
“…thanks to the program, I was able to develop skills that helped me forge strategic alliances that create opportunities for the women in our community.” Ximena – Mexico 2024
These testimonies demonstrate women’s leadership in decision-making roles when opportunities arise. The skills they acquired allowed them to move from desire to action, driving concrete initiatives.
If you’re looking for a tool to develop your leadership skills or those of your team, sign up for this online course and join more than 20,000 women who have already made the decision.
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