12 women's voices from UIC Barcelona in celebration of 8 March

A democratic society must ensure that professional merits are valued in both men and women, to ensure equality and fairness. To our students and leaders of tomorrow I would tell them to read, to train in the discipline they have chosen and fight for their advancement in a fair way, based on the professional merits they acquire during their career. 

Female leadership can transform teams and society, it can help build a space where everyone feels heard and valued, fostering a positive working environment and commitment to common goals. The vision of young women and their capacity are essential to achieve this. We must seek support networks that learn from each experience, remembering that leadership is built with authenticity and determination.

We have many challenges ahead and we must be committed to improving society. We must be responsible and have clear objectives in our work. It is important to reflect and be very sensitive to the needs of those around us. Only by considering others and looking beyond ourselves can we direct our energy into improving daily life. Let us not hold anything back, let us give everything that we can contribute, since there are things that only we can give.

Gender diversity brings a multiplicity of perspectives and experiences that enrich decision-making. Diverse environments, including gender, contribute to the creation of more innovative and inclusive solutions that better respond to the needs of the entire educational community. Women in leadership positions can serve as role models, inspiring future generations of students and professionals to pursue leadership positions, regardless of gender.

Our students need to rely on their talent, their effort and their leadership skills to contribute to the transformation of society. The path to equality still presents major challenges, but every step that we take today opens doors to young scientific talent of the future. And most importantly, nobody but ourselves can define our limits.

Diversity in management teams is very important to ensure a broader and fairer vision. This ensures academic debates from different points of view and more innovative research. To our students I would tell them to follow their dreams, dedicate energy to them, trust themselves and have a lot of patience. It is also very important to have models or mentors that can serve as role models.

Richness lies in complementary visions and approaches that can be assured by men and women leading together. With the incorporation of good female leaders, possibilities for enjoying richer and more satisfying environments within the university open up because the nuances, styles or visions that each of these women can contribute as women, are different to those of men. We complement each other.

We need to send the message that there is equal opportunity and that every person, regardless of gender, can fill any position. Women in management and executive positions can inspire girls and adolescents to pursue their dreams without thinking that, because they are women, they will not be able to achieve what they want. Secondly, because women bring different views and approaches that can complement and enrich those contributed by men.

Diversity in leadership teams is critical to improving decision-making and ensuring that a wide variety of perspectives are considered. Each person brings their own experience, thinking and approach to problem solving, and diversity between women and men is an important part of this plurality. A diverse team, where different ways of making decisions are combined, is able to give more balanced and more efficient responses, considering all aspects of a situation, from the most analytical to the most human and emotional.

Equality is not only a question of rights, but also of progress: institutions with female leadership are more innovative because they rely on collaboration, empathy and effective communication, to achieve collective well-being. Nowadays, women study and work, but in many cases we also continue to carry the largest part of the family burden. It is important to promote policies of reconciliation in which this weight can be compensated between women and men. And men should also become aware of this fact.

The representation and leadership of women in positions of responsibility at the University are critical to moving toward greater equality of opportunity. And if we want a future with equal opportunities, we must start from the classroom. 

We must have strategies to ensure that there is an equitable or representative proportion of women in accordance with the number of women professionals, with adequate training to enable them to exercise their profession and occupy positions of responsibility.