Breaking Barriers: Empowering Women’s Leadership in Industry in Biobío, Chile

Gender equality is a global challenge in all areas. STEM areas have low female participation, which affects hiring and sustainable development. Chile has gender gaps in business leadership, and it could take 15 years to reach OECD levels. Gender stereotypes and additional demands hinder the advancement of women in managerial positions. Moreover, unequal domestic responsibilities and cultural biases are also barriers. Concrete policies and actions are needed to promote gender inclusion in professional sectors. Furthermore, collaboration between state, private and civil society organizations is essential. In this context, this doctoral thesis proposal aims to carry out concrete actions to reduce the gender gap in senior management positions in the Bio Bio region. The main results that we want to achieve are to diagnose the current profile of women in leadership positions, identify the needs of the regional market for senior managers within the productive industries, establish the skills gap that exists between the current profile of women in middle and/or senior leadership positions and the real needs of the regional productive industry, design and implement a training program, a non-degree-granting diploma program, to cover the gaps detected.