In Spain, the issue of equality in business is becoming increasingly pressing. Recent events in Barcelona have shown that major companies are in no hurry to change their management structures. Women still hold only a small fraction of leadership positions, and experts are convinced: without their participation at the highest level, there will be no real change. As El Pais reports, the second Barcelona Woman Acceleration Week (BWAW) discussed why progress remains so slow and what could actually drive meaningful change.
Media and Leadership
The opening of the forum began with a discussion of the media’s role in shaping the image of leadership. Representatives from leading Catalonian publications noted that in recent years new opportunities for women have appeared in journalism, yet in fields like economics and sports, men still dominate. Participants emphasized that backsliding must not be allowed, and trust in information depends on objectivity and fact-checking. At a time of declining media trust, journalists’ task is to maintain honesty and accuracy so as not to lose respect from their audience.
The discussion also touched upon how the media shapes perceptions of women leaders. According to the participants, stereotypes remain strong, and overcoming them requires not only new faces but also a change in the way information is presented. It’s important that women’s achievements in leadership become the norm, not the exception.
Women in Management
The second part of the forum focused on the experiences of women who already hold high positions in major companies. Blanca Sorigué acted as moderator and immediately highlighted the issue: only 19% of CEOs are women, and true parity is unlikely before 2051. She stressed that without women in key roles, real change is impossible. The panelists from EBRO, El Periódico, Unilever España, Novartis, and Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat shared their insights: team diversity leads to better results, but achieving it requires special programs and clear guidelines.
Particular attention was paid to the technology sector, where women are even scarcer—just 31%. The Novartis representative explained that the company is striving to attract more women, but faces a lack of candidates. According to Mabel Mas, the talent is there, but you have to look for it intentionally. In traditionally male-dominated industries such as transportation and manufacturing, change is slow, but examples of successful women show that stereotypes can be broken.
Breaking down barriers
The discussion revealed that the main problem is not a lack of capable women, but entrenched habits and insufficient initiative from companies. Dina Bueno from EBRO pointed out that the male-dominated character of the industry is a result of history, not nature. Alicia Valle recalled that the first female head of a mountain station in Spain appeared at Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat, setting an important example for young professionals. She urged the new generation not to retreat and to continue fighting for equal rights.
Participants of the forum agreed: real change requires not only laws, but also an active position from businesses. Only then can women truly step out of the shadows and become equal participants in decision-making. According to El Pais, such meetings help identify weaknesses and outline ways to accelerate progress.
In recent years, Spain has seen a growing number of events dedicated to equality in business and politics. For example, in Madrid and Valencia, forums are regularly organized to discuss barriers for women in management and seek practical solutions. In 2025, a similar conference in Seville drew attention to the pay gap between men and women. These events provide a platform for sharing experiences and launching new initiatives that are gradually transforming corporate culture in the country.
