Women in Leadership Positions in Mexico
4 out of 10 senior management positions in Mexico are held by women. The presence of women in management positions is increasing, but growth is slow. If this pace continues, gender parity will be achieved by 2051.
The number of women in senior management positions in Mexico continues to increase, but growth is slow, and several challenges remain. According to a recent study about "Women in Business, women currently hold 38.9% of senior management positions, representing a slight increase compared to 36.2% last year and similar to the 38% expected in 2023. Sources: Grant Thornton Mexico, and El Economista Mexico
At this rate, gender equality in corporate management will not be achieved until 2051. This means that a young woman just starting her professional career will have to work for 25 years before aspiring to work in a company that ensures gender parity in management positions. "We have been talking about this issue for many years, and while it is good to see progress, 2051 is a very distant date, so it is essential to take measures and encourage the presence and leadership of women in Mexican companies," emphasized Alondra de la Garza, expert in the topic.
In another survey made by KPMG in Mexico (Women in Senior Management in Mexico and Central America 2025), although 51% of women interviewed expressed that their organizations do have gender policies to promote equal opportunities and pay equity, there are still areas for improvement, as these initiatives need to be further disseminated.
Furthermore, data from diverse sources in Mexico last year indicate that 40% of companies increased the participation of women in management teams; however, only 23.5% of organizations have only one woman on their management teams.
Meanwhile, the management positions with the highest female presence are Human Resources (48%), Finance (47%), and Marketing (37%). In the rest of company areas women’s presence is still scarce.
Challenges in Reaching Senior Management
Women continue to face challenges in reaching senior management. The main ones are discrimination, unconscious bias, and microaggressions, which hinder promotions, according to 44% of women recently surveyed by KPMG Mexico.
Other barriers highlighted in this report are unequal opportunities to participate in high-impact initiatives (38%) and self-limitations, generated by a lack of self-esteem and confidence (33%).
However, when a woman finally reaches a management position, the challenges continue; for example, nearly 40% report that they experience burnout and a lack of openness from male colleagues to collaborate in joint projects.
Initiatives to Promote Women's Participation
There are various initiatives that organizations can implement to close the gender gap in senior management positions. Many companies in Mexico are already taking this responsibility seriously and advocating for more female presence in top management positions.
Promoting women to top positions requires, at an Organizational level, that companies:
Foster an Inclusive Culture:
Create an environment that values diversity, respects different leadership styles, and eliminates gender biases by educating employees and leadership on these issues.
Implement Policies:
Enforce equal pay for equal work and implement flexible work policies like remote work, compressed hours, and job sharing to support work-life balance.
Set Diversity Goals:
Establish clear, specific goals for gender diversity in leadership to ensure accountability and track progress.
Address Unconscious Bias:
Train leaders and employees to recognize and overcome ingrained gender biases that can hinder women's advancement.
In sum, an inclusive culture that provides mentorship and sponsorship, and actively identifies and advocates for high-potential women and offers them leadership development and training, can be a triggering action sponsored by Human Resources areas to break down gender biases and build a strong talent pipeline for leadership roles.
by Liliana Herrera Villegas
