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Carlota Planas and Fundación Quiero Trabajo, winners of the Esade Alumni Women Forward Awards

The Esade Alumni Women Empowerment Club held its 3rd Annual Meeting, reaffirming its commitment to gender parity and equal opportunities in the business world
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The 3rd Annual Meeting of the Esade Alumni Women Empowerment Club became a vibrant forum of commitment to gender equality and attracted more than 400 alumni at Esade Fórum. The peak of the evening was the prestigious Women Forward Awards (WFA) ceremony, an act of recognition that was preceded by an insightful psychology lecture by Isabel Rojas Estapé.

The event was opened by Eugenia Bieto (Lic&MBA 73 / PhD 08), president of the Esade Alumni Women Empowerment Club, who highlighted the strength of the network: “The annual meeting allows us to reaffirm our commitment to equality while weaving and strengthening our network.”

Eugenia Bieto

The president of the club, which now has 2,600 members, focused on the persistent difficulties achieving parity, citing the findings of the recent Esade Gender Monitor (drawn up by the Esade Women Initiative - EWI). The study confirms that women executives still perceive structural and cultural barriers. Bieto warned that “the advances are not permanent; they are fragile and we’re seeing that,” and she stated that except for salary gaps and the lack of knowledge, which are specific difficulties on which action can be taken quickly, micro-inequalities are subtler and more complex issues that require profound cultural changes. The figures brook no doubts: 82% of women executives still believe that men are favored in access to senior positions. “These results are framed in a context in which only around 35% of executive positions in listed companies in Spain are occupied by women (25% in companies not listed), which highlights the long road ahead of us,” Bieto said.

A lesson in emocional intelligence

The main speaker at the meeting was Isabel Rojas Estapé, a psychologist and expert in emotional therapy, who offered the lecture entitled “Women Leaders, Women Executives” on female leadership, emotional wellbeing, and personal development in the professional arena. Rojas Estapé paid tribute to the family role models who shaped her, including the example of her mother as a pioneering woman professional.

 

Isabel Rojas

The psychologist launched a call to balance professional ambition with personal wellbeing and called on both men and women to cultivate emotional intelligence. She underscored the risk of women executives being overly demanding on themselves: “We are dissociating, breaking internally: the head on one side and the heart on the other.” To combat “ultra-perfect woman syndrome” and avoid burnout, her recommendation was clear: “It is essential to recognize yourself emotionally, use emotional intelligence, and develop resilience, communication, and self-care.” She recommended seeking “meaning, not performance” and learning “how to say no without guilt.”

Women Forward Awards

The main event of the evening was the ceremony for the Women Forward Awards (WFA), which recognize individuals and organizations that make a meaningful contribution to gender parity.

 

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Carlota Planas, founder and CEO of Unik Sports Management and former futsal player, received the “Career” Woman Forward Award for her key role in promoting gender equality in sports. The jury highlighted the fact that she has been a “pioneer in bringing visibility and professional representation to women soccer players, breaking down barriers in a traditionally male-dominated sector.” They also appreciated her drive in favor of fairer contracts and decent working conditions for women players, “guaranteeing that they are treated as true professionals.” Her work “transcends the field of sports, since she promotes equity, challenges gender stereotypes, and contributes to a fairer and more inclusive society,” the jury added.

Planas expressed her gratitude and commitment when she received the award and pointed to the impact of her work on the future: “Receiving this award reflects the power and importance that women’s sports are earning in the struggle for women’s visibility in historically male-dominated sectors. Knowing that I have helped more women live their passion is a privilege and a huge impetus to continue working in this direction.”

The Fundación Quiero Trabajo was given the ”Business Contribution to Gender Parity” Woman Forward Award for its “commitment to gender equality and workplace inclusion.” The organization works to empower women in situations of vulnerability through training, support, and tools that help them find a job. “Thanks to their support, thousands of women have gained confidence, autonomy, and a new future outlook. Their impact has transcended the individual sphere and generated a real change towards a more equitable job market,” the jury stated.

Patricia Estany (Lic&MBA 85), founder and president of the Fundación Quiero Trabajo, received the award and shared what drives their work: “This award is very special recognition, and receiving it from the Esade Alumni Women Empowerment Club makes it even more meaningful, since we share the same values and the same mission […] The more than 17,000 women whom the foundation has served over these ten years are the driver and inspiration of our day-to-day work.”

A call to be role models

The meeting concluded with a talk by Patricia Valentí (MBA 02 / Promociona 17), director of Esade Alumni, who encouraged the participants to become role models: “To me, W.E. is us in the broadest sense. I encourage you to be role models; we don’t need to be so humble. Make the most of Esade Alumni as a mouthpiece and tell us your stories.”

After the event, the participants were able to continue networking at a cocktail served in the orchestra foyer.

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