By | Erika Vargas
Director of community relations, UPS Foundation.
In the vibrant month of March, when the world celebrates International Women’s Day, we dive into an exciting journey to reflect upon the achievements made and the challenges that women still face throughout the planet. At UPS Latin America, we are proud to share our history of commitment and action, where each step we take reflects our unwavering resolve to close the gap and act as a catalyst for female progress in all latitudes.
Let us imagine a world where the entrepreneurial spirit flourishes without limits, where every woman, regardless of social or geographical context, can forge her own destiny. We recognize that this dream is a reality for many, but it is also a distant reality for others, especially for women in rural or disadvantaged communities, where access to enterprise and global connections remains an unavoidable challenge. It is here that our alliance with Pro Mujer becomes a beacon of hope and opportunity.
Together, we have paved the way to empowerment through a series of four logistical short-form communications under the inspiring motto of “women helping women”. With pioneers such as Rosalva Rivera, Edith Prado, Adriana Romo and Erika Ceciliano, among other UPSers, as our guides, we are defying the limits of a field traditionally dominated by men, paving the way for women to reach success.
Our collaboration has strengthened the personal and entrepreneurial abilities of over 500 businesswomen in Latin America, while, at the same time, we have fostered inclusive gender-lens investment.
Social responsibility is at the heart of our company philosophy. This is why at the UPS Foundation we have decided to increase our donation this year to 149,000 dollars, allocated for supporting the digital training platform Emprende Pro Mujer. This innovative program seeks to provide over 800 Mexican and Latin American women with the knowledge, mentorship and networks necessary to drive their projects and their dreams.
From an operative perspective, we have expanded our air freight capacities for exports from Querétaro and Monterrey, opening new horizons for Mexican women to ship their products worldwide. We invite all women from anywhere in Mexico to imagine loading one of these planes with a small piece of Mexico to share with the world!
But beyond logistics, at UPS, we believe in the transformative power of education and financial backing. With programs such as Mujeres Exportadoras, we have trained over 107,994 women small business owners in the region, giving them the essential tools for succeeding in the global economy.
Within our own ranks, we push for gender equality and female empowerment. 46% of our executive board is composed of women, which is much higher than the average of other Fortune 500 companies. In Mexico, several high-ranking positions are occupied by talented and dedicated women, proving that leadership knows no gender.
Our CEO, Carol B. Tomé, embodies female leadership at a global level. Her vision and dedication are a beacon of inspiration for women in all latitudes, proving that there are no limits for what a woman can achieve.
At UPS Mexico and Latin America, we are committed to continue driving forward female empowerment and equal opportunity. We believe, we dream, and we work actively to create a world where every woman may reach her full potential, where today’s dreams become tomorrow’s reality. Together, we are forging a more inclusive and equal future for all.
Join us in this journey to a tomorrow full of infinite possibilities. The future is female, and, together, we are building it!
