CaixaBank has partnered with the international organisation Vital Voices, to create a virtual mentoring platform with a view to helping women entrepreneurs and founders of SMEs and start-ups across Europe.
The collaboration with Vital Voices, whose mission is to support and invest in women leaders around the world, comes as many struggle to deal with the obstacles of the COVID-19 crisis.
Anna Quirós, corporate director of Work Relations, Culture and Development of CaixaBank commented: “As a company we are committed to diversity, and this is why we promote initiatives that contribute to improving equal opportunities, meritocracy and talent regardless of gender.
“One of the most powerful actions to promote the presence of women in executive positions is mentoring, which has extraordinary benefits: it establishes productive relationships, helps to build contact networks and facilitates personal and professional development. With virtual mentoring this is no longer a major challenge, as we can combine it with our complex lives at the time and place that suits us best.”
For Sagra Maceira de Rosen, board member of Vital Voices also detailed: “Mentoring the next generation of women leaders is at the heart of the mission of Vital Voices.
“This is even more significant now, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, as many women are being particularly affected. We are delighted and grateful, once again, to be joining forces with CaixaBank to launch this virtual mentoring initiative.”
The news continues the considerable diversity efforts of CaixaBank, which has its own diversity programme, Wengage,, which works to promote and achieve gender, functional and generational diversity.
Wengage includes internal measures to foster flexibility and work-life balance, training and female mentoring plans, through which female managers will guide other professionals in developing their careers.
Executives from large companies have already confirmed their collaboration, including Guy Hands, chairman of the British private equity firm Terra Firma; Paolo Riva, former CEO of fashion brands Diane Von Furstenberg and Victoria Beckham; plus Nina Pustilnik, investor in companies with a social impact.
Moreover, Marty Wikstrom, founding partner of Atelier Fund, specialising in the acquisition and development of luxury brands; US businesswoman Rose Marie Bravo, who has held leadership positions in various major fashion companies; Sagra Maceira de Rosen, board member of Vital Voices, and Anna Quirós, corporate director of Work Relations, Culture and Development of CaixaBank, among others have also announced their collaboration.
