Regional Forum Addresses Challenges for Women in Business
The first Territorial Congress of Women in Business of Catalonia convened in Anoia on 2 October 2026, bringing together entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals from diverse economic sectors. Organised by Foment del Treball’s Territorial Council of Women in Business, in collaboration with the Unió Empresarial de l’Anoia (UEA) and its women’s initiative UEA Inquieta, the event aimed to identify key regional challenges and build a common agenda for advancing female leadership. Participants highlighted infrastructure and mobility, talent retention, work-life balance, training, and the need for greater visibility of women’s professional achievements as critical issues affecting business development in the region. A recurring theme was the importance of increasing women’s access to decision-making and leadership roles within companies.
Strengthening Networks Across Catalonia
The congress forms part of a broader initiative that will visit 14 Catalan territories between September 2026 and June 2027. The goal is to gather insights from women entrepreneurs across the region, identify shared challenges, and define joint action lines. The process will conclude with a final congress at Foment del Treball, where findings from the territorial tour will be presented. In Anoia, discussions underscored the need for improved public transport connections to support both business competitiveness and work-life balance. Participants also stressed the importance of aligning vocational training with business needs, promoting technical and scientific careers among young people, and enhancing the visibility of female role models in male-dominated sectors.
We don’t have a talent problem, we have a problem in making full use of talent,
said Mar Alarcón, vice-president of Foment del Treball, echoing concerns raised during the event.
Mentorship and Shared Leadership Emphasised
Attendees called for mentorship programmes, networks of female role models, and professional support spaces to foster women’s career growth. The meeting also advocated for co-leadership models, shared responsibility, and collaboration between businesses, educational institutions, and public administrations. The event coincided with the tenth anniversary of UEA Inquieta, the UEA’s commission dedicated to promoting female talent and leadership in business. Its success is now being expanded across Catalonia through the Territorial Council of Women in Business, with the aim of sharing knowledge and broadening networks.
The gathering concluded with a shared message: female talent is present across all sectors and regions, and the challenge lies in creating more opportunities, visibility, and platforms for participation to drive economic development in Catalonia.
Reported by foment.com, uea.cat, CatalunyaPress.es, diaridetarragona.com, imaginaradio.cat, eixdiari.cat, ercros.com, nuno vide, infoanoia.cat, Foment del Treball.
