Video: Making the Difference in the Region - Women's Economic Empowerment in Brazil

Speakers

• Jaime Ardila, President, General Motors South America
• Andrea Grobocopatel, President, Fundación por Liderazgo y Organizaciones Responsables (FLOR) and Vice President, Grupo Los Grobo
• Donna Hrinak, President, Boeing Brazil
• Susan Segal, President & CEO, Americas Society/Council of the Americas (Moderator)

While participating in AS/COA's first Women's Hemispheric Network event in São Paulo on March 19, experienced leaders in the private sector discussed the importance of bringing women forward into leadership positions. Jaime Ardila, president of General Motors in South America, talked about what it is like to work for GM's CEO Mary Barra, whom he called an "exceptional leader." He said, in his experience, women tend to bring high levels of honesty and integrity, great command detail, team work and interpersonal skills, the ability to listen before acting (which he called was one of the greatest qualities of leadership), and sound decision-making skills. "Men sometimes have the idea that women have all these skills but when it comes to making decisions, they're not capable. But in Mary's case, some of the most difficult decisions that took place in my career, including firing a few people very close to her, were made."

Panelists also shared their experiences in balancing work and personal goals, the subtleties of prejudice against women in the private sector today, and how quotas can play out against women at the top sometimes.

Get to know AS/COA Women's Hemispheric Network and join the group on LinkedIn.