Being woman: from founder to leader: challenge, achievements and future

Despite the progress we have achieved, being a woman in a business and leadership world is still challenging. When we recognize Women’s Day this month, it makes sense to reflect where we are and where we want to go, not only women and experts, but also as agents of change in society, we are still fighting for equality.

In recent years, we are seeing a significant change in the role of women in society, taking more space in the job market, to challenge leadership positions and challenge inequalities. However, it is true that the salary odds, the most limited opportunities for career progress and the cultural expectations of women still continue.

According to data from the National Institute of Statistics, in women in 2022, in almost all ages, the unemployment rate is high, and men still in head positions, 5.4% of men, in women, only 3.1% of women are in leadership positions. Regarding the average monthly profit, the difference between men and women is recognized, men earn an average of 1 389.30 guind, women earn only 1 168.60 guend, looking at 15.9%gap, ie women on average more than men. Earn 220.70.

When all of this happens, the stress on motherhood, as well as the feelings of the guilt that seem to be impossible to reconcile successful professional life and current parenting. And this is not just about the more strong birth incentives, but with the ambiguities that women want to be successful in work, to maintain some personality, to be a wife and daughter, and fail to fail as mothers needed their children. On the one hand, if it is fighting for equality in the labor market, there are also many women who choose to dedicate themselves to the patriarch.

Female

I am unaware of it, but probably not random, at the unusual time, I have come to the world of business and entrepreneurship. I was graduated at a very difficult time when Portugal was going through a large economic and labor crisis and employment in young people was sometimes a difficult goal. Especially in my area, there is no great recognition. I am talking about mental health. I always define myself as a psychologist and I know that “working very hard.” Of course, I worked for several hours and all I could do, to make sure I didn’t have to migrate just like many young people at that time, they did not come from a wealthy family. However, in any conversation of the circumstances that I am an entrepreneur, I will tell me very naturally. I never thought about it and it was still strange today.

Currently, Mental Health, Caterina Lucas Center, runs a guided and unique business in the area of ​​Mental Health with two clinical and open -door centers to the world through digital. My way as a leader and founder in mental health is recognized with challenges, but I have a big passion for what I do. The will to smooth the organization in an area, the soul of the sacrifice, the strategy and the constant ability to adapt. But this requires something that is rich in most women: elasticity and tenderness.

Women, for a long time, have been shaped with the idea of ​​choosing between professional success and family life. Fortunately, this reality is in the transformation. Today, women occupy the leadership places, the entrepreneurship and innovative and constantly challenge the standards of pre -established standards. However, stress, often by himself, at the same time everything is still there and weigh on us.

When struggling for equality, it is important to understand that this freedom is to select us and not play all the characters ideally, because it is practically impossible. The choice is in the freedom of the true female empowerment, without blame or ways. When deciding to invest in a career, there must be freedom to choose from the family or balance both.

What challenges will continue in the professional world?

Despite the way taken, gender inequality remains reality. Some studies show that women are more likely to suffer more of their career progress, often by reserving the company to trust the person who does not have a job to play the role of the mother and therefore less availability or more. Tendically, companies still see the man as “more accessible” to take up some positions. However, this disadvantage of women is also one of its advantages, because it is a unique character, who does not experience this. Sometimes we have to make conscious options and accept that all spheres cannot always balance the same.

In the area where I am saying, where I say, the innovations, the feminine existence of the woman, and the ability of many women and capable of rebuilding beliefs and providing this health care path, will be leaders in the area long ago.

We need to continue walking in many places, not just in the health of the woman’s vision. However, we will not be fooled. It is not enough for women to think that these places belong to us. We have to work, strategy and attention, provide continuous training and support us instead of criticizing, which is also reality in the woman universe. Sometimes it is one of the biggest challenges to break up with other women and there is a need to do it here.

Which future?

In addition to a group of 50 people in 10 years, I am grateful to raise and challenge social meetings, along with an elite group that has a strong presence for females. I can never exercise this leadership without the respect of most women who work with me every day without the respect of most women and men who share me every day. Deeply, it’s not about styles or not. It is about talent, will, elasticity and more things that exist in both men and women. It’s not about gaining benefit because it’s about losing a woman or her. Respecting each person’s limitations, decisions and lives, we must fight for the same opportunities.

Throughout this journey, I realize that being pioneers, taking risk, challenging the rules and often face resistance. Poll around this business area and decides to lead it as a woman, believing that she wants to produce and that mental health has to change in Portugal. I opened my clinics in an innovative pattern of open doors to the street, where clients meet at the reception and the psychologist or psychiatrist no longer appears to be “strange” creatures. We have received and arranged new generations with close cooperation with various higher education institutions and I believe that the mentality of future professionals is changing. When it comes to customers, it is very interesting to see their reactions when they realize that they are “not the only ones”, it is natural to come to the psychologist as “a lot of people come here”. Today, it is no longer and other clinics are no longer open by following this concept. We have been successful and this day reflects this effect in patients we have helped and the group we built.

I am edit the life of this founder with a writer, teacher, wife, wife and a few more things. If it was forced to give up on me other things? Surely yes. It’s not about having everything, it’s about making options. If I already have everything? The actress has what I need at this stage and I will run what I need tomorrow.

I believe the future of women in entrepreneurship is less obstacles and more opportunities. For this, we need to inspire and support other women. If there is anything I have learned, we don’t have to face their own challenges. Creating support and sharing networks is crucial for all of us to grow. And these networks and partnerships go through women and men.

When we celebrate the woman this month, we can celebrate achievements, but not forgetting that there is still a way to go. And with the courage and view of this path, and above all, we deserve where we want to be.

Photos: Unplash