Help Others to Break Glass Ceilings

Entrepreneur María Eva González touches the shoulders of women who are in privileged positions to get their attention: “We must not forget what it took them to get there, there are others on the road who need a push, to look them in the eye, listen, ask them what's wrong, stop being invisible. Those who are beaten, physically, mentally, and emotionally violated are right around your house, not on another continent. If we leave the misery of spirit, we will all be better people.”

Women, says María Eva González, must deepen their knowledge of gender equality, independence does not come alone, it is necessary to take courses, prepare, learn to communicate, work collectively: “Many make the mistake of wanting to be the unicorn, those who arrive in privileged spaces forget those who come behind need a few help and that is a big mistake. Being a leader is trying to make visible those who find it difficult to reach, those who most need support.”

This inspiring woman and accomplice of the positive change that so many of her peers have achieved in their professional and personal lives, does not keep metrics but the women she has assisted call her, write to her, share with her their good and bad moments. She has managed to get many to raise their eyes from the ground, to understand that they must fight for their lives: “I don't keep metrics, I bring joy, I help, I write my experiences on my blog and I assist whoever needs it. I connect with women from Spain, Paraguay and Miami but I want to go further.”

Women for Industry

From Emprender en Positivo, her own project, María Eva González joined Mujeres por la Industria, invited by her entrepreneurial experience, an initiative endorsed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), whose work is developed in three axes: “The first is ensure that all companies have women in the workforce; the second has to do with the inclusion of women providers in both private and public organizations, in all productive spaces, and for that it is necessary to train them, to learn corporate dynamics, not to be afraid to apply; thirdly, we want women who are in productive positions to be able to access management and decision scenarios.” To achieve these purposes, María Eva works, communicates, informs, answers questions, guides, obtains financing, and tirelessly trains.

Also read: THESE WOMEN ACHIEVED THE GREATEST RICHES BY THEMSELVES

Women must believe in themselves, all can if they want. Do you have to make sacrifices? Yes! But “sometimes sacrifices mean taking time away from our families. The pandemic has taught us that we can work from home. We don't have to confront the men, they show rudeness because they have always had to hold their positions, homes, status, but they need us to team up. I trust that many of them understand that we do not have to confront, we can do things together, we are peers, we have different but complementary conditions.”

María Eva González was born in Pilar, Argentina, who at 15 years old did not have a party dress in mind but directed her efforts to think about how to survive: “The owner of the house where I worked was pregnant. I helped her, took care of her children and was forced to manage her jewelry business ”.

She discovered a world where her role changed, she could be a manager, resolve issues, undertake. Her life put her where she needed to be. She was barely a child but, fortunately, she got the message: "I held on to the hand of opportunity, there was more than cleaning houses and taking care of children."

At 16 years old, with a baby in her arms and with no other company than her own impetus, she decided to go out and write the pages of her own life blog.

Writing Her Story

She worked with several multinational companies to which she, coincidentally, she entered with the position of receptionist but, thanks to her drive, desire and attitude, she was promoted to the finance departments: "I loved learning!"

"I am happy, in any scenario, I cry but I wipe my tears quickly, I move away from the chair, I move." Her own business ran into her at a meeting of secretaries, she founded an NGO in 2000 when she understood that women needed job guidance, spaces to perform, know how to access positions of power: “I became a consultant for human resources to support women entrepreneurs." When Kellogs, the company where she worked, closed doors in Argentina, she was 8 months pregnant. How could I lose my job? She charged for the job search service, listened to those who consulted her, supported them, advised them.

Emancipated

Listening to her fellow men, noting that many of them love each other little and live locked behind self-imposed barriers made her accelerate her engines towards the search for more spaces for emancipation. “While employed in the Chamber of Commerce of Pilar – her homeland – I realized that there were no women there. I put together a commission to change that. I was a connector and articulator. My purposes have always been collective.”