IPN promotes debate on gender equality, diversity and well-being to mark International Women's Day
General
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Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN) marked International Women's Day with an event that promoted reflection on key issues such as gender equality, diversity and well-being in the workplace. The initiative, held on 10 March, brought together experts from various fields to debate the challenges and opportunities in building more inclusive environments.
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The session opened with a current overview of gender equality and diversity, setting the scene for a panel debate on ‘Entrepreneurship, Technology and Diversity’, featuring Teresa Mendes, Professor Emeritus at the University of Coimbra, and Maria Manuel Leitão Marques, Economist and former Member of the European Parliament, moderated by Jorge Pimenta, IPN's Director of Innovation.
During the discussion, topics such as the low representation of women in entrepreneurship and technology, the need to strengthen the role of women in leadership positions and the cultural and structural challenges that hinder gender equality in these sectors were addressed. Maria Manuel Leitão Marques emphasised that, despite progress, historical and structural inequalities persist, reinforcing the importance of measures such as promoting quotas and encouraging female participation in decision-making spaces. Teresa Mendes highlighted the need to give visibility to women entrepreneurs and create a more favourable ecosystem for their growth.
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Two talks followed: Rita Mendes, Senior People Specialist at Present Technologies, addressed the impact of diversity and inclusion on team performance, highlighting that diverse companies can achieve 25 per cent higher profitability and reduce turnover by 50 per cent by promoting inclusive cultures. Rita highlighted effective practices to promote inclusion, such as bias-free recruitment policies, mentoring programmes and pay equity. Telma Margarida Alves, a researcher in Organisational and Work Psychology at the University of Coimbra, highlighted the importance of well-being and mental health in the workplace, presenting the WinWORK project. This project aims to create healthier and more sustainable work environments by promoting stress prevention strategies and good ergonomic and mindfulness practices. ‘Having psychological health doesn't mean the absence of challenges, but rather developing strategies to deal with them,’ said Telma.
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The event ended with a moment of debate and networking, during which participants were able to exchange experiences and discuss solutions for promoting gender equality in the professional environment.
IPN's commitment to gender equality
IPN has reinforced its commitment to gender equality and diversity by highlighting some of its initiatives in this area. Since 2021, the IPN's Gender Equality Working Group has been carrying out awareness-raising, training and data monitoring activities, as well as implementing the Gender Equality Plan, which is updated every three years. Initiatives include promoting the reconciliation of professional and personal life, reviewing the salary and career progression policy, and adopting a Code of Good Conduct for Preventing and Combating Harassment at Work. IPN will continue to promote actions that encourage equity, inclusion and diversity, recognising that only through collective efforts will it be possible to build a fairer working environment.
Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN) marked International Women's Day with an event that promoted reflection on key issues such as gender equality, diversity and well-being in the workplace. The initiative, held on 10 March, brought together experts from various fields to debate the challenges and opportunities in building more inclusive environments.
The session opened with a current overview of gender equality and diversity, setting the scene for a panel debate on ‘Entrepreneurship, Technology and Diversity’, featuring Teresa Mendes, Professor Emeritus at the University of Coimbra, and Maria Manuel Leitão Marques, Economist and former Member of the European Parliament, moderated by Jorge Pimenta, IPN's Director of Innovation.
During the discussion, topics such as the low representation of women in entrepreneurship and technology, the need to strengthen the role of women in leadership positions and the cultural and structural challenges that hinder gender equality in these sectors were addressed. Maria Manuel Leitão Marques emphasised that, despite progress, historical and structural inequalities persist, reinforcing the importance of measures such as promoting quotas and encouraging female participation in decision-making spaces. Teresa Mendes highlighted the need to give visibility to women entrepreneurs and create a more favourable ecosystem for their growth.
Two talks followed: Rita Mendes, Senior People Specialist at Present Technologies, addressed the impact of diversity and inclusion on team performance, highlighting that diverse companies can achieve 25 per cent higher profitability and reduce turnover by 50 per cent by promoting inclusive cultures. Rita highlighted effective practices to promote inclusion, such as bias-free recruitment policies, mentoring programmes and pay equity. Telma Margarida Alves, a researcher in Organisational and Work Psychology at the University of Coimbra, highlighted the importance of well-being and mental health in the workplace, presenting the WinWORK project. This project aims to create healthier and more sustainable work environments by promoting stress prevention strategies and good ergonomic and mindfulness practices. ‘Having psychological health doesn't mean the absence of challenges, but rather developing strategies to deal with them,’ said Telma.
The event ended with a moment of debate and networking, during which participants were able to exchange experiences and discuss solutions for promoting gender equality in the professional environment.
IPN's commitment to gender equality
IPN has reinforced its commitment to gender equality and diversity by highlighting some of its initiatives in this area. Since 2021, the IPN's Gender Equality Working Group has been carrying out awareness-raising, training and data monitoring activities, as well as implementing the Gender Equality Plan, which is updated every three years. Initiatives include promoting the reconciliation of professional and personal life, reviewing the salary and career progression policy, and adopting a Code of Good Conduct for Preventing and Combating Harassment at Work. IPN will continue to promote actions that encourage equity, inclusion and diversity, recognising that only through collective efforts will it be possible to build a fairer working environment.
