Women Are Gaining Ground in Senior Leadership: A Growing Phenomenon in Mexico

In Mexico, a compelling data point has entered the national business conversation: 38.9% of senior leadership positions are now held by women, according to Grant Thornton‘s “Women in Business 2025” report. Yet for all this meaningful progress, only 21% of those women occupy the CEO role. The gap becomes all the more significant in the context of International Women’s Day — a moment that demands recognition of the profound impact women have on the national economy, and of the urgent need for more female talent to assume positions at the very top.

Including more women in the economy is not simply a matter of equity. The Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO) argues that doing so could add 6.9 trillion pesos to the country’s GDP over the next decade. That figure underscores the strategic imperative of fostering female leadership across the corporate sector — and Mexico’s leading companies are beginning to act accordingly.

The country’s business landscape counts a growing number of women leaders who are shattering glass ceilings at the highest levels. Among them is Silvia Dávila, CEO of Danone Mexico. With more than two decades of experience in marketing and a distinguished academic record, Dávila has led significant transformations at the company, with a particular focus on consumer loyalty and corporate social responsibility. Her trajectory is not only an inspiration — it is a testament to the capacity of women to lead major corporations in Mexico.

Success Stories That Inspire: Women Redefining Corporate Leadership

Another notable figure is Maribel Dos Santos, CEO of Oracle Mexico. With a career that began in Venezuela, Dos Santos has been at the forefront of her company’s cloud transformation. Since 2018, she has elevated Oracle to new heights in the Mexican market — demonstrating that female talent can be equally pioneering in the arena of technological innovation. Her story is a compelling case for what committed leadership can achieve.

Similarly, Deborah Armstrong, CEO of L’Oréal Mexico, has been reshaping the beauty industry through her leadership since 2020. An international career spanning France, Italy, and Spain has equipped her with a rare cross-cultural perspective that has measurably benefited the company. Armstrong is a consistent champion of diversity and inclusion — reaffirming the pivotal role women play in the corporate world.

On the industrial front, Fernanda Guarro, CEO of 3M Mexico, is a genuine pioneer. The first Mexican woman to lead the company, Guarro has championed technological development, diversity, and sustainability within the organization since 2021 — proving that in sectors once considered resistant to change, women are now setting the standard.

Equally noteworthy is Mónica Aspe Bernal, who in March 2021 became the first woman to lead AT&T Mexico. With more than fifteen years of experience in telecommunications and a distinguished record in government, Aspe is actively creating opportunities and building an environment where female talent can thrive in the industry.

Finally, Mildred Villegas, who assumed the role of CEO of Unilever Mexico in December 2024, embodies a broader paradigm shift in Mexican corporate leadership. After a twenty-six-year career at the company, her ascent speaks to the enduring value of experience, continuity, and deep institutional knowledge in the pursuit of lasting success.

Women are claiming an increasingly prominent place at the top of Mexico’s corporate hierarchy. Challenges remain — but the stories emerging from the executive suite tell a story of momentum that is, at this point, undeniable.