The goal is to recognize women and companies that foster and inspire the formation of new leaders
Photo: Ulisses Matandos/CEBDS Disclosure
The companies and executives who won the 6th edition of the CEBDS Women's Leadership Award, which recognizes women, companies and initiatives that contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), were announced this afternoon (18). The award prioritizes SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030. The announcement was made during the International Congress for Sustainable Development, held at the São Paulo Museum of Art (Masp) by CEBDS (Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development).
The Award had two categories: Associated Companies, which recognized the work of two executives, within companies that are part of the CEBDS member list, for their initiatives to advance the SDGs, and the Women on the Board category, which awarded two advanced associated companies in having a group of women occupying an internal Board of the company.
The winners of the first category were Marilene Ramos, director of sustainability and institutional relations at Grupo Águas do Brasil, and Tarciana Medeiros, CEO of Banco do Brasil. A civil engineer with a doctorate from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Marilene's career has focused on work related to the environment and sustainability. She has held positions such as president of Inea and Ibama, was secretary of the Environment for the State of Rio de Janeiro and director of BNDES. She is currently also director of sustainability and institutional relations at the group she works for and president of the board of directors of Rio+Saneamento.
Before joining Banco do Brasil in 2000, Tarciana was a market vendor and teacher. Throughout her career, she has held several management positions, culminating in her appointment as the bank's first female CEO in January of this year. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, with postgraduate degrees in Administration, Business, Marketing, Leadership and Innovation, in addition to an MBA in BI and Analytics and training in senior executive management. The Paraíba native is also a member of the boards of directors of BB, Brasilprev Seguros e Previdência and Elo Participações.
The companies that won awards in the Women on the Board category were Banco do Brasil and Grupo Boticário. A year ago, before Tarciana took over as president of Banco do Brasil, female representation on the board of directors was only 11%, with one woman among eight men. Currently, on the board of directors, 38% of the members are women, with three women and five men holding positions. Furthermore, on the board of directors, gender equality is even more notable, with 50% of women, totaling four women and four men. Several inclusion initiatives were also created, such as the advisory board for diversity, equity and inclusion and a team dedicated to diversity. The bank also launched the Female Leadership Program to empower internal leaders.
The Boticário Group currently has 30% women on its advisory board, 41.5% on the board of directors and 50.8% in general leadership positions, including management. A year ago, there were 35.7% women on the board of directors and 49.2% in leadership positions. To promote the inclusion of women in leadership positions in the group, the following initiatives stand out: training, hiring focused on diversity and the implementation of a mandatory universal parental leave of 120 days for all employees, including men, same-sex couples and parents of non-consanguineous children, as well as pregnant and non-pregnant women who already have longer leaves. These actions reflect the company's commitment to diversity, inclusion and gender equity in its ecosystem, positively influencing society in relation to issues of parenthood and responsibility in caring for the family.
About CEBDS
The Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS) is a non-profit civil association that promotes sustainable development through partnerships with governments and civil society, in addition to disseminating the most current concepts and practices on the subject. Founded in 1997, it brings together more than 110 of the largest business groups in the country, whose revenues total approximately 50% of Brazil's GDP and generate 1.1 million jobs. It represents the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) network in Brazil, which has almost 60 national and regional councils in 36 countries and 22 industrial sectors, in addition to 200 business groups operating on all continents.
