As part of the commemoration of the International Day for Women in Maritime, the “Women Who Lead and Connect” Summit, held in Puerto Chiapas, established itself as a space for reflection, inspiration, and partnership-building aimed at promoting greater female participation in the maritime and logistics industries.

The event, organized by Zaire Shipping México S.A. de C.V. under the leadership of Zaire Osorio Pacheco, the company’s CEO and an associate member of the MAMLa Network, brought together distinguished professionals and industry leaders to share experiences, challenges, and opportunities shaping the present and future of women in maritime activities.

The participation of the MAMLa Network was particularly significant through two of its representatives. Joining virtually, Farash Duarte Polanco, General Coordinator of the Network, delivered the presentation “MAMLa Network: Opportunities and Challenges,” highlighting the organization’s role as a platform for integration, visibility, and professional development for women in the maritime sector across Latin America, as well as the challenges that still remain in achieving greater gender equity within the industry.

Meanwhile, Paula Carolina Pérez Monroy, Coordinator of International Maritime Affairs at the Colombian Maritime Authority and Honorary Member of the MAMLa Network, shared the inspiring presentation “From Being Alone in a Photo to Helping Many Appear in It.” Her remarks provided perspective on the progress women have made in the sector and emphasized the importance of creating opportunities that enable new generations to assume leadership and decision-making roles.

Throughout the event, the speakers agreed on a central message: female leadership extends beyond collaboration, it involves the ability to challenge paradigms, forge new paths, and transform long-established structures. The experiences shared demonstrated that while the journey toward leadership continues to face barriers, resilience, preparation, and the development of support networks are essential tools for driving lasting change.

One of the most significant moments of the summit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a milestone symbolizing the commitment to turning principles of equality and participation into concrete actions. This agreement represents a firm step toward creating real opportunities for women in the maritime and logistics sectors, strengthening cooperation and joint efforts among the participating organizations.

Beyond the keynote presentations and strategic discussion panel, the Summit resulted in the strengthening of professional and personal connections that reinforce the support ecosystem among women leaders across the region. The creation of these partnerships reaffirms that the transformation of the sector is built through collaboration, representation, and shared commitment.