Female leadership was once again the main focus at the Círculo Ecuestre, which has once again positioned itself as a leading meeting point for forward-thinking business thinking and action. Moderated by Maria Masó, partner at Worldera Tech and member of the Círculo, the club hosted a colloquium that brought together three influential voices from the current scene: Elena Fort, institutional vice president of FC Barcelona; Arantxa Calvera, director of the Catalan Tourism Agency; and Ana Díez de la Fuente, global director of technology centers for the Zurich Group and CEO of Servizurich.




From their diverse backgrounds, the speakers agreed on a common premise: the need to make visible, enhance, and consolidate the role of women in leadership positions, especially in traditionally male-dominated sectors.

"I've learned to control the balance, and there's no need to be perfect," Ana Díez confessed. "We must strengthen ourselves among women to empower ourselves and understand each other better." Her speech was a tribute to the value of authenticity: "We must be brave and believe in every decision we make."

One of the most discussed topics was the so-called "imposter syndrome," a reality that many leaders admit to having experienced, including in senior management positions. "In the world of football, we must learn to overcome imposter syndrome so that things can change," stated Elena Fort. Arantxa Calvera, for her part, was emphatic in sharing her personal experience: "I came to think I didn't deserve to be in the ranking," she mentioned, referring to her recent inclusion on the Forbes Women 2025 List. "I still struggle with imposter syndrome today," she asserted. However, her speech was also one of hope: "An army of women has paved the way as role models."

The conversation moved on to the transformative role of institutions. “Institutions are making women leaders visible within the public sphere,” Calvera noted, highlighting the collaborative work with the Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan government) to break down structural barriers. She also underscored the value of emotional intelligence in female leadership: “team management, empathy, and a global vision.”

Along these lines, Elena Fort shared her own evolution: “I've learned to be tougher, but I've never stopped being empathetic,” she confessed. From her political position at FC Barcelona, she emphasized the importance of women holding positions of top responsibility: “A woman can be in charge of Barça, and my goal is to pave the way for future generations of women to know that a woman can be at the forefront of one of the most important sports institutions in the world.”

Key challenges such as attracting and retaining talent were also addressed. Ana Díez revealed that Zurich recruits more than 200 technology and cybersecurity professionals annually. Her formula for making an impact: “Be genuine and be consistent and coherent with what you say.” She also emphasized that actively listening to teams—on issues such as flexibility and working conditions—has been crucial in improving productivity.

Regarding the role of men in achieving equality, Calvera was clear: “Equality is only achieved with the presence of men.” An idea echoed by Fort, who pointed out that parity will become a reality when women routinely occupy senior positions currently still dominated by men.

In terms of innovation, there has also been progress. The Barça Innovation Hub promotes projects promoting inclusion and digitalization with a gender perspective, and Zurich promotes programs to bring technology to young students, fostering female vocations in key areas.

Looking to the future, Elena Fort was emphatic: “We must educate our children that men and women are equal.” And she concluded with a powerful image: "I'm proud that a child wears a Barça Women's jersey or boot, like Alexia Putellas."

For her part, Arantxa Calvera highlighted the need to advance work-life balance policies that promote female entrepreneurship, especially among mothers.

The colloquium concluded in a relaxed networking atmosphere, where attendees and speakers shared impressions, ideas, and goals to continue promoting more inclusive, diverse, and transformative leadership from all spheres of society.