5 JULY2025W MAN LEADERGLOBAL Editor NoteClosing Gender Gap in Workforce could Boost Economic Growth in Guatemala Women form nearly half of the world's population, yet remain at a disadvantaged position in most aspects of life. Be it opportunities to study, work and grow or having access to healthcare, nutrition and leisure time, women receive the short end of the stick is every aspect.While some regions of the world have made significant progress in empowering its womenfolk, others however are still lacking. The Central American nation of Guatemala is one that continues to face major gender inequality. Women in Guatemala face disadvantages in terms of accessing education, employment, healthcare etc. women in the nation are also underrepresented in political sphere, business world and leadership roles. Guatemala is currently encountering a significant gender gap in the labour participation which in turn has hampered the country's economic progress to a great degree. It's obvious, when more people participate in the labour force, the greater the country's economic output. Guatemala stands to benefit close to 30 percent of its GDP if the gender gap in labor participation is fixed. The fight for women's empowerment begins with making young girls believe that they can overcome all odds and achieve their dreams. Role models who have already lives similar lives play a significant role in making others believe that they too can achieve their goals, no matter how lofty they may sound.The current edition of GWL magazine intends to shine the spotlight on women leaders from Guatemala, who have achieved professional success irrespective of the odds that were stacked against them. One such name is Ana Lucía Paiz, the Founder & CEO of The Real Scrum, a boutique Agile consultancy transforming how organizations work across Latin America. She is Guatemala's first Registered Scrum Trainer and Scrum@Scale Trainer, personally trained by Scrum co- creator Jeff Sutherland. With a background in Industrial Engineering and a Master's in Personality Profiling, Negotiation, and Mediation, Ana combines systems thinking with emotional insight to guide meaningful change. Ana is part of a new generation of leaders using Agile, AI, and empathy to build the future of work.In this month's magazine edition also read an interview featuring Ivanova María Ancheta Alvarado, a distinguished lawyer and notary, managing partner at Aguilar & Ancheta Legal Boutique. With expertise in energy law and regulatory frameworks, she has held leadership roles in Guatemala's National Energy Commission and the Ministry of Energy and Mines, promoting sustainable development and legal reforms.These women are harbingers of change in Guatemala's business landscape and serve as inspiring role models.Read on and do let us know your thoughts. Rachita SharmaManaging Editor
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