Latin American Diamond and Jewelry Week Highlights Women’s Empowerment

(IDEX Online News) – The recently concluded Second Latin American Diamond and Jewelry Week hosted a seminar about the empowerment of women in Latin America’s jewelry, diamond and gemstone sector.

Around 50 women, all owners of important brands in their home countries, participated in the round-table discussion. The women came from across Latin and South America, as well as Turkey, Romania and Italy. Senior vice president of the World Jewelry Hub and the World Jewelry and Diamond Hub, Panama, Ali Pastorini, and diamond bourse vice president Judy Meana moderated the session.

"We work in a business where the primary end-consumers are women," said Pastorini. "Does it not make sense that we should have more women in key positions? Would that not make the business stronger?"

The meeting covered a wide range of topics, all converging on the theme of elevating the role and influence of women in the various sectors that comprise the jewelry and gemstone industry in Latin America. There was agreement that future similar meetings should be held in the future, as well as monitoring progress, strategy planning and discussion of specific programs. More generally, there was also agreement that an emphasis should be placed on integrity and transparency in business.

Pastorini referenced human resource consultant, Mercer’s report, which highlighted that only 17 percent of Latin American executives are women. However, the report also mentioned that there is great fluidity in the continent’s boardrooms and on current predictions is likely to approach gender equality by 2025.