The fourth edition of Ciència i Emprenedoria en Femení inspires with real stories of female success
On the morning of 24 October, the UAB Theatre Hall was filled with talented women eager to recognise their achievements, strengthen ties, forge new bonds and engage in conversation to create role models and new opportunities.
‘I would very much like to say that these acts should not exist,’ announced Rosa Maria Sebastián, Vice-Chancellor for Innovation, Transfer and Entrepreneurship, emphatically, ‘but unfortunately, inequality between men and women is still a reality.’ With these words, she kicked off the fourth edition of Ciència i Emprenedoria en Femení (Science and Entrepreneurship for Women). Although many steps have been taken towards equality, we are not there yet. The numbers do not lie; for example, at the last plenary session of the Consell Català de l'Empresa (Catalan Business Council), there were only four women out of more than forty attendees.
The conference was led by Clara Llensa, director of Institutional Relations and Communication at COAC, consultant and trainer. She also reminded us that women represent only 33% of research staff, only 20% of university chairs are held by women and 35% of the boards of directors of all Ibex35 companies.
David, Goliath, and Impostor Syndrome
Meritxell Bautista, executive chairwoman of MANIX Capital, CEO of Xarxalia, founder of Fibracat and co-founder of Ikonikas, was the star of the first part; an inspiring talk in which, despite acknowledging all the shortcomings of the system, she sought to turn the negative into positive. Women become Davids facing the fearsome Goliath: the system that has made it so difficult to get ahead.
Bautista emphasised the desire to end Impostor Syndrome and the need to become role models for all those who will come after us. ‘Statistics show that when women arrive, we succeed.’ Everyone understands success differently, but the most important thing, she explained, is to understand what success is not for us.
Beyond university: inspiring stories
The second part of the day consisted of a round table discussion entitled ‘Beyond university: inspiring stories’, moderated by Clara Llensa and attended by five women who are leaders in their respective fields: Marta Padilla, former director of technology at Holaluz and Allianz Tech; Elisa Rodríguez, head of R&D at InBrain Neuroelectronics; Agnès Arbat, founder and CEO of Oxolife, winner of the European Commission's 2025 Innovative Woman Award; Txell Costa, founder of Txell Costa Group® and Costa Strategic Partners; and Marta Portalés, head of European Projects at Mobile World Capital Barcelona.
In addition to their own experiences and professional careers, the participants wanted to share their concerns and worries about the current system, as well as their certainties and hopes.
Some of the most notable statements from the round table revolved around the importance of female leaders supporting other women (Marta Padilla); believing in your type of leadership, achieving your goals and evolving roles towards new models (Elisa Rodríguez); the evolution of roles with generational changes, as well as believing in the expertise of previous generations (Marta Portalés); finding the time to follow your path, always with enthusiasm (Agnès Arbat); the importance of setting limits, both for ourselves and for those around us (Txell Costa).
Closing of Innovation Week
The closing ceremony of Ciència i Emprenedoria en Femení also marked the end of the Third Innovation Week, which began with the Innovation Fair on Tuesday, 21 October.
Yolanda Ferrer, secretary of Feminisms within the Department of Equality and Feminism, asserted that ‘the personal is political’ and warned that ‘if women are not involved, our potential is not being exploited.’ She stressed that ‘a society that does not mobilise 100% of its talent misses opportunities’ and that ‘it is not just a question of putting more women in place, but of transforming structures’.
Finally, the rector of the UAB, Javier Lafuente, called for ‘guaranteeing equal opportunities’ and argued that ‘science and entrepreneurship are done just as well or better by women’. He stressed that ‘it is not yet time to do away with quotas’ because ‘quotas are necessary when the system does not work’ and called for further progress in academic careers so that ‘there are more female professors’.
