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ILGO 2024 Course concludes with broad participation of women leaders of business associations
Tracking the transformation chain of timber logs from their departure from the forest until they reach an industry, workshop, or supply yard.
The Latin American Institute for the Management of Business Organizations (ILGO) held its 39th edition and for the first time in its history, the majority of participants were women.
San José, Costa Rica (ILO News). The ILGO course, organized by the Department of Employers’ Activities (Actemp) of the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the International Organization of Employers (IOE), was held for the second consecutive year in hybrid mode.
The classroom phase was held on the campus of INCAE Business School, the program’s academic partner, from August 11 to 17, where 44 representatives of Latin American business organizations were trained in the latest management trends to improve their skills and strengthen their position in the organized private sector. This face-to-face phase complemented the previous online phase carried out from August 15 to 26 by the ILO’s International Training Center in Turin, which addressed the topics of membership, development of services and financial sustainability of business representative organizations.
With the INCAE Business School, topics such as the challenges of the international context and sustainable development for business organizations and in particular with respect to the defense and promotion of democracy, as well as modern aspects such as “Business Intelligence” and “Design thinking” were developed. In addition, central aspects such as political analysis, negotiation and strategic communication of these organizations were addressed.
Lina Siniestra, Manager of the National Association of Entrepreneurs of Colombia (ANDI), Valle del Cauca Branch, summarizes the value of these lessons for her work: “A variety of topics that undoubtedly strengthen my abilities to continue contributing to my region with strategy and method as manager of the ANDI in Valle del Cauca. I shared with colleagues from Latin America and we exchanged experiences and success stories.”
The connection and consolidation of professional contacts among participants has been one of the main historical attractions of the program, thanks to team building and leadership activities through workshops, case studies in groups, as well as interaction throughout the stay.
Growth in female participation
Of the 44 people who completed the course, 31 women participated, representing 70% of the total. This is the first time in the history of ILGO that there is more female than male participation, thanks to an effort on the part of Actemp to increase this participation and thus promote greater leadership among women.
Marta Benavides, Technical and Administrative Services Director of the Honduran Maquila Association (AHM), shares that this is her second time in the program and that the increase in women’s participation was very visible. “I took ILGO 10 years ago and at that time it was mostly men and very few women. That indicates that we are growing and we are getting more and more into leadership positions that we were not able to participate in before.”
The ILGO is held annually and nominations are received at the beginning of the respective year, so its business organizations are invited to apply for the 2025 edition, in celebration of its 40th anniversary.
About us
Ecotopia Teak, S.A., we are a family-owned company dedicated to reforestation, harvesting, and exporting wood from commercial plantations. We work under high production standards and with social responsibility to obtain high-quality wood according to the needs and demands of national and international markets. Additionally, we actively contribute to the local economy by creating employment opportunities in the communities where we operate. Our commitment is to lead the industry in sustainable reforestation and wood production, preserving our natural resources and building a greener and more sustainable future.
