The Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA), one of ASCAME’s strategic partners, actively contributes to the empowerment of women in business throughout the Mediterranean region. As Professor Rym Ayadi, President and Founder of EMEA, says in the following interview, “investing in brain health and skills is pivotal for sustainable economic development and gender equality”. In this regard, this association and Brain Capital Alliance have been instrumental in promoting the concept of Brain Capital to empower women in business across the Mediterranean. By integrating Brain Capital into economic and social policies, both institutions aim to enhance women’s participation and leadership in the business and public sectors. As Ms. Ayadi explains in the interview, “The future of the Mediterranean depends on how effectively we integrate women’s Brain Capital into business and policy frameworks”.
In your opinion, what are the main inequalities affecting Mediterranean women in the business sector?
Women in the business sector in the Mediterranean region face persistent structural inequalities, including limited access to leadership roles due to gender biases in hiring and promotion, unequal pay for the same roles and responsibilities, challenges in securing financing for entrepreneurship, and the burden of unpaid care work -limiting time and resources for professional development-. We have outlined these challenges in many of our papers and research but, unfortunately, more and more is said and less and less is done. Based on our research, a key solution lies in investing in Brain Capital for women, which includes lifelong learning and upskilling to ensure women are equipped for leadership roles, policies that promote cognitive and mental well-being -helping women navigate workplace stress and burnout particularly considering that women role as care givers-, and AI and digital tools that facilitate work-life balance and remote work opportunities, increasing women’s participation in the labor market. The future of the Mediterranean depends on how effectively we integrate women’s Brain Capital into business and policy frameworks.
Why are women underrepresented in leadership positions, both in companies and public institutions?
Women’s underrepresentation in leadership in companies and public secor stems from persistent gender stereotypes about leadership and STEM capabilities, a lack of mentorship and sponsorship to help women navigate their careers often blocked by their male peers, unconscious biases in hiring and promotion processes, and the workplace policies that fail to support flexibility, affecting career progression for women. Our work shows that Brain Capital can be leveraged to address this issue by: Investing in early STEM education for girls -fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and computational skills-, developing cognitive resilience through training in leadership, negotiation -overcoming biases and enhanced risk taking and management-, creating AI-driven mentorship platforms to connect women in tech with role models, and building inclusive workplaces that prioritize mental well-being.
To face the persistent structural inequalities in the Mediterranean region, the key solution lies in investing in Brain Capital for women, which includes lifelong learning and upskilling, policies that promote cognitive and mental well-being, and AI and digital tools that facilitate work-life balance and remote work opportunities
What are your main recommendations to Mediterranean companies to foster an inclusive ecosystem? How can SMEs adopt diversity and inclusion policies?
To build an inclusive business ecosystem, Mediterranean companies should adopt: Embed Brain Capital strategies in their leadership programs to enhance women’s decision-making and innovation capabilities, develop workplace policies that support cognitive well-being, work-life balance, and neuro and gender diversity, leverage digital solutions to eliminate unconscious gender bias in hiring and promotions, encourage mentorship programs using AI-powered learning platforms for women at all career stages, and promote flexible work structures, enabling women to balance professional growth with personal responsibilities. For SMEs, these policies can be implemented cost-effectively through partnerships with business incubators, research institutions, and women-led organizations focused on Brain Capital.
What solutions would you recommend to overcome the financial challenge for many women entrepreneurs?
Women entrepreneurs often struggle with limited access to funding due to biases in financial institutions. Solutions include: Brain Capital for women-focused investment funds, supporting women-led businesses in innovation-driven sectors, AI-driven credit scoring models by reducing gender biases in loan approvals, financial literacy training integrated with cognitive skill development -enabling women to make strategic financial decisions-, and crowdfunding and Blockchain-based microfinance -providing alternative funding sources for women entrepreneurs-.
What are the main differences between the North and South of the Mediterranean region in terms of gender gap and leadership positions?
The North Mediterranean (e.g., Spain, France, Italy) has seen improvements due to stronger institutional frameworks for gender equality, more progressive labor laws and gender quotas in leadership, and greater investment in education and Brain Capital, leading to higher women’s participation in decision-making roles. On the other hand, the South Mediterranean (e.g., Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia) faces deeper challenges, including: Lower female labor force participation due to legal and cultural barriers, limited access to financial resources for women-led businesses, and underdeveloped cognitive skill-building programs, making it harder for women to break into leadership.
The North Mediterranean has seen improvements due to stronger institutional frameworks for gender equality, more progressive labor laws and gender quotas in leadership. The South Mediterranean faces deeper challenges, including lower female labor force participation due to legal and cultural barriers, limited access to financial resources for women-led businesses, and underdeveloped cognitive skill-building programs
What should be the key role of the Chambers of Commerce to reduce discrimination and address gender inequality in the Mediterranean?
Chambers of commerce can drive gender equality by offering Brain Capital-driven training programs that enhance women’s leadership and innovation skills, creating AI-driven business networking platforms -ensuring women access funding and mentorship-, promoting gender-inclusive policies, such as cognitive well-being initiatives in corporate environments, and advocating for investment in women-led startups, particularly in AI, fintech, and green tech.
In your opinion, what is the influence of women as a driving force of economic and social change in the Mediterranean?
Women are key drivers of socio-economic transformation and progress in the Mediterranean. Specifically, they contributing to economic growth, because women-led businesses create inclusive, sustainable employment opportunities. They also contribute to technological innovation: Women in STEM and AI are shaping the future of the digital economy. I would also highlight their impact on climate action, because women are at the forefront of green entrepreneurship and sustainability initiatives. In addition, they contribute to social resilience: Investing in Brain Capital for women leads to more adaptive, creative, and problem-solving communities. To maximize women’s impact, we must ensure that Brain Capital development is at the heart of economic and policy strategies.