International Women’s Day
CrossBoundary Associate María Bohmer’s take on how to achieve a gender equal future
Spotlight Q&A with CrossBoundary Women for International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month
To honor International Women’s Day 2023 and Women’s History Month, we requested viewpoints from our colleagues worldwide on how they navigate career paths as a woman and promote #EmbraceEquity within and beyond the workplace.
International Women’s Day coincides with the sixty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women taking place from 6 to 17 March 2023, under the theme “Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”.
Despite progress, women still face significant obstacles in business and STEM education and careers.
In the Latin America venture capital sector, a 2022 study by Endeavor Mexico and Glisco Partners found only 5% of startup founding teams in the region included a woman — and less than 2% of female entrepreneurs successfully raised institutional capital.
How do we change this?
María Bohmer is an Associate working on our investment advisory team focused on connecting entrepreneurs in Latin America & the Caribbean to investors. Prior to CrossBoundary, María was Strategic Initiative Lead at Tul, where she led and managed Investors Relations and executed strategic initiatives around Tul’s core business to achieve positive unit-economics. Prior to joining Tul, she was an Investment Banking Analyst at Inverlink covering M&A transactions for companies in diverse sectors in Colombia.
Her thoughts follow:
Name: María Bohmer
Title: Associate, CrossBoundary Advisory
Location/Team: Latin America & the Caribbean
Q: What is your superpower or biggest strength?
Maria: My biggest strength is my positive attitude. I believe that maintaining a positive outlook can help me navigate challenges and setbacks with resilience and determination. It allows me to see the good in people and situations, and to approach problems with a solution-oriented mindset. I find that a positive attitude can be contagious, and it can help me to inspire and motivate others to see the best in themselves and the world around them
Why do we need more women in leadership?
Gender diversity in leadership promotes better decision-making and innovation, bringing unique perspectives and experiences that can lead to more creative solutions to complex problems. Having more women in leadership can help to challenge gender stereotypes and biases and can promote greater gender balance in society. It serves as a powerful symbol of progress and inspires future generations of women to pursue leadership positions themselves.
Is there an influential woman in history or public life that has inspired you, either personally or professionally?
As an amateur runner, Keira D’Amato — an American long-distance runner, real estate agent, and mother of two, inspires me with her incredible accomplishments on and off the track. After taking a break from competitive running to focus on her family and career as a real estate agent, she returned to the sport in 2020 and quickly made a name for herself, setting personal best times and breaking several American records.
Her story has inspired me both personally and professionally because she is an example of how hard work, dedication, and perseverance can help you achieve your goals. Keira’s story is a testament to the power of determination and the importance of pursuing one’s passion, regardless of the obstacles that may arise.
In the markets/sectors you serve, where have you seen the gender equity gap occur?
I used to work at a B2B hardware store marketplace app. In the startup scene, there is a clear gender equity gap that is particularly pronounced in leadership roles. Even though women have made significant strides in entrepreneurship in recent years, we remain vastly underrepresented in leadership positions in startups.
This underrepresentation extends to venture capital and angel investing, which are heavily male-dominated. Women receive only a fraction of the venture capital funding that male-led startups receive, and women-led startups are often evaluated more harshly than their male counterparts. This lack of diversity not only limits opportunities for talented women entrepreneurs but also negatively impacts the overall success and growth of the startup ecosystem.
What innovation or approach do you think will advance the world toward a gender equal future?
In my opinion, one of the most effective approaches to advancing the world toward a gender equal future is increasing access to education and resources for women and girls. This can be achieved through innovative technology solutions, such as online platforms and digital tools that provide access to quality education, training, and mentorship.
By breaking down geographic and socioeconomic barriers, we can increase opportunities for women in fields that have traditionally been male-dominated.
Additionally, promoting workplace diversity and inclusion, and creating a more equitable work environment, are key.
Engaging men and boys as allies and advocates for gender equality is also important. By promoting positive models of masculinity and encouraging men to actively support and promote gender equality, we can create a more equitable and just world for all.
Overall, a combination of innovation, policy change, and cultural shifts will be necessary to achieve true gender equality.
More from this series:
Inspired by the women working at CrossBoundary? Passionate about creating lasting change in underserved markets? Learn more about our current openings and apply to join our team here.
CrossBoundary is a mission-driven investment firm committed to unlocking the power of capital for sustainable growth and strong returns in underserved markets. Our team members come from diverse backgrounds but share several qualities: curiosity, humility, integrity, a drive for excellence, and a bias for action. Sound like you? Drop us a line.
