Liderazgo femenino en empresas privadas de Guayaquil en el año 2025. Estudio de mujeres con cargos directivos.

Abstract

This study analyzed the experiences, challenges, and meanings that women in management positions in private companies in Guayaquil in 2025 attribute to their professional careers and the exercise of female leadership. To this end, the research was conducted using a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive approach. The universe consists of women in management positions in private companies in Guayaquil. and a non-probabilistic convenience sample was applied, with the sampling criteria being four women working in private companies in the financial sector located in the city of Guayaquil in leadership, management, coordination, or executive positions, aged between 35 and 55, and with a minimum of three years of experience in the position. To collect the information, a semi-structured interview was used as a tool to explore the experiences, meanings, and barriers perceived by women leaders. The findings show that female leadership in private companies in Guayaquil is subject to persistent barriers, subjective meanings, and professional and personal strategies for adaptation and sustainability, such as the construction of support networks, self-confidence, and resilience. In addition, for women, achieving and maintaining leadership positions involves personal and social implications related to the balance between family life and work, and they even witness organizational challenges where they must demonstrate constant credibility of their work.