Esperanza Delgado is the Strategic Director of Advocacy and inter-institutional Relations at the Family Planning Association of Mexico. She was recently selected as one of four women to participate in the International Masters Program for Managers at the Lancaster University Management School.
We put a series of questions to her as she prepares to take up her part time studies.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your role at the Family planning association of MEXICO?
From my position in MEXFAM, I am responsible for advancing the agenda that acknowledges sexual and reproductive rights and justice in Mexico. I promote actions to advocate in favor of progressive norms and laws at national and subnational levels; alongside, I have the responsibility to build and maintain strong collaboration with a wide variety of stakeholders. All of this with the aim of ensuring women´s autonomy and their right to choose.
How was it being selected to participate in the International Masters Programme for Managers?
Simply fantastic! I am excited by the possibility of acquiring knowledge that has proven its effectiveness and is nurtured by universities of global excellence; I will be exposed to innovative experiences, and that combine theoretical with practical methodologies simultaneously. The course means the opportunity to consolidate my academic and professional experience with practical and immediate results. As a consequence, it will give me the possibility to be more effective in my every day agenda and to dare to come up with new ideas arising since the first stages of the diploma.
What does it mean to be part of the programme?
The challenges I encounter demand the development of transformative and paradigm-shattering leadership that confronts the turbulence of the present to continue and move into the future. The scholarship represents me acquiring cutting-edge tools that are key for the performance of successful and inclusive leadership; will help me to visualize that MEXFAM is on the best path to achieve its vision and mission. It will provoke my interest to review its strategic objectives with different lenses; and giving the necessary importance to all levels of the organization: governance, management, operation, and evaluation. And that my colleagues, board, managerial and operative staff benefit and be aware of the key and useful elements learned during this master.
What leadership lesson have you learnt that is unique to being a female leader?
My experience has taught me that women in a leadership position, must give an additional and substantive effort compared to men in similar duties. On many occasions, we are observed and tested, we need to prove that we are able to do what we are asked to do. The context demands us to demonstrate that we are capable, and multitask oriented. How have I dealt with this very true scenario? I have executed a leadership based on inclusion, teambuilding, and respect. Most of the time, it has work well for me.
As a female leader, what has been the most significant barrier in your career? Have you encountered any gender-related roadblocks?
The most significant barrier is when a man is preferred for a given task or function, just because he is a man, without any evaluation of his aptitudes, talent, ethics, or capabilities.
It´s still common to observe how a man has a greater facility to gain institutional power, economic income, and other privileges over those of a woman in similar conditions. Because I am a woman, I must show that I am capable of carrying out my responsibility as a leader. This task demands additional time as well as effort, and could be a disadvantage compared to male leaders.
How do you think women should support other women in any organization?
Being sensitive to the needs of women beyond their professional context, and responding with empathy. Most women require flexibility in working hours, or mixed modalities: virtual and in person.
Inspiring and motivating their professional growth, and facilitating the means.
Advocating in the arena of unpaid care work; access to decent work and economic opportunities, public budget to community based women-led organizations; to contribute to their empowerment by accessing knowledge and citizenship tools.
Promoting women as project leaders, organize strategies that impact different areas of women’s lives: economy, land tenure, environment.
How do you balance between work and life responsibilities?
I score very low in this balance; I often find myself caught between work obligations and leisure time. I´m not aware and ended up filling my agenda very easily and in consequence taking time from personal interests other than work or even losing vacation periods. This is a subject that requires a great deal of my attention and I place it among my priorities.
What advice would you give to young women looking to accelerate their own careers within the SRHR space?
To become self-study, take online courses, set a personal goal and pursue it, stick to practical work, join organizations with strong SRHR background, and start by being accepted as interns if necessary; learn from exposure to reality by seeking contact with work on the ground and practical experience; observe and listen; be clear in your mind and in your heart that this is what you want, and what for you want it.