30
%
women in management positions worldwide
Womens International Day // PBS
She explores forward.
She leads the change.
A movement that accelerates female leadership and its impact.
THE REALITY
Women remain
underrepresented
in leadership.
The data highlights why accelerating women’s leadership matters. Advancing women into leadership is not only a matter of equity — it is essential for innovation, growth and resilient organisations.
27
%
seats held by women on global corporate boards
6
%
women CEOs worldwide
PORTO BUSINESS SCHOOL
At PBS,
numbers speak first.
Within its ecosystem, Porto Business School reflects both the progress achieved and the work still ahead in advancing women in leadership and executive education.
52%
Participants in Open Executive Programs are women
36%
Participants in MBA Programs are women
50%
MBA faculty are women
KEY INITIATIVES
Four pillars.
One movement.
PILLAR 01
Scholarships
for Women
Scholarships that widen access to leadership education and support women with the potential to grow, lead and create impact.
Merit-based scholarship support
STEM and future-ready pathways
Dedicated opportunities for women
PILLAR 02
Explore Forward
Circle
A mentoring and growth network connecting women with alumni, experts and partners who help accelerate leadership development.
Mentoring through trusted networks
Alumni and ecosystem connection
Confidence, influence and progression
PILLAR 03
Explorer
Stories
Real stories that make leadership journeys visible, showcasing women who are growing, advancing and shaping meaningful change.
Women with visible trajectories
Honest journeys and lived experience
Role models with real impact
PILLAR 04
Partner
Network
Strategic partnerships that strengthen this movement by creating opportunities, visibility and long-term support for women leaders.
Corporate and institutional partners
Shared initiatives and scholarships
Collective action with tangible reach
TRAINING & MENTORING
The Boldness Way.
Forward by design.
The Women in Business programme at Porto Business School is more than a scholarship — it is a structured path of training, mentoring and leadership development designed to take women further, faster.
→
The Boldness Way — a curated route of programmes and workshops
within the Women in Business ecosystem, focused on presence, confidence
and decision-making power.
→
Senior mentoring with PBS alumni and partner executives —
one-to-one guidance from leaders who have already made the journey.
→
Executive masterclasses and a final Change Agenda presentation
to PBS leadership — building both capability and visibility.
— PBS Women in Leadership
Real women.
Real impact.
Alumni and leaders connected to Porto Business School — women who have transformed their learning journey into real impact in the business world.
01
Isabel Borgas
Career Balance in Women Leadership
“If you are not happy, change your life. It is ok to fail. Learn from it and move on.”
→ Watch the full video02
Ana Monteiro Pereira
Executive MBA
“These 15 months are extremely intense, but deeply transformative and inspiring for everything that comes next.”
→ Watch the full video03
Sandra Reznicek
Executive Master International Business
“I wanted to be able to be more involved in the strategic decisions of the company.”
→ Watch the full video Become a
Founding Sponsor
The Explorer Forward initiative was designed for organisations that treat leadership equity as a strategic priority — not as a standalone CSR action.
By supporting this initiative, organisations contribute directly to the development of future women leaders while strengthening their presence within the academic and business ecosystem of Porto Business School.
Become a Founding Sponsor WHY IT MATTERS
Stronger leadership.
Broader impact.
When women are empowered to lead, organizations become stronger, more innovative and more resilient.
Achieving true leadership parity is not only about fairness. It is about unlocking the full potential of talent needed to drive sustainable growth, innovation and inclusive prosperity across organizations, economies and society.
She explores forward. She leads the change.
For women. By PBS.