Reflection, recognition, and commitment on International Women’s Day

March 8th was a significant day to reflect and reaffirm our commitment to gender equality. To mark the occasion, we organized two days of activities designed to foster dialogue, raise awareness, and ignite meaningful conversations within our team. These initiatives were not just about observing a date, but about deepening our understanding and taking action to promote a more equal and inclusive environment. We firmly believe that every action, no matter how small, contributes to creating a fairer world. Through these activities, we continue to work toward this goal.

International Women’s Day, a date to share and reflect

On Thursday, March 6th, we opened a space within our internal community to share inspiring recommendations. From books and documentaries to podcasts and talks, the goal was to spark an open conversation about gender equality from different perspectives.

Some of the recommendations included:

• Books: Good Morning, Beautiful, Les Culottées / Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Pénélope Bagieu, or Milk & Honey by Rupi Kaur.
• Movies and documentaries: Little Women, Promising Young Woman, Hidden Figures, On the Basis of Sex, Thelma & Louise, Barbie, Lady Bird.
• Podcasts: Mamie dans les orties, Les couilles sur la table, Emancipées, Bliss, Saldremos Mejores.
• Other resources: Onda Cero’s La Rosa de los Vientos (section Mujeres con Historia), or documentaries like Traineras: Passion for Rowing and María de Lejárraga.

The contributions were as diverse as they were enriching, including references to historical figures and contemporary stories that continue to make a difference.

It was a collective learning exercise and a way to broaden our perspective on the topic. Reflecting is the first step toward progress, and sharing knowledge helps us continue building a culture of equality.

Recognizing to make visible

On Friday, March 7th, the focus was on recognition. We created a virtual mural where each person could highlight women who inspire them: coworkers, everyday role models, or historical figures.

This exercise highlighted the talent and contribution of many women who, in their fields of action, create a positive impact on our lives and society. Making their work and legacy visible is one way to continue driving change.

A commitment that goes beyond a date

We know that gender equality is not something to be addressed on just one day. That’s why, at Zabala Innovation, we have a team of 20 people across our various locations who work together toward a more equal environment.

Since 2017, we have implemented an Equality Plan, with the most recent update, the II Equality Plan, launched in 2022. This plan outlines 27 key measures to integrate gender equality across all areas of the company. Some of these measures include the incorporation of a gender perspective in mentoring and coaching sessions, a hiring policy that prioritizes the underrepresented gender in areas where one gender predominates, and the systematization of a salary register to assess the average compensation of women and men in equivalent roles.

Additionally, this year we updated our Anti-Harassment Prevention Protocol and trained our equality team to prevent and support in such situations.

Our commitment also extends to the European level, as we participate in projects that address gender perspectives with a real impact on society. Some examples include TransEuroWorks project, which analyzes gender inequality in the context of digitalization and the ecological transition, and Spiomet4health project, which focuses on improving the health of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

These days of reflection and participation have been an opportunity to reaffirm that every action counts. Small gestures, conversations, and recognitions help build a fairer and more equitable environment. Let’s continue moving toward a more equal society.