The sculptor Kristen Visbal spoke at FERRERE on women’s empowerment

With a view to promoting diversity and equality, FERRERE organized an event whose speaker was the highly recognized US sculptor, born in Uruguay, Kristen Visbal.

The artist referred to Fearless Girl, her emblematic  sculpture with defiant pose and glance, installed in 2017 facing the Wall Street Charging Bull and since 2018 in front of the New Work Stock Exchange.

“Fearless Girl and the Charging Bull became a visual symbol for the women’s movement and the centuries-old struggle for equality. Fearless Girl empowers us to confront the controversial adversary bull of life and come away victorious,” noted Visbal on the metaphor of her work.

During the event, which FERRERE organized in collaboration with Reaching U and with the support of UN WOMEN in the context of the program WIN-WIN: gender equality means good business,  Visbal referred to how she came to create this work, the benefits for society of diversity, equal pay, responsible parenting, and the importance of educating to prevent prejudice and to empower people, among other subjects.

“Women and men are better together. We must promote an environment free of gender stereotypes, cultivate free exchanges and contributions, and thereby foster the diversity of ideas for better decision-making,” added the artist.

FERRERE, as one of the pioneer companies in Uruguay to adhere to the WEPs (Women’s Empowerment Principles, an initiative of UN Women in alliance with the United Nations Global Compact), has incorporated this activity in its annual agenda of initiatives seeking to promote equality. 

The promotion of diversity has been part of the firm since its foundation. It has a Diversity Committee that fosters and monitors all its action, and in 2018 it developed the Equal Pay Day indicator to analyze the gender salary gap in the countries where it has a presence.

Additionally, in 2017 it signed the UN HeForShe Commitment, a world movement geared to awareness building in men and boys in order for them to become agents for change.

It also has specific internal policies including the Cross-Mentorship Program, whose purpose is to help and collaborate with the firm’s women so they can reach their maximum potential, and the Maternity Mentors program, which provides support to mothers so that they can achieve balance between their employment and family spheres.