Women Who Lead honors firms elevating Puerto Rico’s talent
The Women Who Lead Forum 2025 brought together global and local executives to identify the companies where Puerto Rico’s women leaders most want to work, spotlighting employers showing measurable progress in equity, inclusion and workplace culture.
Now in its 11th year, the event continues to serve as a major venue for advancing female talent in the business sector.
“Eleven years ago, we launched this initiative with one clear question: Where do women leaders want to work?” said Frances Ríos, founder of the Women Who Lead Forum and the W Certified Company program.
“Today, with data in hand, we understand what they seek, what they need and which companies are stepping up,” she said. “It’s no longer enough to talk about inclusion. It must be demonstrated through actions that directly improve the lives and financial stability of female talent.”
Companies earning the W Certified Company designation reported female engagement levels above 95%, reflecting strong connections between women employees and workplace policies designed to support them.
The forum introduced three new recognition categories for 2025: Stryker as Preferred Company for Next Gen talent; Boston Scientific as Preferred Company for Mothers; and Stryker again as Preferred Company for Professionals 55-plus.
Speakers included Lauren Phillips of Inception-G42, who joined from Abu Dhabi to discuss how the United Arab Emirates is approaching workforce development in the era of artificial intelligence. She said AI “is not a tech issue but a talent issue,” noting that workforce disruption is already underway.
Manuel Cuevas of Harvard University discussed defending organizational culture during periods of public scrutiny and how the institution has addressed national-level criticism.
This year’s rankings recognized the Top 5 small and midsize companies: AppleOne, Cabo Rojo Coop, L’Oréal Caribe, ManpowerGroup Puerto Rico and Lopito, Ileana & Howie (LIH). The Top 5 large companies were Fresenius Kabi, Sartorius, The Retail Group, Haleon and Alivia Health.
Dozens of other firms received recognition for policies supporting female advancement, with organizers stressing that progress depends on long-term commitment and data-driven action rather than company size.
