Great reception of the III International Forum on Women and the Transport Sector in Malaga

The 3rd International Forum on Women and the Transport Sector has once again exceeded all expectations, consolidating itself as a benchmark event in the sector. The event, held yesterday 20th February at the Malaga Automobile Museum, brought together leading figures from the road transport sector, raising the profile of the role of women in this industry and generating a space for enriching debate on the challenges and opportunities of the future.

From the beginning of the session, the need to make further progress on gender equality and to recognise the contribution of women in the transport sector was highlighted.

An event with top-level protagonists

The day began at 10:00 with a welcome speech by our CEO, Miguel Ángel López, who highlighted the importance of events like this to continue promoting diversity and inclusion in the sector. We also had the intervention of Roser Obrer, General Director of Road and Rail Transport of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, who underlined the fundamental role of women in the evolution of transport.

Inspiring reflections

The first presentation of the day was given by Isabel Sánchez Serrano, CEO of Grupo Disfrimur, who shared her experience and reflected on the challenges and opportunities that women face in the sector. In her speech, she took a journey through time, recalling the evolution of the role of women in the workplace and in society. She recounted the beginnings of Disfrimur as a grocery shop and how, with tenacity and effort, they have grown to become what they are today.

Finally, Isabel paid tribute to women truck drivers with three moving videos in which three professionals from her company were given their names and surnames, sharing their experiences and a clear message of enthusiasm and love for their profession.

This was followed by the first round table, which focused on the role of women entrepreneurs in transport. Moderated by Amanda Aquino, it was attended by prominent leaders such as Ema Leitão (Strategy and Contract Management – Transportes Nogueira – Portugal), Joanna Wachowiak-Jurasz (Manager – Guess Polska – Poland), Marta Sánchez López-Lago (Owner – Transportes Narval – Spain) and Mari Luz Cobos (General Manager – Grupo Transaher – Spain). In this debate, leadership strategies and the importance of promoting the presence of women in senior positions in the sector were analysed.

Participants shared keys on how to cope with a changing market, highlighting the importance of negotiation, daily work, effort and capacity. They emphasised that the sector needs talent and passion, and that activating an active listening system is fundamental to understand the needs of the market and adapt the business.

One of the recurring themes was security, both in car parks and in service areas, highlighting the problem of the insufficient network of security car parks. Work-life balance was also a major challenge, not only for women, but for all professionals in the sector. In addition, the relevance of technology and artificial intelligence in the optimisation of processes and the modernisation of transport was pointed out.

Marta Sanchez said: “Not enough visibility is given to the technology contributions of the sector. Joanna added: “In relation to technology, we try to anticipate and focus on the near future to be as prepared as possible. Mari Luz pointed out that “technology is important to improve sustainability and in turn be economically sustainable”.

On how to manage stress, Marta defined it as a “modern, fun, dynamic sector, which makes it possible to evolve and be part of changes, this is very motivating to cope with the stress it generates”, to which Joanna added that indeed “stress is motivating, you have to make quick decisions to have maximum control over what happens“. Mari Luz added: “It is important not to procrastinate and to surround yourself with a competent team that you can delegate to and trust.

In terms of leadership, Marta stressed that “the most important thing is to make your environment grow, that your experience helps others to grow”. Ema added: “It is very important to influence the new generations, to promote and make the sector visible”.

After the round table, attendees were able to enjoy a coffee break, creating a space for networking and connection between them.

This was followed by a special intervention by Elisa Capote, CEO of DAC Docencia, in which she stated that “with training we can open new paths, where the collaboration of the administration is important for the incorporation of students into the world of work, providing facilities and eliminating the obstacles they currently face. It is important to motivate, make visible, train and inform”.

Truckers: first-person experiences

The coffee break was followed by a round table dedicated to women truck drivers. This round table, moderated by Azucena Marín, featured the testimonies of Natalia Sówka (Poland), Amal Rannane (Morocco), Normania Pereira (Portugal) and Mar González (Spain), who shared their experiences on the road, the challenges they face and the solutions to improve conditions in the sector.

Safety was one of the main concerns. The speakers pointed out the need for adapted infrastructures, greater safety in rest areas and a better work-life balance

The participants shared some of the tips they have learned from their driving experience. Normania said: “It is essential to establish self-protection mechanisms”. Natalia explained that to avoid unpleasant situations she has a generator and a shower in her truck. Mar emphasised that: “It is necessary to make stops that allow you to feel at home, that provide you with services to be calm and to be able to cover hygiene and rest in an adequate manner”. All of them agreed that they consider Andamur’s network of service areas and security car parks to be a pleasant, safe and reliable space for their breaks.

The truck, for many of them, is a way of life. “It is a way of life that allows you to develop and think about many things, it gives you the possibility to see the horizon and decide where you want to go”, commented Normania. Amal added the “ability to be independent, to be able to decide”. Natalia pointed out that “the truck offers you nice moments, after your work you can enjoy a stop at different points on the map, admire landscapes and get to know different places”. A common point among all of them was that, despite the difficulties, their passion for their profession is the driving force that keeps them going.

WOW Awards: recognition of talent and commitment

One of the most awaited moments of the day was the presentation of the WOW Awards, created by Andamur to recognise the effort, dedication and trajectory of women and entities that are contributing to change in the transport sector. The presentation was led by Ángeles Ruiz, Director of Marketing & Costumer Service, who highlighted the importance of these awards to give visibility to female talent in the sector and reward the effort to be a driving force for change.

In this edition, a jury composed of industry experts, both internal Andamur staff and external, have assessed with rigor and objectivity the multitude of nominations submitted. In the end, three professionals were selected to receive this recognition, which seeks to highlight their talent and contribution to the industry.

These awards are divided into several categories:

• Life on Wheels Award, given to María Dolores Rodríguez, in recognition of her courage and determination to become an independent truck driver after years of effort and dedication. The award was presented by Michela Avataneo, Head of Business Development at Andamur, and Natalia Blanco, Manager of Apetamcor.
• Innovative Management Award, granted to Yolanda Águila, for her contribution to the digitalisation, training and modernisation of the sector, as well as her role in the creation of the first Road Freight Transport Association in Almería. The award was presented by Almudena García Escudero, Head of Innovation at Andamur, and Mercedes Climent, Purchasing Manager at CCT Safor.
• Business Career Award, given to Marta Sánchez, for her leadership in the management and growth of her family business, consolidating it as a benchmark in the sector with an extensive distribution network in Spain and Portugal. The award was presented by Adela Romera, Sales Coordinator at Andamur, and Lorena Ballester, CEO at Grupo Chema Ballester.
• Honorary Award, presented by Miguel Ángel López, CEO of Andamur, in recognition of an exceptional contribution to the sector. This award was received by María Dolores Sánchez, Founder of Andamur, in an emotional closing ceremony.

With this initiative, Andamur reaffirms its commitment to equal opportunities and continues to promote the recognition of women in transport, making their essential contribution visible and promoting a more equitable future for all.

A step towards a more inclusive future

The III International Forum Women and Transport Sector has been an inspiring meeting that encourages us to continue working for a more egalitarian and diverse sector. From Andamur, we reaffirm our commitment to gender equality, convinced that collaboration and diversity are key to the growth of the transport sector.

If you want to see the whole event, you can watch the video here.