Laura Riera, a leading figure in female entrepreneurship in Menorca

Within the framework of International Women’s Day, on March 4 the roundtable “A Day for All the Women of Menorca” was held at the Club Marítim de Maó, a space for reflection promoted by the Consell Insular and organized by Diari Menorca.

The discussion panel was made up of six outstanding women who represented the richness and diversity of Menorca.

The businesswoman of Menorca was represented by Laura Riera, CEO of Som Menorca, who offered a realistic, honest, and deeply human perspective on the evolution of equality.

Far from a theoretical discourse, her contribution highlighted the progress achieved: from past generations who had to break invisible barriers — illustrated by the example of her grandmother, who worked in a laboratory — to the conversations she now has with her daughters, young women who today see access to positions of responsibility as a matter of talent and results, not gender.

For this reason, she expressed her gratitude for the work carried out by many women over a long period of time.

And yes, much progress has been made and today, legally, women have the same rights as men.

But the question is whether these rights are experienced with normality and security in all environments. “And this is where I believe there is still work to be done. As long as there is a woman who is afraid to be in her own home, as long as a young woman normalizes control as a sign of love, as long as gender-based violence continues to exist, it means that we still have a path ahead of us.”

In the business sphere, her reflection was particularly relevant for Menorca. More than 90% of the island’s productive fabric is made up of small businesses and self-employed professionals, a reality that requires adapted policies rather than solutions designed exclusively for large structures.

This is where one of the major challenges emerges: work-life balance. For many women entrepreneurs, motherhood is not only a life stage but also a critical point in the sustainability of their business. “It is not about ambition or a lack of family awareness; it is about business survival.”

“Work-life balance policies are designed for large companies, but what about small businesses, micro-enterprises, or self-employed women?”

This perspective provides a key strategic insight: the issue is not only equality of rights, but equality of real and applicable opportunities.

For Som Menorca, it is a source of pride to have a CEO such as Laura Riera, recognized as a leading figure in female entrepreneurship on the island, not only for her professional trajectory but also for her understanding of leadership: approachable, courageous, and deeply human.

Because the true value lies not only in what is achieved, but in how it is built. And in Menorca, that path is being written with names of its own.