“All women are capable of holding decision-making positions”

Silvia Teresa Leiva León is 45 years old, she is an electronic engineer from the Polytechnic Faculty of the National University of Asunción (UNA), an institution where she traveled through the different levels (student, graduate, teacher and administrative) and is currently the highest authority of this house of studies.

She is the first and youngest woman to become dean of the Polytechnic Faculty of the UNA, since its creation date in 1979. This house of studies was always run by men and it is the first time that a woman has applied and won the elections of dean in the Directing Council.

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“I feel very proud because for me this is a debt and at the same time I have immense gratitude to the Polytechnic Faculty, because I was a student and I am a graduate of this house. Then I became part of the permanent staff as of 2002. I have a whole life generated within Politécnica UNA, so it is a pride for me to assume the leadership of my beloved institution “, indicated the elected dean Silvia Leiva in communication with La Nation.

From the moment of becoming an electronic engineer, Leiva León has already been a member of the group of women who dare to conquer work spaces commonly or mostly occupied by men, so her candidacy and subsequent electoral victory within the Board of Directors against male candidates, is an imminent sign that women in Paraguay are positioning themselves in decision-making power spaces.

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“I feel very satisfied because I have been working on all these processes for 19 years, I know the institution because I have gone through all the stages, I started as head of the chair and I was climbing thanks to my ability. So, it is a satisfaction to show that women have the same capacities and abilities as men, without being a competition ”, indicated Leiva León.

She urged other women to pursue their dreams, to conquer the spaces they want to occupy, to train in the profession they like, regardless of whether it is historically occupied by men. He suggested to women not to be afraid and take on the challenges imposed by society in these times and, above all, challenge oneself to get what they want.

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“I encourage all women to have the courage to present themselves (to run for positions of power) because I know that all women are capable of holding important decision-making positions in society, such as the dean, the rector’s office; we currently have a rector, to administrative positions. At the country level, we have women in important positions as ministers, so I encourage everyone to pursue their dreams ”, he highlighted.

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