Women With Impact #32 - Cynthia Castro
Welcome back to Women With Impact, a newsletter all about the journeys of mission-driven women and how they have a positive impact in our world.
I’m Clara Richter and this is the 32nd edition of Women With Impact. If you enjoy this issue, please share it with a friend and like it above.
For this edition, I interviewed Cynthia Castro, Co-Founder and Director of Human Development at Boomerang Effect, who is based in Costa Rica. Boomerang Effect is a consulting company helping organisations create business and communication strategies to close diversity gaps and design an inclusive place to work. Clients include UN Women, IDB, ILO, UNHCR and UBER. Cynthia has been named among Forbes’ 100 most powerful women in Central America. She holds Psychology degrees from the London School of Economics and the University of Costa Rica.
Wishing you a pleasant read!
Best,
Clara
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The Journey
Who are you and how do you spend your time?
I am Cynthia Castro, the co-founder and director of Human Development at Boomerang Effect, and a dedicated advocate for inclusion and gender equality. My work spans both non-profit and for-profit sectors, focusing on creating sustainable, inclusive strategies in rural areas and addressing organisational gaps in gender equality, salary discrepancies, and leadership opportunities for women.
Volunteering is a significant part of my life. I am actively involved with Ideas en Acción, where I facilitate workshops on gender equality and leadership, empowering over a thousand young women in Costa Rica. My core belief is that creating equal opportunities for all can lead to a more just and equitable world.
Outside of my professional endeavours, I'm deeply connected to the natural beauty of Costa Rica. I find joy and peace in hiking and exploring, especially in my favourite place, the Osa Peninsula. My life's purpose is to make a positive impact, striving towards a more inclusive world for everyone.
What do you think is most important in creating positive change?
Creating positive change hinges on recognising and understanding our privileges and the complex dynamics of intersectionality. It's crucial to acknowledge that one can be a victim of oppression in one context and an oppressor in another. This awareness of power distribution in society is key to driving change.
True change requires a collective responsibility. It's not just the duty of those suffering discrimination, but of those in privileged positions to use their power to bridge gaps and foster equality. This involves leaders in organisations acknowledging their biases and actively working towards inclusive practices.
In my experience, organisations often focus on empowering women as a solution. However, this can inadvertently place the burden of change on those already facing discrimination. Real progress happens when those in power positions, like male leaders or individuals from majority groups, take responsibility to address and rectify these biases.
Measuring gaps and understanding their root causes is essential. My work across Latin America, with over 19 countries, emphasises creating inclusive leadership and researching organisational inclusivity. The challenge is often representing the voices of underrepresented groups like young Latin American women in global platforms, like the World Economic Forum, ensuring our realities and perspectives are part of the solution.
What is a recent success you are proud of?
I am immensely proud of Boomerang's growth and impact over the past six years. Since its inception, we've worked across over 19 countries, collaborated with over 200 organisations, and directly impacted the lives of more than 30k people through various trainings and workshops. Additionally, our consulting services have reached over 50k individuals, focusing on measuring, and addressing critical gaps within organisations.
Some of our notable successes include implementing paternal leave policies, promoting labour flexibility for co-responsibility in caregiving roles, closing salary gaps, and combating sexual harassment and gender violence in the workplace. We've also formed strategic alliances with the public and private sectors, advising the Costa Rican government on advancing gender equality.
This journey aligns perfectly with my life's purpose, offering me a sense of fulfilment every day. Knowing that my work contributes positively to the world is a source of great pride and motivation.
The Lessons
What has been the most rewarding experience on your journey?
The most rewarding experience in my journey has been my involvement with Mente en Acción, a programme I co-founded in 2015 to empower young women to pursue STEM careers and address gender gaps. Over the years, we've worked with 23 generations and graduated over 1k women. Witnessing these women flourish in their careers, achieve their dreams, and take on roles in STEM fields, including leadership positions, has been incredibly fulfilling.
Seeing the direct impact of our work in opening opportunities for these women and observing how they are now mentoring and paving the way for future generations is deeply gratifying. Many of them are pursuing advanced degrees, aspiring to be astronauts, and breaking barriers in various fields globally. This cycle of empowerment and the tangible, positive changes it brings to individual lives and communities is, without a doubt, my most rewarding experience.
What’s a challenge you have encountered most often and how did you tackle it?
A recurring challenge in my career has been being one of the few young women in leadership meetings or decision-making boards, often facing interruptions, mansplaining, or other forms of gender bias. To tackle this, I emphasise the importance of building alliances with individuals who are committed to gender equality. These inclusive leaders play a critical role in addressing and preventing such behaviours.
Another challenge is the resistance from those who misunderstand diversity and inclusion efforts, sometimes perceiving them as anti-men. To counter this, we engage men in discussions about masculinity, illustrating how gender biases and societal stereotypes can be detrimental to them as well. By showing that advancing gender equality benefits everyone, we aim to dispel myths and reduce resistance, creating a more equitable society and business environment.
What is the best advice you have been given recently?
Recently, I received a valuable piece of advice: it's crucial to have a clear vision of my destination and the purpose of my goals. It's useful to have a plan, but I should always be ready to adapt it. The essence isn't in the method, but in knowing where I'm headed and why. Life often changes our paths, so flexibility and detachment from a fixed plan are key. Embracing these changes isn't about stopping us but allowing us to demonstrate our commitment to our goals. Equally important is practicing self-compassion and being my own best friend on this journey. This approach helps navigate the challenges with kindness and understanding towards myself, making the journey not just about the destination but also about personal growth and resilience.
The Inspiration
What resource do you think more people should make use of?
A resource that I strongly believe more people should utilise is empathy. Practicing empathy, along with compassion, allows us to see others as equals, deserving of love, care, and kindness. By nurturing these qualities, we can create a healthier world, marked by improved mental well-being and greater opportunities for everyone.
Currently, many are driven by the pursuit of power or material gains, often overlooking the value of our shared humanity. If we stay more connected to our hearts and the experiences of others, we can make decisions that are more beneficial for the collective good. Embracing empathy as a guiding principle in our lives can lead to more humane and considerate choices, fostering a world where people care for each other and prioritise mutual well-being over individual gains.
Who inspires you on your journey the most?
I am deeply inspired by my grandmother, Violeta Madrigal Mora. Her achievements as a lawyer and notary, and as an advocate for women's rights in Costa Rica, are remarkable, especially considering the era she lived in. Violeta was a trailblazer in many ways, becoming the first woman to hold several leadership positions in Costa Rica, including as Director of the National Child Welfare Agency and roles in the Social Security Fund and the National Loans Commission for Education.
Remarkably, she accomplished all this while raising five children and navigating through a divorce at a time when it was neither common nor socially accepted for women. Her courage to stand up for her rights set a precedent, and she used her experience to assist other women facing domestic violence to separate from their spouses.
Juggling her responsibilities as a mother and a professional, she paved the way for women in Costa Rica, representing our country at United Nations Conferences and other international events. Her legacy continues to be a powerful motivation for me, embodying the pursuit of justice, gender equality, and the strength to challenge societal norms.
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