Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1540984
28 SMT007 MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2025 Be One of Many: How Women Are Shaping Electronics F E AT U R E A RT I C L E by Ad a G a ste l u m A n c i a u x , Global Electronics Association México O ne of my favorite ads is a recent one by Mer- cedes-Benz titled "Be One of Many." It asks, "What if I didn't have to be the exception? What if I just want to be one of many?" That simple question cuts deep, revealing how systemic inequality often hides behind the idea of women as rare anomalies. The truth is, in 2025, we're still having the same conversations: "37% of the manufacturing workforce in Mexico is made up of women," "the wage gap per- sists," "women remain underrepresented in leader- ship." None of this is new, and that's the problem. Even today, when female leaders in electronics speak publicly, they're often asked: "How do you balance your personal and professional life?" It seems like no one asks men that, leaving women feeling expected to justify wanting both a career and a family. History as Proof Let's leave the statistics and revisit history. During the War of the Triple Alliance (1864–1870), Paraguay lost nearly 90% of its male population. Women— known as residentas—took over farms, businesses, logistics, and even combat. They rebuilt the nation from ashes, proving that leadership, resilience, and technical skill are not gendered traits. The story of Paraguayan women resonates with me because it is the country of my mother's birth, but also because it is a reality repeated in Mexico and across all of Latin America. That same spirit exists today in electronics man- ufacturing, where women operate with precision on the production line, in R&D, and in quality assur- ance. Yet, they can often remain invisible in the leadership structures that shape the industry.