Women in the Profession Breakfast Spotlights Women’s Agency, Liberation in Conversation on Gender Equity
The annual breakfast event, organized in partnership with WIP Uruguay, kicked off a busy week of activities alongside the IBA Latin American Regional Forum in Punta del Este, Uruguay.
On March 23, more than 80 attendees gathered for the annual Women in the Profession (WIP) breakfast event, organized by the Vance Center’s WIP initiative in collaboration with the national chapter WIP Uruguay and with the support of law firms Dentons Jímenez de Aréchaga; Guyer & Regules; Posadas, Posadas & Vecino; and FERRERE.
Vance Center Senior Impact Associate Shaydah Ghom, who leads the Vance Center’s collaboration with national WIP chapters, gave opening remarks and introduced keynote speaker Magdalena (“Male”) Reyes Puig. Reyes, an Uruguayan philosopher, writer, lecturer, and clinical psychologist, presented a thought-provoking exposition on gender equity and women’s liberation based on themes from her recent book “Más allá del paraíso: la Libertad de Eva.”
Reyes outlined how, while legal, political, and social conditions fundamentally contribute to the status of women, finding a sense of personal liberation also requires individuals to engage in a conscious, affirmative ongoing self-dialogue. She framed the concept of “women’s empowerment” as a deeper freedom driven by self-reflection and understanding, offering each person the agency to choose who she wants to be relative to her gender. She encouraged audience members to reflect on how they would respond to questions such as “How do I think about myself as a woman?” and “What do I feel with respect to this fundamental part of my identity?”
Building on these internal reflections, Reyes also discussed how cultural narratives, including myths, stories, and traditions, are passed down through generations. She emphasized how these narratives deeply influence beliefs and values, connecting individual and societal perceptions of gender.
From left, Vance Center Senior Impact Associate Shaydah Ghom alongside speakers Male Reyes and Raquel Stein. Photo credit: Pablo Kreimbuhl
Raquel Stein, partner at Brazilian law firm Souto Correa Advogados and founding member of Women in Law Mentoring Brazil, then shared insights from her experience leading an initiative focused on advancing female leadership in the legal profession. Stein discussed how young female professionals are increasingly experiencing high levels of anxiety driven by career– and gender-specific pressures. She noted that consistent access to support networks can help young women lawyers reframe these experiences, strengthen their confidence, and positively impact their careers.
The discussion concluded with speakers and participants exchanging ideas for women to engage in internal reflection throughout different stages of their lives and careers, and strategies to encourage positive practices across generations. An informal networking session following the presentation offered a space for the majority-female group of legal professionals, representing more than 18 countries across the Americas, session, to connect with new and longstanding WIP partners.
Read LexLatin’s coverage of the event here.
Vance Center Senior Impact Associate Shaydah Ghom (back row, fourth from left) and event speaker Male Reyes (back row, fifth from left) with members of the WIP Uruguay chapter. Photo credit: Pablo Kreimbuhl
Attendees at the WIP breakfast event in Punta del Este, Uruguay, March 23, 2026. Photo credit: Pablo Kreimbuhl