UPS Women Lead the Way in Latin America

MIAMI.- The transportation industry isn’t often cited for cultivating the careers of female executives, but UPS (NYSE:UPS) is the exception.

Women now head up operations in UPS’s top markets in the Americas Region - Ecuador, Mexico, Brazil, Peru and Bolivia. And the company also has launched an innovative career development program aimed at retaining and advancing female managers globally.

Gender disparity is a real business issue for Latin America. Studies show that women make up 44.7* percent of the workforce in Latin America. But according to Globe Summit, a Web-based business network that surveyed Latin Trade magazine’s top 100 Latin American companies in 2005, 64 percent of the 100 companies did not have women in upper management. Additionally, the study found that only five percent of listed board directorships were held by women in contrast to the 10 percent on the boards of FORTUNE Global 200 companies.

Throughout Latin America, UPS is working to develop its female employees for top positions, including Country Manager, the top position in each market. There currently are four women leading country operations in Latin America:

* Carmen Alvarez, Ecuador country manager since 2007, is responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies for all of UPS’s business units in Ecuador.
* Griselda Hernandez, formerly country manager of the Dominican Republic, now is the first female country manager ever to lead Mexican operations. She assumed her post in 2006.
* Nadir Moreno, UPS Brazil country manager, is the first female executive to lead the company’s operations in that country. Moreno was promoted to country manager in 2007.
* And Nelly Chon, who in June assumed responsibility for UPS sales, services and transport operations in Peru and Bolivia.

“Women have a lot to offer in this industry and I am grateful that I’ve been given the opportunity to succeed at UPS,” said Nadir Moreno. “I also consider it my responsibility to ensure that opportunities for other women continue to expand and UPS’s Women’s Leadership Development program is an important way to help provide the needed support.”

The Women’s Leadership Development (WLD) initiative provides UPS managers opportunities to develop leadership and work skills by learning from their peers, from external business organizations and from community service.

The program addresses not only workplace issues but home issues as well. Work-Life balance has emerged as a critical issue for women’s job satisfaction and retention. As a consequence, WLD sessions cover such topics as financial planning, women’s health and parenting as well as work topics like time management, communication and conflict resolution skills.

“Women are looking for examples from other women about how they balance the pressures and responsibilities of family and work,” said Amy Whitley, UPS vice president of human resources. “Fortunately, UPS has been able to develop women to take leadership roles in our Latin American business. And with WLD, we are addressing the issue directly around the world.”