Walmart Chile and its commitment to female leadership

The U.S. retailer is the third largest employer in Chile, and 54% of its employees are now women, thanks to its inclusion and equality measures.   

Walmart, the U.S. supermarket chain and Chile’s third-largest creator of jobs, is committed to significantly impacting society and closing gender gaps. 

Its figures show it is on the right track. Women comprise 54% (22,220) of the company’s current employees and 44% of its supervisors, deputy managers and managers. 

Diversity and inclusion as a strategy 

According to Miguel Ángel Ruiz, Chief People Officer at Walmart Chile, diversity and inclusion are strategic to the company’s way of doing business. 

«We know valuing our differences has resulted in more creative teams and helped us better understand and serve our customers. Being a major source of jobs is not enough these days. Companies have the tremendous responsibility of offering quality jobs in diverse, inclusive environments that provide real growth opportunities to those with access to them,» says Ruiz.  

Walmart has undertaken several commitments to continue closing the gender gap. The first is for women to hold 50% of leadership roles by 2028.  Ruiz explained that Walmart Chile will prioritize women when filling positions arising from new store openings, offering internal development opportunities and hiring new talent nationwide.  

Promoting the professional development of women 

Walmart has been working with SENCE since 2023 on its Avanza Mujer (Advancing Women) program, which aims to promote personal and professional development on its operations team by training 5,000 female employees before 2025. 

«This year, we expanded the program to every region where Walmart Chile operates. More than 200 female operations employees will earn certification in Concepción, for example,» the executive explained.   

The contribution of foreign companies in Chile 

Ruiz pointed out that while all companies can significantly contribute to gender equity, many foreign companies have more progressive policies and experience in markets where equity is more established. 

«Foreign companies bring global practices, foster diversity and are committed to international standards that promote equal opportunities for all. This exchange of knowledge and experiences contributes to improving local practices and raising standards in Chile,» he said.   

«The important thing is to change the sense of responsibility within companies regarding inclusion so that it is not just a human resources task. The entire company must take responsibility: managers, employees, customers and communities. It is a win-win opportunity for everyone,» he concluded.