WomenUp brings together EDP, Nova SBE and Sonae once again to promote female leadership
Nova SBE Executive Education, EDP and Sonae have opened applications for the second edition of Women Up, an international female leadership development programme. Following a first edition that brought together 33 participants from 13 nationalities, the initiative will return in January 2027 to continue supporting women with established management careers in preparing for senior leadership roles.
Applications are now officially open for the second edition of Women Up, a programme aimed at women with more than 15 years of professional experience and at least five years in management positions.
Starting in January 2027, this joint initiative by Nova SBE Executive Education, Sonae and EDP offers a leadership development journey that combines self-awareness, learning, individual support and engagement with a community of leaders, reinforcing the commitment of the three organisations to promoting gender equity and developing female leaders prepared to take on senior executive roles.
Women Up is built on the belief that more diverse leadership is essential for organisations to become more innovative, competitive and better equipped to address today’s challenges. More than a one-off initiative, the programme reflects the long-term commitment of Nova SBE Executive Education, Sonae and EDP to strengthening female talent, expanding access to career progression opportunities and preparing women for top leadership positions.
A journey to lead with impact
The second edition of Women Up includes a 360º assessment, four individual coaching sessions, mentoring with leaders from EDP and Sonae, online sessions, and an immersive week (scheduled for March 2027). The programme has been designed to support each participant in reflecting on her leadership style and on the decisions that will shape her next professional challenges.
“Leadership is transformed when talent is given room to grow. The success of the first edition of Women Up reinforces EDP’s ambition to continue investing in the development of women leaders, enhancing their confidence, influence and ability to create impact,” adds João Verdelho, Talent Management Senior Director at EDP Group.
A shared commitment to female leadership
By bringing together academic knowledge, business experience and an international community of leaders, the partnership between Nova SBE Executive Education, EDP and Sonae aims to contribute to more inclusive organisations capable of responding to the growing complexity of today’s economic and social environments.
The programme creates the conditions for women with established management careers to deepen their strategic vision, strengthen their ability to influence and prepare for the decisions that will define their next professional challenges.
“Investing in the development of women leaders means investing in organisations that are more representative, better prepared and more capable of creating value. Women Up promotes learning that is closely connected to the real challenges of leadership and creates a community where the sharing of experiences, mentoring and reflection help each participant prepare for the next steps in her professional journey,” says Cristina Rodrigues, Talent & Leadership Development Manager at Sonae.
An international community of leaders
The first edition of Women Up brought together 33 participants, half of whom had international profiles, representing 13 nationalities from four continents. This diversity contributed to a learning community enriched by different professional experiences and leadership perspectives.
In the evaluation of the first edition, participants gave the programme an average recommendation score of 9.4 out of 10, highlighting the relevance of the content, methodologies and overall quality of the learning experience.
“The first edition of Women Up confirmed the importance of creating demanding, close-knit development environments with a strong international dimension for women who already have established professional careers. With this second edition, we want to continue supporting leaders in gaining clarity about their next steps, strengthening their influence and preparing for greater responsibilities. We believe that promoting more diverse leadership is a tangible way to enhance organisations’ capacity for innovation, competitiveness and value creation,” says Marta Pimentel, Executive Director of Nova SBE Executive Education.
Nova SBE Executive Education combines the very best conceptual and scientific knowledge with leading business experiences and practices, establishing a close connection between academia and companies. Its mission is to deliver advanced executive education in economics, management and finance while contributing to the development of management knowledge.
Additional information about the programme and applications is available here.