Dr. Sonia De Avelar is Director of Katálysis Research & Consulting, São Paulo, Brazil, since 2003. She is a Political Scientist, M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and has conducted research on labor markets, gender inequality and development issues in LA, on women´s access to leadership roles in economic decision-making and to resources, for international organizations, including ILO, UNIFEM, UNDP, World Bank, and Inter-American Development Bank. J.P. Dr. De Avelar was a Lemann Visiting Scholar, Harvard University, 2001-2002.

Her areas of specialization are in women’s careers in corporate management; corporate culture, policies and practices, and the status of women in the “pipeline” for senior jobs; glass ceiling issues and barriers to women´s advancement in the corporate ladder; access of women to business networks and to corporate boards; diversity, workplace issues and policies for balancing career and family. She also specializes in creation and growth of women owned SMEs, access to markets, financial services, and business associations as well a corporate citizenship, wealth and philanthropy in Brazil.

Dr. De Avelar has been a frequent participant in international conferences and is the author of articles, and book chapters; and co-author with Dr. Gina Zabludovsky of the book Empresarias y Ejecutivas en Mexico y Brasil, 2001.