The issue of gender diversity in decision making positions has been gaining in proeminence at EU level since 2010, when the EC adopted its new Strategy for Equality between Women and Men anouncing targeted initiatives to get more women in top jobs in decision making.Following a comparative analysis of their national policies and practice, partners of the project identified a common challenge which showed a lack of effort in improving women’s leadership skills as a means of increasing their representation in decision-making positions.Considering the growing body of research which demonstrate the benefits of gender diversity and the positive correlation with business performance, the project aims at empowering women executives from the corporate sector and women from outside the corporate mainstream with skills necessary for developing their leadership competence and thus open the door for women to top management positions.Based on a participative methodology, the project will involve men with a powerful role in institutions aiming to make them understand and value the gender differences and to contribute to the change of management processes and men’s attitude towards women. Project will develop collaborative learning practices and tools that will contribute to the change of an organization’s learning culture, creating an innovative working environment based on knowledge sharing between women and men.The project has the potential to contribute to all aspects of Europe 2020’ smart growth as it will develop means of strengthening knowledge through high quality education, innovation and digital society. Strong economies will depend on higher female wage returns on paid jobs. This is why Europe 2020 sets a target of raising the employment rate to 75 %.Achieving this target requires greater participation of women in the labour market. Therefore, incentives for women such as credible prospects of career progress, are essential; the project consists in one such incentive.