This article enhances some ideas and opinions related with the challenges that women across the world face nowadays to pursue a professional career. The route they take has frequent obstacles of a distinct nature, which are not always comparable with those faced by men. The starting point of this work is the conclusions of the workshop \u201cWomen empowerment and gender equality, responsible research and innovation\u201d\u2014Research Project \u201cSOILdarity\u201d. This workshop revealed a diversified view about the subject, evidencing its connection with the social sustainability, with a special focus on academia and research management. This document introduces the topic in the context of the workshop, revises key aspects of women\u2019s empowerment in a society still dominated by men\u2019s opinions and organization (gender balance, obstacles and strategies), highlights the situation of women in academia and in research management, and gives the authors\u2019 opinions about some questions related to gender and equality. We conclude that all societal actors must acknowledge women as key actors in contributing to social sustainability, working together towards creating an environment where they can have leadership roles.