Women from various ME Elecmetal South America operations —Lima (Peru), Calama, Antofagasta, Copiapó, and Santiago (Chile)— gathered in Rancagua for an unprecedented meeting to reflect on the present and future of ME Elecmetal and the role that diversity, especially diverse talent, plays on that path. Under the premise of Thinking the company towards 2030, the event aimed to strengthen bonds, recognize career paths, inspire a more inclusive and collaborative culture, and build purpose, thereby supporting the 2030 sustainability strategy.
Although the company has advanced in establishing multiculturalism as its main diversity asset and diverse talent as a value of utmost importance, female representation in the mining and metallurgical industry remains low. This is despite efforts and achievements in the case of large mining (23.1%. CCM Eleva, 2025) and 18% in the case of APRIMIN partner companies (2024), and the increasing and improved spaces to connect and share experiences. In this context, the held Meeting projects professional development and recognizes the important role of women in the purpose of contributing to a more diverse, innovative, and sustainable company.
To address this challenge, a group of women leaders from ME Elecmetal Global and Chile organized the Women’s Meeting in Rancagua, which brought together nearly 90 collaborators in a gathering that marked a milestone in the company’s history. For the first time, women from all ME Elecmetal South America operations convened, creating community, pride, and a sense of belonging, while also gathering valuable information about the participants’ experiences, expectations, and challenges.
The meeting included digital interactions that allowed the collection of key information on improvement opportunities, group purpose, and recognition, providing a concrete foundation for continued progress. In this context, Mariangeles Canitrot, Technical Commercial Manager, was recognized as the most voted “inspiring woman” of the session, reflecting the spirit of collaboration and mutual admiration that marked the day.
The event —expected to have ongoing follow-up— will enable the design of systematic initiatives, with concrete tasks and participatory spaces, that drive real actions around inclusion, attraction, development, and retention of greater diverse talent. All of this is aimed at preparing the company to meet its medium- and long-term objectives. It established the conviction that workforce participation is measured not only in numbers but in the ability to build a culture where all voices are heard.
“In all the years I've been with the company, nothing like this had ever been done. Before, only a few of us would get together, but this time was different: it was nice to see all of us, recognize each other, and feel the connection we have every day.”
In Chile, this challenge is especially relevant considering that female labor participation reaches only 52.6% compared to 71.8% for men, and that only 27% of executive positions in companies are held by women (INE, 2025). In this context, ME Elecmetal seeks to actively contribute to closing these gaps through its participation in spaces such as Women in Mining, Women in Action promoted by Aprimin, and Women Open Innovation (WOI) of the Women Economic Forum Chile, where Constanza Echeverría, Global Sustainability Director, presented “Sustainable Transformation: ME Elecmetal’s Model for the Industry of the Future”, and Jacqueline González participated in the Women in Mining panel.
The Meeting also brought together its leaders, such as Roberto Lecaros, Vice President of Technical Department, Global Marketing and Sustainability; José Pablo Domínguez, General Manager of ME Elecmetal South America; and Cristian Rioseco, Manager of ME Grinding Media Chile, among others, who highlighted that the company’s growth and innovation are only possible when all different perspectives, cultures, career paths, knowledge, and experiences are integrated.
The initiative was designed as a space for gathering and collective building. Through teamwork, facilitated among South American leaders with inspiring talks, activities, and data, it sought to generate a sense of belonging, establish collaboration for a purpose, and strengthen the company’s female network.
The main benefit is strengthening ME Elecmetal’s cultural identity, consolidating an environment where each person feels recognized and part of a common purpose. This type of gathering enhances collaboration among different operations, highlights female role models, and contributes to accelerating progress and consolidation of more diverse talent by 2030.
For the first time, women from all South American operations gathered, creating community and commitment. The activity allowed identifying new internal ambassadors of diversity and motivated leaders to continue driving concrete actions. Likewise, the meeting established the idea that equity is not only measured in numbers but in the ability to jointly build a culture where everyone’s voice has space.
