The advice that I would give to women interested in working in the mining industry, or just starting their career, is to be bold and courageous and not be afraid to take chances. It’s important to put yourself out there as personal growth often comes from situations that take you outside of your comfort zone and the toughest challenges can often be the most rewarding.

We all see, day by day, the involvement of women in this field is growing. Women bring a different lens to the industry and its more holistic. I am very very fortunate to have 6 amazing women colleagues together within the team. They aspire me by exchanging a lot of ideas, constructive criticism, we learn together, and this help me to improve my daily life and career.

Coming from a conservative society to work in a prominently male-dominated industry might seem challenging for us, females. However, I honestly think it is a privilege. It is an opportunity to prove myself to myself first and to others second that boundaries are merely mental or cultural than physical. As a proud mother, I feel grateful to all previous and existing Vale females around the world and through its history who inspire me and my colleagues and keep proofing day-by-day that we, like our male colleagues, are equally capable to prevail and shine in the mining industry.

Mining is not just about going down to the mines. The entire supply chain requires everyone’s effort to make it happen. More campaigns can be carried out to spread and increase the awareness of mining industry. Don’t be daunted by the word mining. There’re a lot of fun and interesting things underlying awaiting for you to discover and learn.

There were always situations in which I could sense some prejudice and gender stereotype. As an example, I remember when I had to fire someone for the first time in my career, my superior said to me that I would be uncapable to do it because I’m “too kind and a sensitive person." Instead of support and training, I found misjudgment. Being empathetic and human doesn’t mean I’m incapable to make difficult decisions and doing what is the right thing to do. On the other hand, it helps to construct connections, brings meaning and purpose and as a consequence, it helps to perform.

The advice would not only be to women who want to start, but to those of us who are already in it, to try to be mentors to the young women. This will make a larger group of young women interested in working in the mining sector because they will know that within they will find a group that will support them in their incorporation process.

I was very lucky to have joined the sector at a time when awareness of a universe of greater cultural diversity in companies was beginning to attract attention. I am very proud to have been the first Brazilian woman to work underground for a multinational company. Today, mining is the sector with the best opportunities for women, as companies have already understood that in a universe of greater diversity, in addition to being safer and more productive, it represents a major advance in the governance process.

My team is mostly made up of women. And, like men, they are listened to, challenged and are not spared from tasks. I always support them in any challenge they want to pursue. I believe that when a woman accepts a challenge, we have won a cause.

“The inclusion of women is key to ensuring sustainability in mining organizations. The women in mining sector can make their mark in one of the most developed sectors in the world. Working in mining reflects the women ability to challenge and determinate to prove their worth in contributing to the company vision”.

My advice to women is to be humble with wisdom, courage, interest and the goal to be better. Listen, learn, give your opinion, be firm and feel the responsibility of being a woman. Today, your attitude opens doors for thousands of other women to go through.

I used to hear people saying, “it’s a man’s world”, but look at what women have achieved in Vale these days. Many women have proven to be the best in what they do - and I aspire to become like them one day. So ladies, be confident, speak boldly and be proactive. We can do it too!

For the women who are interested in mining, my advice is persevering that everything you want to do can fulfill, make a difference and have confidence in yourselves.

The mining industry’s image might be the one that men have more advantage than women until now. But recently, this image are changing to the one in which men and women are equally treated.

Being an “outsider” – from a country where mining is not a traditional industry, being female, and especially in the early years of my career, people were doubting my ability especially when I don’t speak the same “lingo”. It doesn’t help that my role as an auditor made people highly sensitive naturally. However, it helped me to always be humble and respectful, have an open and inquisitive mindset, and communicate transparently and empathetically.

We are “surfing” in a wonderful moment of respect and recognition. My initial performance was in the midst of a macho culture with little appreciation for female professionals. Therefore, I am extremely happy with Vale’s role in the women’s cause. Don’t be shaken by the fame of a predominantly male area. Mining is a world of opportunity for everyone who is willing to discover it!

Vale's culture is one of those that I am proud to be part of - a safety conscious environment that invests in people and promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment; respect and collaboration; improving together to achieve common goals. I encourage more women to consider careers in geoscience and the mining industry, as the opportunities are vast.

I am one out of the two first women attending and graduating at ITA, in Brazil, and I am very proud of, since then, pioneering the path for women in usually male environment. I am sure there is nothing women cannot do, it just a matter of willingness and determination!

I see Vale's role in hiring and promoting women as a great incentive for them to constantly dedicate themselves and reach ever higher levels. My advice to those who want to work in mining is: have dedication and willpower, because you can always get where you want to go.

Working in Vale I would not even feel a hint that women and man can be differently, which was perceived in mining industry. Our country manager is women and recently our office hired 10 management trainees from thousands of candidates and 9 are women. The advice I would give for who are interested in mining will be: life is a marathon, not a sprint. You need to have vision, plan, patience and resilience. Women are capable doing anything you are willing.

When I became a mother, I heard once that I had to choose between being a mother or a professional. Now they are situations that cause me humor, and I think those comments helped me to become the professional that I am now, collapsing wrong beliefs.

In all the sectors I worked in before mining, I always felt oppressed and often seen as an object. Society has this tendency to put women in uncomfortable situations. But, in mining, we feel welcomed and respected at our posts and we are not measured by our physical appearance, but by our professionalism. I feel safe and I encourage women to enter this industry.

The world is rapidly evolving and every company needs good talent, regardless of their gender. Now is the best time to join the mining industry especially because it leverages on critical thinking skills and advancement in technologies. As long as you have the dedication, you can be confident that the mining world is your oyster.

I recently joined Vale Oman as Head of Environment and I was impressed to see how women are becoming a major contributor to the success of the Mining Industry and I’m confident that more women are on their way to being leaders in this field.

In general, there is an opinion that women are not suitable to work in heavy industries. But in this era, we see more and more women who want to join or already have positions in Vale. And this can increase the confidence of the female workforce in pursuing their dreams. Prepare yourself, keep the spirit. Having self-confidence is one of the keys to survive in a male-dominated industry like mining.

While it’s true that commercial roles within the mining industry tend to be overrepresented by men, which can be intimating for women looking to enter the industry, times are changing and Vale is at the forefront of that movement. Vale has given me many opportunities and I have proven that women bring the same competences & capabilities as men. Don’t let yourself be intimated by the male predominance in the field. Join us and let’s make a difference.

Seeing how much Vale has invested in women is gratifying. We have more and more space and opportunities to show how much we are capable of achieving everything we aspire to. My advice to those who want to enter the industry is: don’t be afraid of the new. Be determined and never bow your head when you feel oppressed by the fact of being women, show, through professionalism, ethics, conduct and commitment.

The path to success is filled with obstacles and hardship especially for women in the mining industry. Looking back, I feel proud of the woman I am today as I managed to build a career path paved with numerous successful milestones, perseverance and hard work. The road is still long and I am looking forward for more challenges and more success proving that nothing is impossible for any woman to achieve. The sky is our limit!

Working in mining is as challenging as it is pleasant, since we learn to deal with complex processes but are also faced with pre-judgments. All of this means that women have to prove our capacity to occupy our place. However, I see that Vale is a company that has sought to be the mirror of society with all its diversity and that makes me want to grow and develop my skills and competences here.

The mining industry is a very broad and beautiful sector that is made up of trained people, not matter gender, race, culture, what really matters is that you are willing to face continuous challenges and enjoy what you do. Be empowered women with no doubts about your knowledge, abilities and of what you have been prepared for.

Show your skills and dedication, then we can compete with anyone. Working in a mining processing plant that is synonymous with a masculine world, makes me even more challenged to show that women can do it too!

When I feel included I am more motivated to give in more time and energy in my work. When I see my employer is focusing on accepting diversity and create social norms for inclusion, I feel welcome and engaged this encourages me to be more creative. I become a participant not a spectator

The journey to becoming a female worker in our industry starts before the job application and begins with young women being encouraged to view working in this type of industry as an exciting opportunity for them.

Being a woman has never hindered my professional trajectory in mining. I've always been very positive about my goals and sure about my interest in the industry. I believe that the female presence in these environments is important to break paradigms and show that a woman's place is wherever she wants it to be.

I joined Vale in 2010 as an operational trainee and I have never faced any problems for being a woman. For me, seeing more women in mining is a source of great pride, as it reinforces that we have the right to be wherever we want.

It was with the supportive and diverse culture at Vale that I was able to successfully chart a path forward for my own betterment, both at a personal and professional level. When I took on the role, I realized very quickly that “being the change I wished to see” would have to become far more than just one of my many utterances, but something I would have to follow every day.

At no time did I feel inferior or incapable of performing tasks that men do. On the contrary, being a woman and being in an area considered masculine helped me to see the strong woman within me that I didn't even know existed.

Vale is committed to valuing diversity and promoting inclusion. Since I took the position as Country Manager, I have been determined to keep promoting the meritocracy culture and recognizing our employees only by their performance instead of their gender, race or anything else. I believe, your dreams and aspirations will take you wherever you wish to go at Vale.