In commemoration of International Women in Engineering Day
At Anddes, we pay tribute to the leadership, vision, and commitment of our professionals who are making their mark from different countries in the region.
In this space for dialogue, three outstanding professionals share their motivations, learnings, and reflections: Romy Valdivia, General Manager of Anddes Mexico, Natalí Luna, Project Manager in the Environmental Services Area of Anddes Argentina, and Hilda Garay, Head of Supervision and QA – Construction Services of Anddes Peru.
What motivated you to choose engineering as a professional path?
Romy Valdivia chose this path for its transformative capacity: “Engineering turns ideas into tangible development. Knowing that our work contributes to sustainable progress is what inspires me the most.
In the case of Natalí Luna, she highlights «My interest in science, along with the desire to contribute to improving the quality of life of the most vulnerable sectors of society.»
For Hilda Garay, engineering was a way to create what was designed and build it, fulfilling and improving what was captured in the technical documents, doing so with rigor and commitment to quality: “From a very young age, I was interested in understanding the technical details of the behavior of materials that influence the success of a project. Engineering gave me the opportunity to realize engineering design projects, ensuring that each step of construction is carried out with safety, quality, and efficiency.”
What key learnings has your experience as project leaders in different contexts left you with?
Hilda highlights the power of control and monitoring in the quality of construction: “Being at the forefront of supervision and QA of construction projects has taught me that the success of a project is not only in successfully carrying out the planning, but also that the teamwork of each person in the field and the support from the office is key to the success of the supervision. Ensuring technical and regulatory standards, and promoting continuous improvement with the support of the entire team in each project, is important to achieve reliable and sustainable results.”
Natalí adds the importance of resilience in the face of uncertainty: “Projects sometimes don’t turn out exactly as planned. Knowing how to manage pressure, solve problems creatively, and maintain motivation is part of the growth”.
Romy highlights the importance of strategic vision: “Leading implies anticipating, making decisions with clarity, and always keeping in mind the social and environmental impact of our actions.”
What message would you leave for those who are starting their journey in engineering today?
Natalí points out: “Prepare yourselves with passion, always seek to learn something more, and do not underestimate any opportunity, no matter how small it may seem. Because luck is not a matter of chance, but the point where preparation and opportunity meet. May each step on this path bring you closer to that intersection.”
Romy adds: “Each project is an opportunity to grow. The important thing is to maintain an open attitude, with commitment and vision.”
Hilda concludes with a clear message: “Every action counts. If you decide to follow this path, do it with technical responsibility, passion for quality, and commitment to safety. This is how works that transcend are built.”
At Anddes, we work to create sustainable solutions for a better society. We are proud to have professionals who reflect this purpose, and who, as part of our multidisciplinary team, lead with technical and human vision.
We will continue to promote environments where ideas become sustainable solutions, aligned with our value proposition: to provide innovative and sustainable solutions for mining and energy projects, with the support of an expert and committed team.
Thank you to all the women engineers who inspire, build, and lead change at Anddes and throughout Latin America!