In honor of International Women’s Day, Alacero organized a webinar that brought together industry leaders to reflect on the experiences of women in leadership roles within the sector and the challenges involved in achieving greater inclusion.
The event featured Silvina Saavedra, Director of Supply Chain (ArcelorMittal Acindar, Argentina); Vanessa Antoine, Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition and Development (Ternium Brazil); and Ana Claudia Brant, Director of People (Gerdau Corsa, Mexico), who shared their career paths, lessons learned, and challenges in the steel industry. More than 170 people attended the event.
One of the central themes was the sector’s progress in the area of diversity. “Today we have policies, metrics, and programs that promote inclusion—something that didn’t exist when we entered the industry,” noted Ana Claudia Brant of Gerdau Corsa.
The three speakers agreed that significant challenges remain. “The barriers are still largely cultural and require sustained effort over time,” explained Silvina Saavedra of ArcelorMittal Acindar. In this journey, the role of leadership is key. “For real change to happen, the diversity agenda must be driven from the highest level of the organization,” she added.
For her part, Vanessa Antoine of Ternium highlighted the impact of greater female participation: “The presence of women in leadership positions drives change in culture, decision-making, and teams.”
The participants also agreed on the importance of broadening the conversation: “Diversity cannot be an issue for women alone; we need to actively involve men,” Brant stated.
Finally, the event sent a clear message for the future: “When women join, stay, and lead, they transform not only companies but the entire industry,” they concluded.