Ep. 072: Attracting women to the mining industry

Guest: Anna Tudela, Goldcorp

There are many challenges facing mining companies committed to increasing women in their ranks at all levels.

Anna Tudela of Goldcorp says, “We’ve been encouraging women not just in the roles that are easier to join, but [also] in the work of mining, because we want to ensure we have the workforce we require for the future.”

Tudela acknowledges that mining is a tough business. Mines are in remote and frequently inhospitable locations that require long periods of time away from family. These reasons, plus a male culture that has traditionally been unable or unwilling to accommodate the needs of women, are the reasons the industry has a low percentage of female workers. While those reasons are valid, they are not sufficient to stop Tudela and her “Creating Choices” program designed to increase the number of women to the field. “We have graduated over 1200 women in the program.”

“It all depends on what you want in life,” says Tudela. “Do you want the experience, are you willing make the commitment and, in so doing, discover what you are capable of?”