Technical training and mentoring programs for women have driven our increase in the representation of women
As part of our 2030 Sustainability Commitments, we set a goal of having 25% of our leadership positions occupied by women globally, considering the nine countries where we operate. In 2025, we surpassed this target, with 26% of leadership roles occupied by women, a 1.2 percentage-point increase compared to 2024, when this rate was 24.8%. In 2020, the percentage was 20.1%, representing an increase of more than 5 percentage points in five years.
“Reaching our global 2030 target for women in leadership positions ahead of schedule is a milestone that validates our commitment to diversity and inclusion. We believe that diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey that must be part of all our efforts. This goes from the base, with technical training to prepare more women to occupy spaces in the market, to the top, with increased female representation in senior leadership. The goal is for our industry to be perceived as a potential and attractive option for women seeking professional development and opportunities. Through partnerships and structured development programs, we strive to create a truly inclusive work environment that can attract and—most importantly—retain the best talent,” said Cinthia Bossi, our global director of People, Management and Communications at Votorantim Cimentos.
In addition to the target related to leadership positions, we also seek to increase the number of women in operational roles at all levels. In Brazil, one of our initiatives to accelerate female inclusion and integration into leadership positions is the Women’s Technical Training Pathway. This is a development program for women working in Maintenance, Mining, Production and Quality in our plants in Brazil, from entry-level positions, such as apprentices and interns, to technical and leadership roles. More than 170 female employees are being trained as part of this program’s first cycle, which started in 2024. In 2024, we also launched a knowledge path for non-leaders called Initiative and Self-Development: Trailblazing Women, which included 860 women throughout the year.
Launched in 2020, Lidera VC is a leadership development program for women. More than 250 women have already participated in the program, which addresses various topics from a gender and inclusion perspective, such as gender stereotypes, negotiation, inclusive leadership, strategic leadership and professional image. In 2025, we also launched a Mentoring Program for Women, with the participation of 13 women identified as potential successors to leadership positions.
Another initiative is the Evoluir Program, which offers free professional training to local residents and workers in the areas where we operate, opening up new opportunities in the job market for the participants and reinforcing our commitment to building a positive legacy for society. The technical courses are conducted in partnership with professional technical training organizations, such as the Brazilian National Service for Industrial Training (SENAI) and the Brazilian Social Transportation Service and National Service for Transportation Learning (SEST/SENAT). Over the past two years (2024-2025), we offered 31 free professional training courses, totaling 505 participants, of which 238 were women. The courses prepared participants to work as industrial electricians, boiler operators, computer operators, industrial maintenance mechanics, ready-mix truck drivers, forklift operators, mobile machinery operators, welders, and technicians in electromechanics, chemistry and mechanics.