Since 2019, this initiative has provided a space for dialogue and understanding in Mexico; it currently has more than 200 members.
Cultural diversity is a distinctive feature of Ternium. Since we are present in different regions of the world, the combination of cultures is a key element that highlights the organization as one of the leading companies in the steel industry.
Since 2019, this cultural diversity has been joined by an initiative to raise awareness of contemporary matters related to the qualities of the human being, such as sexual diversity, gender identity, unconscious biases, and even issues such as the importance of inter-cultural and inclusive leadership.
This is the Lean-In Circles program, an open space of inclusion and respect, where attendees can express themselves freely and promote thoughtful dialogue about these matters, which are considered to be deeply relevant at the moment, and make the labor market more diverse.
By having a space like the Lean-In Circles, topics such as sexual orientation and gender identity are no longer taboo and promote diversity in the workplace.
This program started globally in 2019 with face-to-face sessions. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sessions have been conducted online.
In face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lean-In Circle sessions have been conducted on line.
Currently, there are more than 200 members in the Lean-In Circles community from different regions such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
These spaces encourage reflection and awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion. As strategic matters in the labor market, companies focusing on them tend to have better results and more collaborative and empathetic teams.
For Paulo López, Rolling Director in Ternium Industrial Center, this experience has been enriching and full of learnings. “Enriches our points of view and allows us to grow as a community and organization,” he said, “They help us to be ready and face the different challenges together.”
“They promote the diversity in Ternium’s agenda. We always look for improvement. Introducing new points of view will help us have new ideas that should place us in a better way as a company.”
López added that being in a diverse group makes the people emphatic, a value that is more important than ever in this health emergency that we are living in. “A pandemic environment requires a highly emphatic society, and the interest and general caring of the Lean-In Circles improve and strengthens it.”
By having a space like the Lean-In Circles, topics such as sexual orientation and gender identity are no longer taboo and promote diversity in the workplace.
Another benefit of the Lean-In Circles is an environment where there are contact and collaboration networks.
On the other hand, Gisela Verdun, Analytics Models & Data Science director, agreed on the importance of promoting this type of initiative in the company, which shows the commitment to encouraging a cultural change for being a more diverse and inclusive company.
“I had the opportunity of being a participant in the first Lean-In Circle and a co-facilitator in the second global circle. It was a process of deep learning, not just for the conceptual understanding of some central aspects related to the Diversity and Inclusive topic, but because of being able to reflect and enrich it as a group in the context of daily life and even to change my behavior, practicing what I learned,” she mentioned.
“The sessions have a structure where they represent relevant concepts of the topic, like unconscious biases, leader types, cultural differences, etc. There we can open conversations that are complemented with additional readings, videos, but above anything, with the contribution of each circle participant.”
Verdun invited all the collaborators to be a part of this initiative, after all, they are excellent groups that encourage the reflection about the importance of having working spaces that promote diversity.