Young students from Valparaíso high schools, full of goals and eager to advance professionally, were the protagonists of the first edition of MAB Trasciende, a community engagement initiative born from Terminal Pacífico Sur Valparaíso's Mujeres a Bordo (MAB) program to promote female leadership in port activities.
The students, from Matilde Brandau High School and the Maritime Institute, who are studying Port Operations, shared a day of knowledge, testimonies, and opportunities to learn more about the role women have achieved in the maritime and port industry, with the active participation of TPS collaborators who are part of the Mujeres A Bordo program, as well as representatives from Ocean Network Express and Wista Chile.
Fernanda Rehbein, TPS's Deputy Manager of Sustainability and Communications, stated that "at TPS, we have been running the Mujeres a Bordo program for four years, and today's event is a tremendous opportunity to transmit to the professionals of tomorrow what we have contributed to this beautiful activity that is Chilean foreign trade; and above all, to tell them to always trust in themselves. We are very happy with the results of MAB Trasciende, and of course, we thank the collaborative work with other organizations so that we can continue to create these enriching instances."
The day began with a Personal Brand and Empowerment Workshop, followed by exercises and a pitch to support the development of their own messages, guided by Ghislaine Cádiz from Consultora Be Kairós, which has accompanied the Mujeres a Bordo program since its inception; and concluded with a discussion where the young women had a frank conversation about how to achieve their goals and what challenges they will face as future professionals.
A Path Full of Challenges and Satisfactions
María Jesús Caballero, Port & Terminals Operations Supervisor at Ocean Network Express (ONE) Chile, with almost 20 years of experience, told the students, "I want to acknowledge all of you for being here today; this is an industry where women can grow a lot, which fills me with pride to be part of this activity. This business is not about gender; it's about skills and capabilities."
Raquel Meza, president of Wista Chile, highlighted that "seeing more and more young women in this industry, which is highly masculine, fills me with tremendous pride because the path has been very difficult for those of us who have been in this for years. You have a tremendous future ahead of you."
Vanessa Ramírez, Head of Organizational Development at TPS, commented: "It was a day prepared with great care; it was the first time we did it with Fourth-Year high school students, and it was very emotional for everyone who participated, as we realized that what we experience in Mujeres a Bordo at TPS is similar to the experience of other women who are industry leaders. The idea is that it will be a program we can do again next year so that more port students can participate."
Ada Fontalba, Head of UTP at Matilde Brandau High School, which has 500 students, said: "We were invited by TPS and accepted immediately, as it is very important for the students to learn more. We are very happy; the professionals who shared their experience in this workshop are admirable. Our students are very enthusiastic about showing that they are organized, methodical, and studious. They just want opportunities."
