Equal opportunities at TMA: female leadership in waste management
On March 8, International Women’s Day, we want to make the role of women in our company visible, share their experiences and highlight how our commitment to equality drives a more inclusive and equitable work environment. Through the testimony of our colleagues, we explore the challenges, achievements and advances towards greater equity in the sector. Equal opportunities are not just an objective, but a commitment that drives progress in organizations and in society. In historically masculinized sectors, such as technical and scientific areas, the presence of women continues to grow, challenging barriers and transforming the labor landscape. At TMA, we believe in talent without gender distinction and we are committed to diversity as a key pillar for innovation and growth. On this 8M, we want to give a voice to the women in our company, make their role visible and share their experiences. Through their testimonies, we reflect the challenges they have faced, the achievements made and the impact of our commitment to equality in building a more inclusive and equitable work environment. Continue reading if you want to know more.
HOW TMA PROMOTES GENDER EQUALITY AND WORKPLACE INCLUSION
At TMA, we firmly believe that equal opportunities between men and women is a fundamental pillar for growth and innovation in our sector.
Over the years, we have worked to demasculinize certain roles and encourage women’s access to scientific, technical and leadership positions.
Equality in the workplace is a key factor for the sustainable development of companies. Gender diversity improves decision-making, drives creativity and strengthens corporate culture.
However, structural barriers that hinder equity still persist in many industries. Therefore, the commitment to equality must be translated into concrete actions that guarantee a fair and inclusive work environment.
On this 8M, International Women’s Day, we want to give visibility to the stories of women who, with their talent and dedication, have contributed to transforming the industry and breaking stereotypes in the waste management sector.
Through their experiences, we want to inspire many more to dare, grow and lead in a traditionally masculinized field.
In addition, we reaffirm our commitment to avoid gender stereotypes and promote the inclusion of all people, regardless of their gender identity or expression, orientations or conditions.
WOMEN LEADERS WHO DRIVE CHANGE IN TRADITIONALLY MASCULINE SECTORS
The waste management sector has historically been masculinized in many of its areas.
However, more and more women are occupying key spaces in decision-making, research and the technical operation of fundamental processes.
At TMA, we have highly qualified professionals who play an essential role in the development of innovative and sustainable solutions for efficient and environmentally friendly waste management.
Women in technical and scientific areas: a boost for innovation
Female talent is key to advancing innovation and sustainability.
The presence of women in engineering, research and process development has been shown to improve efficiency and bring new perspectives to the industry.
Although there are still invisible barriers that hinder female participation in these areas, at TMA, we are committed to making their role visible and creating reference spaces for more women to join this sector.
Companies that promote diversity in their work teams achieve better results, since different experiences and ways of thinking enrich problem solving and decision making.
To achieve this, it is essential to promote mentoring programs, make female role models visible and guarantee equal working conditions for all people.
HOW FEMALE LEADERSHIP IMPACTS BUSINESS DECISION-MAKING
Diverse leadership is key to improving efficiency, creativity and the capacity for innovation in any company.
At TMA, we are committed to promoting female talent and creating spaces in which women can take on leadership roles with complete equality.
The presence of women in decision-making has allowed for a more inclusive and strategic approach in the company.
Women in leadership positions: moving towards equity in companies
Female leadership contributes to greater equity in decision-making and strengthens the business commitment to diversity. However, female representation in management positions remains a challenge globally.
To promote gender equity, at TMA we implement internal promotion policies and encourage inclusive leadership that guarantees equal opportunities.
Eliminating the so-called “glass ceiling” remains a pending task in many organizations. Access to leadership positions for women should be based on the recognition of merit and talent, without bias or invisible barriers.
Having diverse teams at management levels drives organizational growth and also generates role models for future generations of professional women.
FEMALE LEADERSHIP IN WASTE MANAGEMENT: INSPIRING STORIES AND WOMEN WHO ARE TRANSFORMING THE SECTOR
In the waste management sector, women have begun to stand out not only for their technical ability and professionalism, but also for their transformative vision.
As more women enter fields such as biotechnology, maritime management and environmental engineering, their presence is redefining the dynamics of the sector and opening new opportunities for female talent.
We share some experiences and reflections of women who have made waste management their career and who, with their leadership, are opening new doors for other women.
From the challenges they faced to the lessons that have strengthened them, their stories show us that inclusion and gender equality are fundamental principles and drivers of change that enrich the sector.
In a historically male-dominated sector, the female presence is increasingly visible and relevant.
Head of Laboratory at the MARPOL Plant
Marta, Head of Laboratory at the MARPOL Plant, has experienced this first-hand at MARPOL, where she has always felt valued on equal terms.
“I have always felt valued in the same way as my colleagues and I have felt equal treatment based on respect,” she says, although she recognizes that there are still challenges in gender equality in scientific and technical fields.
For her, the key to continuing to move forward is visibility: “There are more and more female role models at all educational levels, which contributes to changing the mentality of the sector, correcting preconceived ideas and inspiring new generations of women to occupy spaces that they traditionally did not occupy.”
Lucero, Head of Biomedical Plant at TMA Terrassa, shares this vision and highlights how taking on the management of the Biosanitarios plant represented a great challenge for her. “I was aware that the plant was going to be managed by a woman and that led me to give my best,” she says. With determination and self-demand, she learned every detail of the process and complemented her experience with constant training, demonstrating that knowledge and preparation are essential to grow in any field. “Every new role requires learning and this takes time, but it has been worth it,” she says. Her message is clear: “The most important thing is training, enthusiasm and attitude. If you have those bases, you can overcome any challenge.”
Head of Plant at TMA Alicante
Sonia, Head of Plant at TMA Alicante, has also experienced first-hand this transformation and the growth of female roles in waste management. Although at first she did not know the sector in depth, the confidence that was transmitted to her encouraged her to develop in different areas.
Her technical training allowed her to start with administrative and documentary tasks, but over time she expanded her field of action. “According to the needs of the company, I acquired more skills, from logistics management to coordination with other departments,” she explains.
For her, the sector has evolved a lot, with increasingly demanding environmental requirements and more advanced technologies, which makes it a space full of opportunities for women. “The regulations and needs of the sector require more diverse job profiles, which opens the door for more and more women to access technical positions,” she adds.
In this sense, Marta considers it essential that women recognise themselves as capable and prepared to take on roles of responsibility. “It is important that we leave aside the imposed gender roles that often lead us to feel inadequate or uncomfortable in leadership positions, when in reality we are just as prepared as any other professional,” she reflects. Lucero agrees on the importance of confidence and constant training, but also stresses that one must take the plunge without fear. Her advice for those women who still hesitate to take the step is clear: “They should face the challenge with determination and with the attitude and conviction that they are capable of successfully achieving it.”
Sonia. TMA Plant in Alicante
Sonia highlights the value of confidence and opportunities in a sector in constant evolution: “We are part of a sector that is advancing rapidly, closer to society every day, which means more possibilities for women because a greater variety of work profiles will be required.”
She believes that visibility is essential for this to be accepted as an everyday reality and for more women to be able to access these positions without feeling like an exception.
She also highlights the importance of TMA’s Equality Plan as an effective tool to promote equality within the company. “It allows us to become aware of the company’s reality and provides useful information to establish measures that reinforce equal opportunities,” she says, convinced that these efforts will help more women to develop their professional careers in an increasingly inclusive environment.
Lucero also values TMA’s commitment to gender equality, highlighting how the company has been a pioneer in supporting women in different strategic positions. “I have seen how TMA has been a pioneer and has supported women in different positions of responsibility and this represents a positive paradigm shift. It is the right path, which will continue to create opportunities for many more women,” she says.
The path towards full equity and equality for women in these sectors continues to advance and each of them has a clear message for those who want to take the step.
Marta encourages people not to give up due to the difficulties that may arise: “It is worth facing the challenges and finding a balance between work and personal life. The key is perseverance and self-confidence.” Lucero, for his part, invites people to take on challenges without fear: “They should face the challenge with determination and with the attitude and conviction that they are capable of successfully achieving it.” Sonia highlights the importance of visibility and normalisation. For her part, she believes that the female presence in these environments is key to challenging stereotypes and changing the perception of the sector. “The simple fact of being here and showing that we are capable helps to change the perception and normalises our presence in these roles,” she says.
Each of them is an example of how talent, training and determination are key to paving the way in sectors where the female presence is still growing.
But, above all, they are proof that change is real and continuous and that the future of the sector cannot be conceived without the active participation of women.
These stories reflect a necessary change within the sector, where diversity is increasingly recognised as a differentiating value.
Women in scientific and technical roles are demonstrating their capabilities and are transforming the industry with their talent, driving sustainability and redefining the future of waste management.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AT TMA: THE EQUALITY PLAN IS A REAL COMMITMENT
For equal opportunities to become a tangible reality, it is necessary to have concrete tools and strategies.
At TMA we have an Equality Plan that aims to reduce the gender gap and guarantee an equitable and inclusive work environment.
Thanks to this plan, we have made significant progress in the hiring, training and promotion of women at all levels of the organization.
The pillars of the TMA Equality Plan: promoting gender equity
The TMA Equality Plan aims to raise awareness on equality and fight gender stereotypes and guarantees:
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- Access to employment opportunities on equal terms: We ensure that all selection and promotion processes are fair and free of gender bias.
- Reconciliation and co-responsibility: We implement measures that facilitate the reconciliation of personal and professional life.
- Awareness and training: We offer gender equality training to our teams to foster an environment of respect and inclusion.
- Protection and support for the LGTBIQ+ community: We apply a protocol against LGTBI harassment and guarantee a discrimination-free environment.
- Protocols against harassment and discrimination: We have an action plan in place for situations of inequality or harassment to protect all people who are part of the company.
The impact of this plan is reflected in the testimonies of our employees, who have seen how equality translates into real opportunities for growth and professional development.
The implementation of effective measures favors women and also strengthens the entire organization, creating a corporate culture based on respect and equity.
THE IMPORTANCE OF GENDER EQUALITY IN COMPANIES
Gender equality in the workplace is a challenge that requires commitment, action and a long-term view.
At TMA, we will continue to work so that each person, regardless of their gender, can develop professionally in a fair and equitable environment.
We are committed to a future where diversity and inclusion are the norm, and where women continue to occupy their rightful places at all levels of the industry.
This 8M we celebrate the achievements made and reaffirm our commitment to real and sustainable change. Equality is not a destination, but a path we take every day.
Let’s continue to move forward together towards a more fair, inclusive world full of opportunities for all people.
RELATED NEWS: OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY
At TMA, gender equality is an ongoing commitment.
Over the years, we have strengthened our commitment to equity and diversity, implementing measures that foster a more inclusive work environment.
Through various initiatives and certifications, we continue to promote a more equitable and inclusive work environment.
Find out more about our actions and achievements in terms of equality:
We take care of our clients and we take care of the environment.
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