I Belong: María José Vega on Understanding Mining ‘All the Way Down to the Molecules’
María José Vega
Sales Manager | Santiago, Chile
Joined Weir Motion Metrics in April 2021
21 August 2023
María José Vega loves escape rooms.
Whether she is facing down a riddle with limited clues or using technology to create new and innovative solutions, María is a tough competitor when it comes to solving problems and puzzles.
Fortunately, in April of 2021, María found a way to turn her love for problem-solving and technology into a career when she began her journey as a technical sales representative at Weir Motion Metrics (WMM) in Santiago, Chile.
Today, María is a sales manager, overseeing a team of two. Day to day, she supports WMM initiatives and business goals in many ways, including coordinating customer meetings for the local sales team, participating in trade shows and negotiating sales. She is also ultimately responsible for developing new business opportunities in the area, a part of the role she takes seriously.
“Here in Chile, mining is everything,” explained María. “This means our products and technologies have an incredible impact on the safety and growth of mining companies. What we do, and how we do it, matters greatly to the local economy.”
“Here in Chile, mining is everything,” explained María. “This means our products and technologies have an incredible impact on the safety and growth of mining companies. What we do, and how we do it, matters greatly to the local economy.”
With the majority of government funding and career advancement opportunities connected to mining, Maria’s academic experience was well matched. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical process engineering with a specialization in business from Chile’s top university, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
According to María, studying STEM-related subjects allowed her to understand the mining industry “all the way down to the molecules.” From presenting phenomenological (researching to understand and describe the universal essence of a phenomenon) and dynamic model research for crushing plants during Hydroprocess 2016, an international seminar on hydrometallurgical proceesses, to earning an advanced diploma in industrial automation from the Engineering Institute of Technology in Australia, she challenged herself to learn all she could in mining technology.
She also worked as a project engineer and business consultant at Centro Nacional de Pilotaje de Tecnologías para la Minería, a mining technology testing center, in Santiago, Chile, supporting mining technology companies during the advanced stages of product development. Her extensive background now helps her see things others do not, giving her the unique ability to identify customer needs and technological advancement opportunities.
“When I meet with customers, I’m not just trying to sell a product,” explained María. “I am trying to understand the customer’s problem as a whole, and learn how we can better support them as a company.”
What María loves about her role at WMM is the opportunity to connect with customers face-to-face and deliver award-winning service—literally. In 2022, she was honored with the WMM Customer Award for leading WMM’s global sales growth.
María and colleagues from Weir ESCO, Motion Metrics and Minerals are geared up to meet customers during Expomin 2023, the largest mining trade show in Latin America.
While María’s major contributions make her an integral member of the WMM team, they are not the only focus in her life. María is a proud mother to her six-year-old son, Gabriel. “Having a dynamic career is important to me, but family is everything,” María added.
With unwavering support from her husband, Martín, and the flexible work environment provided by her manager and Weir, María said she has never felt like she had to choose between the two. María said she is proud to work for a company whose employees and leaders create an inclusive environment and help support women on their career journeys.
“It is important for me to be a strong role model for my son, by showing him that women can have meaningful careers too,” said María. “I am proud to be a woman and a mother in my role, helping to break down barriers for others.”
