Women in Tire & Rubber: Judith Marien Dominguez Martinez

Profiles of the inaugural class members of Rubber & Plastics News' Women in Tire & Rubber will appear daily through Aug. 21. Edited profiles of the entire class were published in the July 27 issue of RPN.

Judith Marien Dominguez Martinez

HR Manager

Cabot Corp.

Location: Altamira, Mexico

Education:

• Bachelor's in Business Administration
• Human Resources & Psychology Specialization
• Master's in Systemic Therapy

Career highlights:

• Started the first bi-oriented polypropylene film plant with two production lines (2004)
• HR Focal Point in all topics related to personnel during the Merger & Acquisition between Nhumo and Cabot (2013).

Associations you belong to or actively participate in:

• AISTAC (Industrial Association from South of Tamaulipas)
• Asociacion de Industriales del Sure de Tamaulipas

What drew you to the rubber industry, and what has made your career in the industry rewarding?

Mainly my desire to expand my expertise to the industrial field. The strength I had with union negotiations, from previous labor experiences, was an advantage to fit in the rubber industry.

There are many achievements delivered as HR Manager, which I consider rewarding experiences, such as taking first place in global engagement survey results. (2017 & 2019)

Personnel transition to Cabot entities after the merger & acquisition process between Nhumo and Cabot was concluded. (2013 & 2015)

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Started the first bi-oriented polypropylene film plant with two production lines in a cluster with non-experienced work force on the processes involved and mainly operated by union personnel.

What do you count as your biggest failure and what has it taught you?

An aborted project related to the substitution of site payroll vendor services. It taught me the importance of a strict control over and follow-up of the project advances far beyond the "deliverables" achieved by the supplier. It taught me some "not critical phases" can become "critical" when the tests or evidences required are not covered just in time.

Who or what inspires you?

I'm inspired in creating a better world with simple and daily actions that can influence people and, as a result, impact broader spaces than the ones under my responsibility. My will to leave a positive footprint in the human resources area of this industry.

Who were your career mentors, and what role did they play?

My business ethics, finance and labor law teachers at college inspired me to focus on the human resources field in a particular way. It is full of justice, win-win strategies and legal proficiency.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

You can never improve and control what you do not measure effectively. If you want to do things fast, do them alone. If you want to do things that endure, do them with others.

If you were CEO of a company, what would you do first?

I would start a world trip to visit and evaluate, in general, each facility with two days' notice in advance, at the most.

What would you tell someone considering a career in the rubber industry?

You will never get bored of it, because it is a fascinating industry to work in.

In your opinion, what needs to be done to encourage females to pursue STEM-related careers?

More equity evidence over STEM-related careers should be spread out into business communications. Create spaces to summon females to share their achievements and their rewarding experiences in the industry.