The ex "vantáztico" talked about his years at Vantaz Group and detailed how his time at the company marked his professional career, highlighting the value of human relations and learning in the mining industry.
Alfredo Figueroa is from Viña del Mar, a Business Engineer from the Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez with an MBA from the Universidad de Chile. A professional who has lived in various parts of the world, such as India, Argentina and Australia. He is currently director of the occupational health and safety management of "Empresa Nacional de Petróleo" (ENAP).
Six of his best professional years were spent at Vantaz Group. From that experience he rescues the friendships that he still has, the work in an extractive industry such as mining and the value of the Vantaz seal, a professional style that he considers unique.
How did you join Vantaz Group?
I remember being interviewed by Patrick Hall and Mauro Mezzano. I was in Argentina and I was working in another consulting firm at the time, an IT one. I found out about Vantaz, because I was far from the type of consulting they did and I didn't know them.
My start was pretty fun. At that time, the consultancy was in full expansion. Getting to know the office was something special, with this free style, without assigned positions, which already made you feel that Vantaz was different. But on Monday I was already in Calama, which was another surprise. In the end, this is part of life at Vantaz: you understand that moving around is necessary when you work closely with clients.
What was your biggest challenge at Vantaz?
The first project I participated in. We spent several months in Calama in a very difficult project that was a learning experience. The project with Codelco was called "Simpler". The idea was to prepare the administrative and financial management for the next step, which was the Chuquicamata underground, so we had to optimize the processes.
What things that you learned at the company have helped you now at ENAP?
Vantaz knows very well what kind of professional they need and I think that's one of the keys to their success. Vantaz people are highly motivated, dedicated and have a very collaborative work style. This was perhaps my biggest learning experience: learning to lean on colleagues, asking for help when you need it, offering it, and being generous with yourself and others.
Did your time in another extractive industry, such as mining, help you in your later work?
Absolutely. In Vantaz I entered the extractive industry, before that I was working with banks, insurance, process and project management, a different world, a non-industrial world. In Vantaz I entered the industrial world and there I started to understand the industrial processes, the operational processes, the complexity of the operation, how to deal with the operation. In the end, mining and oil are like first cousins.
Why do you think Vantaz was successful?
Juan Cariamo expressed it clearly: "Perhaps Vantaz's mission is to create "vantázticos", to be a factory of "vantázticos". I think the key is to become an unstoppable factory; if you do that, success will keep coming. I am convinced that a world with more "Vantázticos" would be a better world. Professionally, companies and industries need people with this spirit.
