Goldcorp Expands First Company-Wide Development & Mentorship Program for Women in Mining
New stage of Creating Choices focuses on leadership and career planning
Vancouver, British Columbia, February 27, 2015 /3BL Media/ – GOLDCORP INC. (TSX: G, NYSE: GG) this week launched the next stage of Creating Choices, the first company-wide development and mentorship program for women in mining. First introduced in 2010, the popular initiative encourages growth and builds skills in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
Inaugurated February 11, 2015 at its Porcupine Gold Mine in Ontario, the evolution of the program is a new, four-module course called Growing Choices that teaches women how to: brand themselves as leaders, balance work and life commitments, plan for career success using SMART goals and build effective relationships and networks.
“More needs to be done to encourage women’s career development in this traditionally male-dominated industry, both in Canada and globally,” said Anna Tudela, Goldcorp’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Corporate Secretary in Vancouver, and founder of Creating Choices. “One of Goldcorp’s strategic pillars is growing people, so expanding women’s capabilities in mining makes sense for our company. It also benefits the entire resource sector.”
Growing Choices will help women build effective relationships through mentorship, achieve a healthy work-life balance and develop high-level career goals. The third and final stage is Mentoring, in which women are matched up to either a female or male mentor who further supports their career development.
“I’ve seen the representation of women in mining improve, but we still have a ways to go,” said Boi Linh Van, Engineering Team Leader at Goldcorp’s Musselwhite Mine in Northern Ontario. “Creating Choices encouraged me to speak up, and go after the career I want. Growing Choices will help boost the confidence of women in this industry even more.”
“Goldcorp recognized the need to increase diversity and inclusion in the resource sector,” said Kaeli Gattens, a Vancouver-based IT Change Management Coordinator currently working in Mexico City on a one year secondment. “It has been inspiring to see the personal and professional growth being made by Creating Choices graduates across Latin America. The program has helped initiate conversations for women to explore new opportunities, and has created a supportive network of women at every level of our organization.”
Creating Choices is now offered at every Goldcorp operation, plus its corporate and regional offices in eight countries throughout the Americas. More than 1,200 women – ranging from welders, truck drivers and forewomen to IT analysts and executives – have graduated in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, Barbados, Chile and Honduras.
About Goldcorp
Goldcorp is one of the world’s fastest growing gold producers, with operations and development projects located in safe jurisdictions throughout the Americas. A Canadian company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Goldcorp employs more than 18,000 people worldwide. The Company is committed to responsible mining practices and is well positioned to deliver sustained, industry-leading growth and performance. www.goldcorp.com.
For further information, please contact:
Christine Marks
Goldcorp Inc.
604-696-3050
media@goldcorp.com
