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Cindy Polo, Product Designer from Lima.

Breaking boundaries, by design

From a young age, Cindy was captivated by the world of design. She dreamed of a future in fashion design, a natural choice given her family's roots in the textile industry, but fate had other plans. A spark of curiosity ignited when she came across the Industrial Design technical course at Senati, Peru's leading vocational training institute. This discovery steered her away from the familiar and toward the dynamic and challenging world of the mining industry.

The opportunity to blend her love for design with the complexities and innovations of machining design was too good for Cindy to pass up. Full of determination and enthusiasm, she set out to carve her own path in a field where women are often underrepresented. This led her to the start of a new chapter in her life, that began with her joining Bradken in late 2023 as the first female Product Designer at our rubber composites manufacturing site in Lima, Peru.

Cindy’s journey took an unexpected turn after graduating from the Senati institute. Although her family encouraged her to dive straight into a career in the mining industry, she chose to take a small detour, stepping into the world of early childhood education as a pre-school auxiliary.
She fondly describes her time in this role as a beautiful experience. “I learned so much by creating and innovating to help develop children's cognitive creativity,” she reflects. “I developed my planning, communication and teamwork skills to establish a structured and respectful environment, which is so important for children as they learn and grow."
Cindy learned the value of patience and clear communication, skills she applies to her current role as Product Designer, crafting proposals for customers interested in Bradken’s rubber composite mill liners.
Cindy Polo, Product Design from Lima.

Balancing Innovation and Customer Focus

Asked what she enjoys most about her job, Cindy says working at Bradken is the perfect blend of challenge, innovation and reward. "Innovation in product design is a highly dynamic process," she says. "It demands creativity, empathy, and above all, teamwork to generate the best solutions. I consider it both a privilege and a responsibility to contribute to designs that keep the efficiency of the product and the safety of our customers in mind."

For Cindy, the key to successful design lies in marrying innovation with a deep understanding of customer needs. "As a product designer, I make it a point to involve the customer throughout the design process. Through meetings and collaborative initiatives, I ensure their ideas and requirements are woven into the final design which allows us to create the best, high-quality designs that genuinely meet our customers' needs."

quote

Innovation in product design is a highly dynamic process… I consider it a privilege and a responsibility to contribute to designs that keep the efficiency of the product and the safety of our customers in mind.

- Cindy Polo
Outside of work, Cindy finds joy in the simple pleasures of life at home in Lima, where she spends quality time with her family and her pets—Zeus, a lively husky, and Michino, a curious cat. But her sense of adventure often takes her beyond the comforts of home.
She has a passion for traveling and new experiences, with Ayacucho, in south-central Peru, holding a special place in her heart. "I love hiking, visiting museums, exploring lagoons, and camping there," she shares. Yet, her desire to travel is far from satisfied—Cusco and the iconic Machu Picchu are next on her list.
Music is another of Cindy's passions, with a particular love for the pop-rock band Reik. And while she enjoys these personal pursuits, her ambitions (for right now at least) are firmly rooted in her professional life.
One of Cindy’s future goals is to step into a leadership role, and she believes Bradken is the perfect place to achieve this, with the company expanding its presence in South America.
With an undeniable commitment to her work, Cindy is currently studying Industrial Engineering at Universidad Tecnológica del Perú (UTP) to bolster her contributions. "I am very proud to be part of this great team that values all its employees for who they are and supports their growth and professional development," she says.
As the first woman in her class at the Senati institute and the first woman to join Bradken’s South American Product Design team, Cindy is a trailblazer, setting an inspiring example for young women considering careers in male-dominated fields.
Her advice to them: "Ignore the stereotypes and pursue your goals while always looking for opportunities to learn, especially from those around you. My drive to grow and learn beyond just design production has kept me motivated, and I've been fortunate to find supportive mentors along the way."
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