Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense?

It is not uncommon that different areas of a company complain about the process of drafting an agreement: the document required for that purpose, the follow-up process, and, especially, the complex and not-friendly language of the document.

To improve the service that Legal provides to the different stakeholders and emphasize the role of partner and support that Legal has, we launched a set of meetings called “Innovation Coffees.” These meetings, in which persons from different areas (operations, sales, or procurement) participated, allowed us, by using “Design Thinking” and “Agile” methodology, to understand the concerns and complaints about the contracting process; and also, to work together to identify possible solutions to the different problems in the contracting process. In addition, we also revised the templates of our agreements to simplify their content, eliminate unclear clauses and update the language of the contracts.

What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company?

The company I have been part of since many years ago firmly commits to sustainable development. All areas of Cemex, including legal, constantly work to build better communities by implementing a sustainable model that allows us to develop resilient and energy-efficient infrastructure solutions, responsibly using natural resources and empowering the communities to which we belong and where our projects take place.

We maintain a close relationship with our stakeholders to promote socially responsible solutions, so each of our actions positively impacts building a better future. In short, we create, and legal is directly involved in this, strategies to reduce our environmental footprint, optimize value creation, and work for our stakeholders, seeking to generate well-being for Colombia.

How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment?

Since I assumed the challenge of leading Colombia and Perú Cemex Legal Team, I set out, as one of my purposes, to leave a positive footprint in the organization, always starting from what had been built before. Hence, I implement a particular “leadership style” focusing on different fronts: excellence, dedication to service, commitment, and a very special one, diversity and inclusion.

I have implemented open spaces of conversations in which, without filters or biases, everyone can freely express their ideas, and all positions are welcome -always with respect. My office is an “open door” in which every team member feels comfortable, respected, and appreciated as a Cemex employee, a part of the legal team, and as a person.

In the follow-up weekly meetings that we have, we always start with open topics related to the current situation of our country, the industry, politics, sports, or any other trending topic that someone wants to discuss; the premise of these spaces is that I am never tired of repeating to all of them, is ‘Talk. Feel free of expressing your opinions. Don’t be afraid or ashamed of communicating your ideas’.

Today I am proud to lead a team in which all its members’ voices have the same weight, regardless of their role in the Vice-Presidency; how many years they have been with the company; or if they don’t share the majority’s opinion. It matters neither gender, tendency, religious belief, age, professional experience, or university of origin; all are considered and treated as equals. Everyone’s individuality is valued and accepted.

Finally, I want to close by stating that when you gather persons with different backgrounds, origins, ways of thinking, and opinions and encourage them to share their knowledge and appreciate what everyone can contribute, there will be no limit to what they can achieve.