Meet Rosilei Farias Veloso: a pioneer in the Brazilian port industry

Rosilei’s determination, coupled with her prior knowledge, has aided her in seamlessly integrating into port-related tasks, despite the perpetually dynamic and challenging environment that characterises life in a port.

Before joining Santos Brasil, Rosilei taught at a driving school. "For many years, I prepared and trained drivers for categories A and B, which included cars and motorcycles. I also provided theoretical traffic lessons. Over time, I decided to add categories D and E to my licence, allowing me to drive buses and trailers, as I had always admired this profession and had the idea of transitioning to a new area."

With this in mind, Rosilei submitted her résumé to Santos Brasil, which opened the door to a career in the port industry. 

One of the first women in her role

"It was through friends who were also transitioning to new sectors that I decided to explore an opportunity in the port. I took a course to operate small and large forklifts and sent my CV to Santos Brasil. I went through a selection process and joined the company. I became the first person in my family to enter the port industry and one of the first women in this role. I'm very proud of this achievement," she recalls.

“The biggest challenge was balancing shift work at the company with my responsibilities at home and motherhood.”

"When I received the opportunity to work at Santos Brasil, I had little experience in the field of equipment operation. But I quickly excelled and was invited to assist in training new equipment operators. It was a very natural process, primarily because I've always enjoyed operating machinery. Initially, the biggest challenge was balancing shift work at the company with my responsibilities at home and motherhood," she affirms.

Looking back on those days, Rosilei treasures the fact that she has become an example for other women. 

"The memory I always carry with me is that of being a role model for many women, promoting good practices and behaviour. And to encourage us to believe, more and more, that we can advance in professional sectors that were predominantly male-dominated in the past. I am grateful for the opportunity I had, which has always been fundamental in my process of personal and professional growth," she says.

With well-defined goals, learning becomes natural

Rosilei Farias hopes to see more women participating in port work in her country. "What I wish for the most is to see even more women involved in port operations. There is room for all of us in various areas of the port, both in administrative and operational roles. They need to know this and seek out these opportunities," she emphasises.

According to Rosilei, the job of operating port machinery is not difficult. All that's required is confidence and the pursuit of goals until they are achieved. 

"Learning the trade of an equipment operator was not difficult because I believe that when we have well-defined goals, when we are clear about what we want, and when we chase those goals with determination and willpower, learning becomes natural," she points out.

Kalmar machines: a revolution in operator comfort

A key part of Rosilei’s success story is the use of Kalmar machines, which, she claims, have brought innovation, enhanced operator comfort, and boosted operational efficiency.

Despite the challenges, Rosilei has become a role model for other women in this industry.

"It’s a unique experience of well-being and comfort, as the machines are automatic and offer operators various processes and operating systems. A success! It meets the needs of the operator and the operation, exceeding expectations and providing a good lifespan for the equipment," she highlights.

Despite the challenges, Rosilei has become a role model for other women in the industry. Kalmar is pleased to share her story, which demonstrates that, with determination, there are no limits, even in such a challenging environment. We extend our appreciation to Santos Brasil for providing her with this opportunity, and we hope that more women will join her – a truly inspiring example of courage and success in Brazilian ports.

Source: Portal Portuario (Translated from Spanish)