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Colleague Spotlight
Mario Valdes
  • Position: CAD Manager

  • Country: Spain, Europe

  • Number of Years in the Refractories: 10+ Years

  • Mayerton Department: Technical

The Interview

What does “going the extra heat (mile)” mean to you and what motivates you to go the extra heat in your role?

To me, “going the extra heat” means to support the team by meeting and exceeding the expectations of the requested tasks and projects. It means to be proactive, attentive, and focused on delivering great solutions that achieve great results.

What’s a challenge you’ve faced recently, and how did you overcome it?

Recently, we had to update the information in our ERP system. We needed to ensure that it would work as desired, without producing unexpected results or affecting other documents.

Several departments were involved, and each member of the team had a role to play to be able to solve the task successfully. We prioritised communication between us, and we took the input from each member. After several meetings and in-depth investigation, we came up with a solution which was tested beforehand in the non-live environment and deployed on the live environment after confirming that the solution was successfully working.

What do you enjoy most about being part of the Mayerton team?

I enjoy the collaborative spirit within the team and the sense of shared purpose. The expertise of the team is exceptional, and everyone is supportive and brings a unique perspective to develop new solutions.

How do you approach keeping up with industry changes and improving your skills?

I stay informed by attending industry webinars, doing courses to strengthen my skills, and stay up to date with the latest technology that is available to us.

I always try to learn from colleagues and apply feedback to improve my performance continuously.

Is there a particular value or aspect of Mayerton culture that resonates with you? How does our company culture inspire you to take on challenges?

Mayerton’s culture inspires me to approach challenges with confidence, knowing that innovation and effort are highly valued and supported within the organisation. 

What advice would you give to others who want to make a difference in their roles? How do you think your efforts make a difference to our customers or team?

My advice would be to listen to experienced colleagues, stay curious, be proactive, and open to feedback. I always respond to challenges with a solution and a “let’s try” approach.

What skills or qualities do you bring that you feel enhance our team’s performance?

I bring strong organisational skills, adaptability, and a problem-solving mindset. All of which help to support the team and customers.

What’s a memorable piece of advice or experience that shaped how you approach your work?

“Treat everything as if you owned it”. It taught me to take responsibility for outcomes, remain committed to excellence, and find pride in everything I do. 

What part of your role do you look forward to each day?

I look forward to problem-solving and collaborating with the team. Whether it’s finding creative solutions to challenges or helping others, I enjoy contributing to meaningful progress every day. 

What’s the best part of your day, and why?

The best part of my day is when I am able to help someone to solve an issue or when I deliver a project, and I receive positive feedback from a colleague or customer. It’s always rewarding to see the positive impact of my efforts.

Anything else you wish to share

I highly value the opportunity to be part of a team like Mayerton, and to work in such a great environment of innovation and collaboration.