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Rocío Lagos and a Life Dedicated to Wood and Leading in a Male-Dominated World

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Rocío Lagos, a wood engineer from the Universidad Austral, has forged an outstanding career in the forestry and timber industry, a historically male-dominated sector. Raised in a family with over 40 years in the field, her vocation was clear from the start, focusing on the industry rather than direct forestry work.

She was part of the first generations to study Wood Engineering at the Universidad Austral, a program that closed years later. Today, she is the general manager of RF Lambert, a company founded in 2007 in Villarrica, dedicated to adding value to native forests through the production of high-quality timber. Additionally, she leads as president of Pymemad Araucanía, an association that brings together small and medium-sized wood producers.

Female Leadership

Although the forestry sector has traditionally been male-dominated, Rocío highlights the progress of women in administrative, executive, and managerial roles. "When I was in university, most female roles were operational. Today, more and more women lead teams in different areas," she comments.

For Rocío, women bring key strengths in organization and leadership. "The presence of women brings an order that is reflected in cleaner and more organized facilities. That makes a difference, even at the client level." Despite the challenges, she has never felt discrimination in the industry, only respect and collaboration.

Commitment to Sustainability

At RF Lambert, Rocío promotes sustainable practices in native forest management, working with local suppliers and prioritizing environmental, social, and economic impact. "We want the environments where we operate not just to be maintained but to thrive," she states.

Villarrica, with its rich tradition in the timber industry, is the ideal setting for initiatives seeking to revitalize the sector. Rocío regrets that Chile's furniture industry has lost some of its relevance and aspires to restore La Araucanía's prestige as a furniture-producing region. "It's important to value national products and compete with imports," she emphasizes.

Professional and Personal Balance

Balancing her managerial role, guild leadership, and family life has been a constant challenge, but she has the support of her family. "It's a difficult balance, but the passion for what I do makes it all worth it," she notes.

With over 18 years of experience, Rocío Lagos demonstrates that female leadership is possible and essential in traditionally male-dominated sectors, driving innovation, sustainability, and local development.