Breaking the Mold: Building Leadership and Success in a Male-Dominated Industrial Sector

Combining engineering, financial expertise, and commercial strategy to drive growth in Latin America’s manufacturing sector.

In an industry traditionally dominated by men, Nuria González Ballescá has built a career defined by commercial performance, strategic thinking, and long-term customer relationships.

With more than a decade of experience across industrial manufacturing and financial services, she currently serves as Sales Manager for Central and Southern Mexico and Central America at KraussMaffei, a global manufacturer of plastics processing machinery.

Her professional journey reflects a combination of technical expertise, financial knowledge, and a results-driven approach to business development. In this interview, González Ballescá shares her perspective on leadership, building credibility, and creating value beyond traditional industrial sales.

Building Credibility in a Male-Dominated Industry

Q: Industrial manufacturing has traditionally been a male-dominated environment. What has your experience been like building a career in this industry?

Nuria: Working in industrial manufacturing has been both challenging and rewarding. It is an environment where technical knowledge, credibility, and experience are essential, particularly when dealing with complex investments and senior decision-makers.

As a woman, I have learned that preparation, confidence, and consistency are fundamental. Credibility is something you build over time through your knowledge, your actions, and, most importantly, your results.

One of the most valuable lessons I have learned is that you don’t need to change who you are to succeed in a traditionally male-dominated industry. You need to recognize your strengths and learn how to use them effectively.

From Selling Equipment to Creating Business Value

Q: Your background combines industrial engineering, financial services, and commercial management. How has this shaped your approach to industrial sales?

Nuria: I consider this combination one of my greatest professional strengths.

My experience at GE Capital and Banregio gave me a solid understanding of asset financing, investment decisions, and financial structuring. When I transitioned into industrial machinery sales, I realized that understanding the customer’s business was just as important as understanding the technology.

A good example is a customer in the packaging industry specializing in plastic bucket manufacturing. When we first connected, the company was unfamiliar with both our brand and the technology we offered.

Rather than approaching the opportunity as a traditional machinery sale, I focused on building a business case around return on investment. We evaluated how the technology could improve production efficiency, reduce operating costs, increase profitability, and generate measurable financial benefits.

The project became much more than purchasing a machine. It became an investment strategy.

After experiencing the benefits firsthand, the customer continued investing in additional equipment. Today, they operate several machines I have sold them and continue expanding their production capabilities.

For me, that is what successful industrial sales should look like: creating measurable value that leads to long-term business relationships.

Leadership Beyond Gender

Q: Do you believe women bring a different perspective to leadership in the industrial sector?

Nuria: I believe diversity of perspectives makes organizations stronger, and gender is one of many factors that contribute to that diversity.

Throughout my career, I have found that communication, empathy, adaptability, and relationship-building are extremely valuable in complex commercial environments.

I don’t believe successful leadership requires fitting into a predefined model or adopting a particular personality.

For me, leadership is about being authentic, making decisions with confidence, taking responsibility for results, and earning the trust of the people around you.

Ultimately, what matters is the value you create and the impact you have.

Looking Ahead

Q: After more than a decade in business, what continues to motivate you, and how do you envision your professional growth?

Nuria: What motivates me most is the opportunity to continue growing, learning, and creating meaningful business impact.

Over time, my perspective has evolved from focusing primarily on individual sales objectives to understanding the broader importance of commercial strategy, market development, and long-term business growth.

Working across Mexico and Central America has reinforced my interest in developing markets, understanding different business environments, and identifying opportunities for expansion.

I believe professional growth comes from continuously challenging yourself, embracing new responsibilities, and remaining open to opportunities where you can contribute on a larger scale.

There is still a great deal I want to accomplish in the industrial sector.

About Nuria González Ballescá

Nuria González Ballescá is a Mexican industrial engineer and commercial leader with over a decade of experience in industrial manufacturing, financial services, and business development.

She currently serves as Sales Manager for Central and Southern Mexico and Central America at KraussMaffei, specializing in capital equipment sales, strategic account development, and industrial investment projects.

Previously, she held commercial positions at GE Capital and Banregio. She holds an Industrial Engineering degree from Universidad Iberoamericana and a Master’s in Business Engineering from Universidad Anáhuac, both earned with academic honors.

Her professional focus combines technical expertise, financial strategy, and commercial leadership to drive sustainable growth in the manufacturing industry.