Maria Ximena Tribin is a devoted mom and wife who understands the importance of time management and strategic organization. These skills also show up in her role at Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader in electrification. As the Head of Supply Chain Management for North and South America, Tribin has been consistently encouraged to progress and advance her career.
“I love what I do,” she says. “I’ve been enabled to identify my strengths and values, explore my interests, and connect with passionate colleagues.”
Tribin also appreciates Hitachi Energy’s pioneering spirit, which inspires her to fearlessly conquer challenges and reach for greatness.
“Our culture has been defined by our rich heritage of innovative technologies for over a century,” she explains. “Today, our spirit lives on and remains strong. Our work is always evolving; we meet the challenges of today, and we’re proud of our collective accomplishments.”
Here, we caught up with Tribin to learn more about her work at Hitachi Energy and her advice for women aiming for leadership positions in a male-dominated field.
How long have you been in your role, and what’s your day-to-day like?
I’ve been in this role for almost two years. I train every morning, then I start my workday with meetings with my direct reports, reviewing performance, addressing urgent issues, and strategizing with executive leadership or cross-functional teams to align supply chain plans with forecasts and priorities.
Tell us a bit about your business unit. What does that entail in the context of your work and the company?
Hitachi Energy focuses on inspiring the next era of sustainable energy. We specialize in developing and deploying technologies for the power grid, including high-voltage equipment, transformers, automation systems, and power electronics. Our goal is to help create a more sustainable, flexible, and secure energy system by addressing the challenges of increasing electricity demand while decarbonizing the power system.
Within the supply chain team, we’re responsible for cultivating and maintaining multi-stakeholder partnerships while championing our supply-chain contributors. We’re optimizing our supply chain to be a competitive advantage for Hitachi Energy.
What do you find most rewarding and challenging about your work? Why?
The company has encouraged my career advancement, which I greatly appreciate and value. In today’s labor market—despite years of advances in legal and corporate policies—many qualified women don’t get the jobs they want, due to sexist perceptions, subjective biases, and stereotypes. Hitachi has empowered women to strategically harness our strengths, talents, and competitive edge, turning challenging environments into opportunities for growth and leadership.
What advice do you have for women looking to find their passion or voice at work?
Never doubt who you are and how far you can go. Pursue your goals with positive energy and confidence. Push through prejudices against women leaders, and learn to take things in a less personal and emotional way. Be determined, analytical, optimistic, objective, and consistent.
Keep learning and adapting to changes. Strive to find a balance between your family, personal, and professional life.
Looking back on your career, what would you say has been your most valuable career mistake? How did it help you become a better leader?
Sometimes we make mistakes, but the most important thing is to learn from them. Learn how to build a support network, take smart risks, and view competition in a more positive light.
When facing difficult situations, conduct yourself in a manner that earns respect. Pursue your goals with positive energy, and be ready to compete fearlessly.
What people, resources, and tools do you rely on to attain work-life balance?
The most important aspect of achieving work-life balance is managing your time and energy. You have to find the right balance between your professional and personal commitments and goals.
As a woman in a leadership role, how do you make sure your direct reports feel well-supported in their lives both in and out of the office?
I establish a culture of open communication, offering flexibility and showing genuine care. This includes transparency during our one-on-one meetings, listening to their concerns, and understanding their needs.
Overall, what’s the most memorable piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
To overcome overt and hidden biases against women leaders, adopt a competitive mindset that leverages your strengths. For example, I’ve built a wide and strategic network of stakeholders who will promote my career.
Also, avoid perfectionism in challenging situations. Finally, the most important piece of advice is to recover from losses quickly by learning to take things less personally.
What’s your best advice for women who are moving into or want to move into leadership roles?
Remember that the presence of more women improves business performance. Be confident in your abilities and stand up for yourself. Be proud of who you are, and most importantly, always give your all!
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