‘There are no shortcuts to leadership, you have to build it day by day through commitment and executive presence’

Yasmin's profile:

When Yasmin Martinez Peres applied for the Global Graduate Program in Brazil, she was seeking a clear, structured path toward future leadership. Unlike trainees entering directly from university, Yasmin had already worked in another corporate role for a few years. However, her previous environment offered no clear perspective for long-term growth or leadership development. Looking for an opportunity to build worldwide connections and deliver cross-border impact, she chose the global program. Now, one year into her journey, she reflects: "Even in a well-structured program, there are no shortcuts. Leadership is something you have to build day by day through personal commitment."

High stakes and executive presence

Stepping into a fast-track global program gave Yasmin rapid exposure to senior executives right from the start.

"In a traditional entry-level role, you mostly interact with direct peers on the operational side," Yasmin explains. "Because of the high level of exposure I was given early on, I had to quickly learn executive presence and high-stakes composure in front of senior stakeholders."

A standout milestone was the September business trip to headquarters in Rotterdam, where graduates met face-to-face with executive leaders. "Having senior leaders like Michiel (CFO Vopak) dedicate two hours from their busy schedules just to get to know us demonstrates how much the company invests in our growth. It showed us the true scale of leadership visibility this program provides."

Transforming frameworks and bridging 35-year age gaps

Her operational postings in Brazil brought complex, real-world challenges that tested both her strategic capability and interpersonal skills.

One of her major projects involved overhauling the KPI process across the entire Brazil Leadership Team. "I was tasked with changing how our leadership team tracked performance, shifting their mindset from traditional numeric KPIs to result-driven OKRs," says Yasmin. "As a relative newcomer, convincing experienced leaders to adjust their routine processes was tough at first, but with clear communication, it evolved into a smooth, collaborative framework."

At the terminal level, Yasmin faced another important test: building trust with site operators. "We have operators on site who have been here for 35 years—longer than I've been alive!" she smiles. "Earning their trust required humility, active listening, and showing respect for their deep operational expertise."

'Keep calm and talk to people'

To handle the intensity of these high-responsibility projects, Yasmin relies on a simple philosophy and a strong support ecosystem.

"My main approach is to keep calm and talk to people," she shares. "I lean regularly on my manager Julio, my sponsor Renato, and my program mentor Fuko. My mentorship sessions with Fuko feel almost like therapy, a safe space to unpack challenges and get honest advice."

Her global cohort also serves as an essential peer support network. "Even though we are spread across terminals worldwide, we connect monthly to share advice and troubleshoot similar operational hurdles. We've built a tight-knit family across time zones."

Developing the leader before the title

As Yasmin works with her manager to shape her upcoming rotations, focusing on customer engagement and further technical skill development, her outlook on early-career growth remains deeply grounded.

"You have to learn to be a leader before you actually hold the title," Yasmin emphasizes. "The program gives you incredible exposure, but you have to be ready to embrace the responsibility. Otherwise, it won't be sustainable."

When asked what advice she would offer to future graduate applicants, Yasmin's response is clear and inspiring:

"Make it worth it! Be fully present, give the best of yourself, and learn to enjoy the pressure. Talking directly with top executives is a privilege not everyone gets. Embrace the challenge, stay committed to the process, and enjoy every step of the journey."