With a market value of US $ 27.9 billion in 2015 , the success of multinational Brazilian corporation Vale can be attributed to CEO Murilo Ferreira . In 1977 , Ferreira began his lengthy and very successful career as an economic and financial analyst . Ferreira has proved to be such an excellent leader thanks to 30 years of experience in the mining industry .

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold reported revenue at US $ 15.88 million in 2015 , with 67 percent coming from production of copper and another 10 percent coming from gold production . CEO Richard Adkerson bases his leadership skills in firsthand knowledge of the volatile mining industry , coming from his lengthy experience with the sister industry of oil and gas . Adkerson graduated from Harvard Business School .

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