Network - Women in Mining South Africa (WiMSA)

We are brave - be brave with us too, please. Raksha Naidoo (WIMSA, Chairperson 2023 - 2024) chats with Unity Makamu (WIMSA 2022 Mentee), Humbulani Havhi (WIMSA 2022 Mentee), Ndamulelo Mutshinya (WIMSA 2022 mentee), and Moyahabo Ntwagae (WIMSA 2022 Mentee) about their experiences as mentees in the Women in Mining South Africa mentoring programme 2022 and asks them what they want mentors to know based on their experiences. These are the key things that they talked about and want mentors to know: Asking someone to be your mentor can feel scary and it takes courage to make the ask - but it turns out that it's not as scary as they had imagined. Mentees want mentors to reciprocate their courage by giving them tough feedback (and positive feedback) so that they can grow and learn as fast as possible. Sometimes mentees don't know what they don't know and despite being committed to self-reflection, mentees sometimes need mentors to guide them and hold their hands, metaphorically speaking, until clarity and self-knowledge are developed. Mentees need their mentors to verbalise their belief in them, to stretch and challenge them, and to help them see the things that they cannot see in themselves - it helps mentees in building their courage and confidence. Sometimes mentees are scared of overstepping the boundaries or don't know where the boundaries are - they need their mentors to help clarify boundaries and what to expect from the relationship. The conversation wrapped up with a note that most mentors will really appreciate - sometimes mentees don't pitch up and it's rarely a reflection of the mentor. Most often it's because of the mentees' own internal struggles and never due to a lack of appreciation for the time and effort that mentors invest in them. Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Briony Liber Coaching · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

At the recent WiMSA year-end event where out-going Chair, Petro du Pisani, handed over the reins to Raksha Naidoo, Zoya Mabuto-Mokoditoa delivered a powerful keynote address. Highlighting Raksha's theme for the year of 'Be Bold, Be Brave, Be You!', Zoya shared her thoughts and moving message. Please let us know your thoughts via info@wimsa.org.za Connect with Zoya · Connect with Raksha · Connect with Petro · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Briony Liber Coaching · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Raksha Naidoo, WiMSA Deputy Chairperson and WIMSA Mentoring Committee member chats with five of the 2022 WiMSA Mentoring Programme mentees (Ndamulelo Mutshiny, Humbulani Havhi, Ntshuxeko Unity Makamu, Vilencia Parsaraman and Moyahabo Ntwagae) about their journey in the mentoring programme. The conversation starts with an emphasis on being intentional and how this philosophy of the mentoring programme has changed the way the mentees show up not just in the mentoring programme, but in their career and their personal lives too. The mentees discuss how the programme has awoken an interest in personal awareness, in asking themselves who they truly are and what they bring to their careers when they manage themselves as a business. A key theme of the programme has been #showupandshine and each mentee talks about how different aspects of the mentoring programme have helped them to do exactly this through quietening their inner critic, managing their career value chain, understanding their thinking preferences and how that influences how they communicate and show up in the world. Vilencia talks about the impact of adopting the philosophy of managing her career as a business. Unity elaborates on how understanding her thinking preferences has helped her engage with more impact. Humbulani shares that the focus on self-care, burnout and setting boundaries reminded her to see the signs of burnout, and helped her raise awareness with her colleagues on the signs. Moyahabo emphasises how the programme helped her to be more introspective and to put herself and her self-care at the forefront. Ndamo shares how the theme on inner critic helped her separate her inner critic from herself and harness the courage to step up and show up. The podcast wraps up with an exploration on the value of mentoring and encouragement to apply for the 2023 WIMSA mentoring programme. WiMSA website · WiMSA LinkedIn · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Briony Liber Coaching · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Briony Liber, mentoring Lead for the WIMSA Mentoring Programme, chats with Mbali Milanzi (Tshepa Basadi Group | MD); Melody Mmesetse (WIMSA 2022 mentee and MEng Geotechnical Engineering student); Ndamulelo Mutshinya (WIMSA 2022 mentee and Anglo American Platinum | Section Ventilation Officer) about myths that seem to get in the way of mentoring relationships. Some of the myths that get debunked in this conversation include: - people are too busy to be mentors (it's not true - sometimes you just need to ask); - you need to be impressive before someone will be willing to mentor you (it's not true - in fact, most people start their journey towards being impressive by asking someone to mentor them); - mentors need to know everything and be able to mentor you on everything you want to know (it's not true - there are no unicorn mentors!); - mentoring needs to be formal and it needs to take the form of a meeting (it's not true - mentoring can take whatever form you and your mentor decide will work for you); - mentors are hard to find (it's not true - sometimes we just aren't looking at everyone in our networks as potential mentors). One of the key points made in the conversation is that sometimes labelling someone as your mentor from the start, can add a lot of pressure to the relationship. Probably the most important conclusion in this conversation is that perhaps by dropping the label of "mentor", a more organic relationship can develop that serves the needs of a mentee and eventually grows into a relationship that can be labelled as one of mentoring. WiMSA website · WiMSA LinkedIn · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Briony Liber Coaching · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

This episode is one in a series of episodes focussing on Making Mentoring Matter. Briony Liber, (Career and Self Leadership Coach, WIMSA Committee Member and Lead for the WIMSA Mentoring Programme) chats with Maria Combrink, Lauren Gamba, Vilencia Parsaraman, and Pity Pheko on the topic of what mentors want their mentees to know. In the course of this episode they conclude that what they want mentees to know are the following: find a mentor, show up, own your journey, be vulnerable, cultivate self-awareness, expand your mindset, unlearn so that you can relearn, ask for help, take a risk, give back, be active in the relationship and reevaluate as you go. Take a listen to this episode to hear the full exploration of what mentors want their mentees to know. Guests in this episode: Maria Combrink (WIMSA Committee Member, Principal Consultant - Data | CSA Global) Lauren Gamba (Career Coach, Black Belt and Geologist) Vilencia Parsaraman (WIMSA 2022 Mentee, Junior Process Engineer | Weir Minerals) Pity Pheko (WIMSA Mentoring Committee Member, Production Section Manager | Thungela) WiMSA website · WiMSA LinkedIn · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Briony Liber Coaching · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

A lesson on how to navigate in a male-dominated mining work environment. In this episode Petro du Pisani speaks to Dr. Patience Mpofu, who is a multi-award winner as one of the most influential women in Mining, and a former Vice President of an Australian listed company. She is a global mining sustainability thought leader (ESG) an IWF fellow alumni, executive leadership coach, and STEM advocate. In this episode Dr. Mpofu gives an overview of her personal history, a story of grit and determination... and how she ended up writing her No. 1 International best seller "Unleashing my Superpowers," which teaches women how to navigate and succeed in a male-dominated mining work environment. Find Dr. Patience Mpofu here · Peak Performance with Patience · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Briony Liber Coaching · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Guests: Petro Du Pisani (WIMSA, Chairperson), Raksha Naidoo (WIMSA, Deputy Chair), Pity Pheko (WIMSA, Mentoring committee member), Maria Combrink (WIMSA, Committee member) In this episode Briony Liber speaks to fellow committee members Petro du Pisani, Raksha Naidoo, Pity Pheko and Maria Combrink about their recent experiences at the Investing in Africa Mining Indaba 2022. The Mining Indaba is the world's largest mining investment event and has not taken place since February 2020 due to Covid19. This year WIMSA was able to make a real impact at the Indaba due to the tickets and booth that was sponsored by Hyve. Together with WIMUK and WIMBIZ, WIMSA raised awareness about women in mining. This year we have recorded a series of podcasts with six standalone episodes and this consolidated episode which is a roundup of reflections and conversations with various delegates at the event. You will hear voices of the following friends of WIMSA: Stacy Hope (MD of WIMUK); Barbara Dischinger (Founder and Chairperson of IWIM); Khosi Sibisi (Acting CEO and Director of WIMBIZ); Aymone Schendel (Co-MD of WIMUK); Arjen De Bruin (MD of OIM Consulting); Jenny Svenkvist (CFO of Combi Wear Parts); Candice Naidoo (MD of Paramount Tracks); Simon Gibbons (Partner at ERM); Bertina Symonds (Founder and MD of Inkonjane Collective); and Mogaleadi Seabela (Section Manager at Kumba Iron Ore). Key themes in this episode include the mine of the future, succeeding as a woman in mining, the joy of meeting up in person post-Covid19, and the ability that we had to raise awarness about women in mining as a result of the generous sponsorship of our Mining Indaba 2022 tickets and stand by Hyve. Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Join WiMSA · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Briony Liber Coaching · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Our Guest: Barbara Dischinger (iWiM | Founder & Director) In this episode of the WiMSA Mining Indaba series, Petro du Pisani speaks to Barbara who explains how iWiM connects women-in-mining (WiM) organisations across the world. She describes how WiM organisations play an important role in promoting and developing women working in the mining industry. iWiM currently includes over 100 WiM organisations across 55 countries. In 2021 iWiM launched the WiM alliance which aims to help WiM organisations collaborate and come closer together. More about iWiM · Connect with Barbara · Join WiMSA · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Briony Liber Coaching · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Ou Guest: Stacy Hope (Women in Mining UK, Managing Director) In this episode of the WIMSA Mining Indaba 2022 podcast series, Briony Liber chats with Stacy about the work that WIMUK is doing to support and promote women in the mining industry including the WIM100 Inspirational Women in Mining Awards which are taking place again in 2022 (this is the fifth year of the awards which take place every second year). Connect with Stacy Hope · Nominate an inspiring woman in mining for the WIM100 awards · Join WiMSA · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Briony Liber Coaching · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Guest: Simone Naicker (My Tiara is a Hard Hat) In this episode of the WIMSA Mining Indaba 2022 series, Briony Liber talks with Simone Naicker, a process engineer at Exxarro Resources and Official Young Engineer Advocate for Mining Indaba 2022. Simone shares some of her journey into the mining industry, unpacks her brand "My Tiara is a Hard Hat", shares her thoughts on her role in the mine of the future and her advise for young people entering the industry and what she would like more experienced people in the industry to know. Connect with Simone Naicker on LinkedIn · Join WiMSA · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Briony Liber Coaching · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Guest: Khosi Sibisi (WIMBIZ | Acting CEO and Chairperson of WIMBIZ) In this episode of the WIMSA Mining Indaba 2022 series of podcasts, Briony Liber is in conversation with Khosi Sibisi the Acting CEO and Chairperson of WIMBIZ. Khosi shares an overview of what WIMBIZ is all about and the progress they are making in representing women business owners in accessing opportunities in the mining supply chain. She talks about how WIMBIZ creates a bridge between business owners and mining corporates and reduce the burden of all parties in connecting and doing business with each other. Connect with Khosi Sibisi on LinkedIn · Visit the WIMBIZ website · Join WiMSA · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Briony Liber Coaching · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Our Guest: Estelle Levin-Nally, (Levin Sources | CEO and Founder) In this episode of the WIMSA Mining Indaba 2022 series, Briony Liber chats with Estelle Levin-Nally, CEO of Levin Resources. We explore issues around artisinal and small scale miners (ASM), the relationships between ASMs and large-scale mining companies and the human rights, safety and security and gender issues associated with this very complex subject. Connect with Estelle · Join WiMSA · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Briony Liber Coaching · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Our Guest: Takalani Randima, (Shaft Sinkers - United Mining Services Group | Managing Director) In this episode in the Mining Indaba 2022 series, Briony Liber catches up with one of Women in Mining South Africa's newest sponsors, Takalani Randima, Managing Director of Shaft Sinkers - United Mining Services Group. We explored Takalani's philosophy around mentoring, her experiences as the sole woman in shaft sinking early on in her career, and mentors who have supported her in her career. Connect with Takalani · Join WiMSA · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Briony Liber Coaching · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Research outcomes from Petro Du Pisani's EMBA In this episode, Petro Du Pisani (Anglo American/Head of Business Improvement and WIMSA/Chairperson 2021-2022) talks with Briony Liber about her research into the role of leadership in reducing fatalities in the South African Mining industry. Her research was completed as part of an Executive MBA at UCT Graduate School of Business, and draws valuable conclusions on the anatomy of a safety leader which includes listening at a deep level, caring greatly, taking action on what they hear, being attuned to everyone and everything around you, creating a culture of speaking up safely, giving feedback, being able to have difficult conversations, being operationally visible, rewarding the communication of bad news early. Connect with Petro · WiMSA on LinkedIn · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Briony Liber Coaching · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Career insights from our mentors and mentees. Guests: Pity Pheko (WiMSA 2021 mentee/ Production Section Manager / Thungela) Anelisa Zimema (WiMSA 2021 mentee / Mining engineering graduate trainee / Idwala Industrial Holdings) Nkosingiphile Sibisi (WIMSA Mentee 2021 / Miner / Barberton Mines) Thabile Makgala (Exec Eastern Limb / Implats); Mogaleadi Seabela (Section Manager / Sishen Iron Ore) In this episode, Briony Liber focuses on mining engineering as a career. Our mentors Thabile Makgala (Exec Eastern Limb / Implats) and Mogaleadi Seabela (Section Manager / Sishen Iron Ore) share their experiences with three of our WIMSA 2021 mentees: Pity Pheko (Production Section Manager / Thungela); Anelisa Zimema (Mining engineering graduate trainee / Idwala Industrial Holdings); Nkosingiphile Sibisi (Miner / Barberton Mines). Throughout the conversation, we learn as much from our mentees as we do from our mentors and several themes emerge from this conversation that are relevant not just to mining engineers but to all professions including create a network, put your hand up even if you don't know how, do the unglamorous work, stay the course, work through the tough stuff, get your hands dirty, get out of your comfort zone, look to see how you can serve others, learn from failure, course-correct as you go. WiMSA Website · Connect with Thabile · Connect with Pity · Connect with Anelisa · Connect with Nkosi · Connect with Mogaleadi · Connect with Briony · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Briony Liber Coaching · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Host: Briony Liber (Briony Liber Coaching) Guests: Raksha Naidoo (Wimsa Vice Chair and mentoring sub committee) Yusavia Naidoo (Mentoring sub committee) In January 2021 Women in Mining South Africa (WiMSA) launched our mentoring programme - a fully online peer-to-peer mentoring format. In this episode the WIMSA mentoring subcommittee members, Briony Liber, Raksha Naidoo and Yusavia Naidoo reflect on where the programme has come from, discuss some myths about mentoring, share some of the highlights 6 months into the programme, and outline the vision for the rest of 2021. They also talk about how the programme will be expanded in 2022. One thing they conclude and celebrate is the way in which the mentees are living up to the theme for the year which is to #showupandshine. Sponsored by AMIS · Sponsored by Anglo American · In Partnership with Briony Liber Coaching · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Thuthula Balfour | Minerals Council South Africa In this episode WiMSA chairperson, Petro du Pisani, speaks to Dr. Thuthula Balfour, Head of Health for the Minerals Council South Africa. Dr Balfour has headed and coordinated the South African mining industry’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020. She is also a WiMSA patron and she leads the Minerals Council’s Women in Mining Task Team. Thuthula explains how she ended up working in the mining industry. We talk about the Minerals Council's white paper on women in mining, which has lead to a number of workstreams being executed by the women in mining task team. These workstreams include: - A gender & diversity reporting platform - Reaffirming zero tolerance for gender-based violence - Diversity and Inclusion Policies - Unconscious bias training to transform culture Thuthula explains what it means for her to be a WiMSA patron, and she talks about her vision for women in mining in the South African mining industry. Learn more about the Minerals Council · Connect with Thuthula on LinkedIn · Become a WiMSA member now · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Briony Liber Coaching · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Connecting with other WiM organisations across the world Today's participants: Petro du Pisani (WiMSA | Chairperson) Briony Liber (WiMSA | Mentoring lead) Nora Fiorini (WiM Argentina) This episode is a conversation between Women in Mining South Africa (WiMSA) and Women in Mining Argentina. We speak about our organizations, our approach to mentorship, what it means to be part of a WiM group and what our WiM aspirations are for the future. Learn more about Women in Mining South Africa here · Learn more about Women in Mining Argentina here · Connect with Nora · Connect with Briony · Connect with Petro · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Briony Liber Coaching · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Inspiring women to build a better world through mining In this episode Petro and Raksha explain what WiMSA's updated purpose - 'inspiring women to build a better world through mining' means to them. They outline WiMSA's focus areas for 2021 and provide a preview of what members can expect for the remainder of the year. Find out more about WiMSA and to become a member · Apply for our mentoring programme (closes 19 Feb 2021) · Connect with Raksha on LinkedIn · Connect with Petro on LinkedIn · Briony Liber Coaching · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Digital Diaries Episode 4 Mbali Magudulela (Sibanye Stillwater) Nola Xala (Sibanye Stillwater) Lindy Scott (Lindy Scott Creations) This episode wraps up WiMSA's women's month programme. We reflect on the Digital Diaries programme which took place every Thursday in August (2020). Since WiMSA's 2020 drive is FutureFIT, where F stands for Focussed, I stands for Inspired and T stands for Transformed, we hosted four evening events with the same themes (including Future). The Digital Diaries series was sponsored by Sibanye Stillwater. WiMSA deputy chair (Petro du Pisani) speaks to Mbali and Nola from Sibanye Stillwater and Lindy Scott (fellow committee member and creative), who pulled together this amazing programme. We talk about our highlights from the programme, supporting artists and creatives during the Covid-19 pandemic and how a focus on mental health provided the inspiration for putting the programme together. Thanks to our Sponsors Sibanye Stillwater · Lindy Scott · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Briony Liber Coaching · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts