Diary of a Female Leader

Welcome to Diary of a Female Leader! 🎙️ In this episode, we have the privilege of sitting down with an exceptional leader, Pamela Fierst-Walsh, whose expertise lies in conflict and critical minerals, minerals supply chain dependencies, and global risk. Her passion for the clean energy revolution has driven her to become a recognized authority in these fields. Pamela's impact is profound; she played a pivotal role in transforming the U.S. diplomatic approach to critical minerals. Through her close partnership with the U.S. interagency, she spearheaded the creation of State Department policy, leading to crucial diplomatic partnerships with governments worldwide, including Australia, Canada, and the European Union. But Pamela is not only a diplomat; she's a fierce advocate for women's empowerment and mentorship. Her dedication to these causes shines through her involvement with organizations like the Women's Foreign Policy Group. Her remarkable contributions have earned her recognition as a Top 100 U.S. Corporate Responsibility Influencer. In this episode, we explore Pamela's journey, her insights into global risk management, the critical minerals landscape, and her unwavering commitment to women's empowerment. Her story is not just inspiring; it's a beacon of empowerment and a testament to the change-makers among us. Join us as we delve into Pamela's remarkable career, her dedication to positive change, and her vision for a more sustainable and inclusive future. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to Diary of a Female Leader for more enlightening conversations with leaders who are shaping our world. #Leadership #Minerals #CriticalMinerals #Empowerment #Podcast

Welcome to another episode of Diary of a Female Leader! 🎙️ In today's conversation, we have the privilege of sitting down with Claudia Tornquist, the CEO, Director and Chairman of Kodiak Copper Corporation and a Director of American Lithium Corp and Silver One Resources. Claudia's journey is a testament to the heights women can reach in traditionally male-dominated industries, particularly in the mining sector. Claudia's career spans impressive roles, including General Manager of Business Evaluation at Rio Tinto, one of the world's largest mining companies. What makes her journey truly remarkable is her fearless pursuit of her passions. She's left stable and content positions to follow her entrepreneurial spirit within the mineral resources industry, redefining her role as a modern treasure hunter. In this episode, Claudia shares her insights into the mining industry, her experiences as a woman in leadership, and the valuable lessons she's learned along the way. Her story is not just inspiring; it's a source of guidance for anyone looking to excel in their career, embrace change, and shatter glass ceilings. Join us as we delve into Claudia's remarkable journey, her contributions to the mining industry, and her vision for the future. If you're interested in leadership, mining, entrepreneurship, or simply looking for inspiration, this episode is a must-watch. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to Diary of a Female Leader for more empowering stories and insights. Together, let's celebrate and learn from trailblazers like Claudia who are shaping the future of industries and leadership. #WomenInLeadership #MiningIndustry #Entrepreneurship #Empowerment #Podcast

Welcome to the Second Season of Diary of a Female Leader! 🎙️ In this special episode, we're taking a captivating journey back to the 1980s, a time when the healthcare industry was predominantly male-dominated. Join us as we sit down with the incredible General Practitioner, Lorna Teasdale, who defied expectations and paved the way for future generations of female healthcare professionals. Lorna's story is a testament to how much society has changed in one a few decades. She was one of the few women in a field where gender diversity was rare. Her journey not only inspires but also showcases the remarkable progress we've made. Discover how Lorna's experiences in the 80s have contributed to the transformation of the healthcare landscape and society as a whole. Her story is a reminder that there are no limits to what women can achieve, even in traditionally male-dominated industries. If you're a trailblazer, a dreamer, or someone who believes in rewriting the rules, this episode is a must-listen. Let Lorna's journey inspire you to shatter ceilings, pursue your passions, and create the future you want. Subscribe now to be part of this empowering conversation! Join us on www.diaryofafemaleleader.com as we celebrate the achievements of remarkable women and the progress we continue to make together. Together, we can redefine the future.

Step into the world of "Diary of a Female Leader" as we embark on an awe-inspiring journey with Alexandra, an extraordinary woman in the realm of commodities. Born in the charming city of Paris, her life's path took root in the serene countryside of Picardie, just an hour's drive north of the bustling metropolis.   Alexandra's thirst for knowledge was insatiable, and she quenched it by pursuing a multitude of degrees in Law and Management. Her academic prowess led her to illustrious institutions such as Panthéon-Sorbonne University and Paris-Sud University, where she honed her expertise in Business and Financial Law. Venturing further, she embraced the global stage, enrolling in the prestigious Master of Business Administration Global Asia program offered by Columbia, London, and Hong Kong Business Schools.   A decade of dedication and determination saw Alexandra flourish at Glencore, a renowned Swiss company, commanding respect in the production and trade of commodities. Focused primarily on Copper and Cobalt, she also lent her expertise to the company's Oil Department, displaying her versatility in this multifaceted industry.   Her ascent within Glencore's ranks was a testament to her tenacity, moving fluidly between roles spanning Legal and Commercial realms. Presently, as the Regional Commercial Controller for Copper Africa, Alexandra's leadership is emblematic of her unwavering commitment to excellence.   One of the most significant milestones in her journey came when Alexandra was recognized as one of the Top 100 Inspirational Women in Mining. The accolade, earned at the tender age of 29, provided her with a platform to advocate for greater female representation and contribution in the extractive industry. Her powerful message on the potential benefits of diversity resonated far beyond the mining community. Amidst the tales of triumph, Alexandra holds a treasure trove of stories from her time in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where she ventured as a counsel for a Cobalt operation. Her experiences navigating the challenges of an unfamiliar environment offer invaluable insights into the resilience and adaptability of a young female leader. Join us in this riveting episode as Alexandra's life unfolds from her idyllic upbringing in the French countryside to her audacious foray into the world of commodities. Prepare to be inspired by her journey of courage, grit, and passion, as she continues to make her indelible mark in a domain that knows no bounds.

Our eight guest is Estelle Levin-Nally, the founder and CEO of Levin Sources, as our esteemed guest. Join us as we explore Estelle's remarkable journey from childhood dreams to becoming an internationally recognized leader in sustainability and responsible sourcing of minerals. Our host, Paloma Ortiz-Lopez, engages in an intimate and candid conversation with Estelle, unearthing pivotal moments and personal anecdotes that have shaped her extraordinary career. We begin by delving into Estelle's early aspirations, from dreaming of becoming a stewardess to trying her luck as a jazz and blues singer. Listeners will be captivated by the unexpected twists and turns that ultimately led her to forge a successful path in sustainable development, conflict minerals, climate change, feminism, and corporate social responsibility. Estelle shares her transformative experiences, recounting the profound impact of engaging in conversations with people from diverse backgrounds during her journey. These interactions played a crucial role in shaping her passion for building sustainable and equitable mineral value chains, ultimately paving the way for her remarkable achievements. Some of the topics covered in the conversation were: Childhood and studies, the importance of speaking up and networking, founding a business whilst being pregnant of the first baby, the threat of burning out, the topic of confidence, male champions needed to achieve male-female equity, work-life balance is important for both men and female as a contributor to achieve equity and equality at work, continuous education at later stages of a career. Throughout the episode, Estelle's authenticity shines through as she candidly discusses her own struggles with confidence, revealing that even highly successful individuals face moments of self-doubt. Her reflections serve as an inspiration to listeners, highlighting the importance of perseverance and resilience on the path to realising one's goals. As Estelle would say: Go and get it!

Our seventh guest is Michele Ashby founder of Ashby Consulting Enterprises Inc. (ACE LLC), a consulting firm that provides corporate board training and certification through her unique program, ACE Board Certification for Women. Her diverse background includes 30 years as a gold specialist/analyst, financial expert, independent corporate director and successful entrepreneur. She was named one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business in Colorado for 2019 by the Colorado Chamber of Commerce for Women for her work in training 1,000 women for corporate board directorships; in 2022, she was selected as one of the 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining by Women in Mining UK. She previously served as an independent director for Mene, Inc., Lithium X and McEwen Mining and was an Executive Consultant with McGhee Productivity Solutions as well as Chief Executive Officer and founder of MiNE, LLC. Ms. Ashby was also the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Denver Gold Group Inc., a Colorado not-for-profit corporation organized and operating as a trade association for the mining industry. She graduated magna cum laude with a degree in finance from Regis University. Join us on an incredible journey as Michele unveils her fascinating career choices. From her early aspirations of becoming a compassionate nurse to the awe-inspiring path she embarked on as a single mother turned stockbroker, prepare to be captivated by her resilience and determination. Delve into the twists and turns of her life as she confronted various obstacles while pursuing a degree in finance. And brace yourself for the thrilling finale as Michele conquers the world of mining, rising to the pinnacle as one of the esteemed executives. Tune in to this extraordinary podcast and witness the extraordinary transformation of a true career trailblazer. Michele will also provide some nuggets of gold about what can women do to position themselves in more board level positions.

Our sixth guest is Lucy is the ESG & Sustainability Manager for Cornish Lithium, a company exploring for lithium in Cornwall, UK. She holds a degree in Earth Sciences from Oxford University, and a Masters in Mining Geology from the Camborne School of Mines with a background in grassroots exploration, and started her career exploring for base metals in Morocco and Ethiopia. She is a strong advocate for the standardisation of sustainable and responsible practices in mining, promoting these actions to the wider public, and is passionate about making the industry a more diverse place to work. She has been on the committee for Young Mining Professionals London since its inception, and is heavily involved in Women in Mining UK. In 2019, Lucy did a TEDx talk on ‘Mining our way to a low carbon future’ which has been well received. During this talk, she explained the role of the mining industry in the Energy Transition. During our conversation Lucy will comment on how the mining industry satisfied her passion for science, travelling and knowing more about the world that we live in. Lucy wasn't sure about what she wanted to develop her career in but attending an event featured by Women in Mining UK helped her with her decision.

Our fifth guest is Jennifer Abols, Director of Projects for Alamos Gold, a Canadian based gold producer. Jennifer is a metallurgical engineer with over 25 years’ experience in the mining and minerals sector. She has worked in Canada, Australia, the US, the UK and Portugal in project execution, commissioning management, engineering management, business and strategic development, process operations, marketing and sales. She is a past chairman of the Canadian Mineral Processors and ex-president of the West Australian Mining Club. Prior to taking on her current position she was the Executive Director of the Goodman School of Mines (at Laurentian University) and the President & CEO of Mirarco. In addition to a Bachelor’s degree in Extractive Metallurgy, Jennifer holds an MBA from Wilfred Laurier University. During our conversation, Jennifer describes a career in a different side of the mining industry, the processing side. She will give us valuable nuggets of information such as the confirmation that a career in mining can be highly remunerated.

Our fourth guest is Elena Meskhi, Founder of Elena Meskhi & Co a Tax and Accountancy practice located in Canary Wharf (London). Elena relocated to London at the age of 20. In her pursue for an independent career away from her family, she studied a Bachelor's in Economics as well as Psychology. Shortly after she finished her degree, she had to work as a waitress and other jobs in hospitality. But with perseverance, she secured an opportunity for a non-paid internship at a Private Equity firm in London. After only 6 months, she was given a full time paid role and some years down the line she was the Senior Controller in an oil related company. Role that lead to found her own Tax and Accountancy practice, this practice is celebrating its 12th year anniversary this year. Elena is the Author of Rewire Your Business for Success, a best-seller, a 6-step method to increase profit and increase your freedom. Recently, and together with a group of successful business females, She has been the co-author of another best seller called: Resilient Women in Life and Business: that features 18 highly successful business women from around the world who share their current best thinking about life and business; and developing resilience. For the first time in Diary of a Female Leader, we talked with Elena about her life as an accomplished business person and motherhood. She's the mum of three children. Her approach to having a family whilst continue being a business person is very interesting!

Our third guest is Monica Danon-Schaffer, Corporate Safety Manager at Volcan Compañia Minera, a Glencore company. Ms Danon-Schaffer has a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering a Master of Engineering, Civil Environmental and a PHD in Chemical & Biological Engineering. She has More than 20 years of experience working in countries such as Canada, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Spain, Venezuela, and the US. Monica has also worked for top tier mining companies such as Newmont, Goldcorp or Glencore.

Our second guest is Carolina Rojas-Hayes the former Vice Minister (Deputy Minister) of Mines at the Colombian Ministry of Mines and Energy. She was in charge of strengthening the contribution Colombia’s mining sector by improving competitiveness, transparency, and compliance of high social and environmental standards from large mining corporations to artisanal and small scale mining (ASM). She also worked for the Colombian Ministry of Finance as Head of Multilateral and Bilateral Debt and in senior positions at the Minister’s cabinet office. Additionally, she has consulted for the World Bank and the Inter American Development Bank in Washington D.C. Member of Board of Directors for several organisations such as ISA Interconexion Electrica and Pact, an international NGO whose mission is to improve the lives of communicates in issues such as health artisanal mining and governance through evidence and community based solutions. Board of Women in Mining Colombia and Origen. Ms. Rojas has extensive experience in public administration and international development. Previously she was Senior Executive at CAF – Development Bank of Latin America defining country strategies and designing the bank’s development effectiveness framework. In the public sector, Ms. Rojas has worked for the National Mining Agency, Colombia’s mining authority, as Vice-president of Promotion and Development leading the domestic and international promotion of the country’s mining potential as well as implementing policies focused ASM. Ms. Rojas holds a Masters degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago – Harris School of Public Policy (USA) and a B.A. in Economics from Universidad de los Andes (Colombia).

 Our first guest is Lena Kozovski the former CEO & Director of CSE listed  ScreenPro Security* and the former CEO of their wholly owned subsidiaries : AddBiomedical and Nature Van Nutrition as well as a Director of Concierge Medical Consultants . Lena is also the Managing Director of a privately held company Element Executive Search, a company that is focused on the mining industry. Earlier in her career, Ms. Kozovski held leadership roles for large global companies including CN Rail and TD Bank. She also has 20 years of experience in senior level search for the mining industry. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Development from the Ryerson University in Toronto and has completed several certificates and courses aligned with her current role. Ms. Kozovski served as Advisor for Proudfoot, an Executive Committee member for Women in Mining, Toronto as well as a member of Women in Mining, UK. A volunteer for York Central Hospital, Scarborough General Hospital and St Michaels Hospital in Toronto. Lena is a proponent for diversity and inclusion and has aligned with several strategic partners to promote and advance females within her chosen industries. *Since we recorded the episode, Lena is transitioning out from ScrenPro Security and its subsidiaries.