Network - Women in Mining South Africa (WiMSA)

Recorded at WiMSA’s Women’s Month event in Johannesburg, “Switch On Your Strengths!” features Gill How in an engaging and thought-provoking conversation about recognising the strengths we already possess — and learning how to use them with greater confidence and intention.

Drawing on her experience in leadership and personal development, Gill explores what it means to understand what energises us, build on our natural strengths and bring more of who we are to the way we work and lead. Whether you attended the event or are hearing Gill’s talk for the first time, this episode offers practical insights and a fresh perspective on unlocking your potential. Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

In this episode, WiMSA Board Chair, Noleen Pauls is joined by Megan Jarvis, partner at Webber Wentzel, and Dr Jeannette McGill, mining executive and geoscientist, for a candid conversation about the realities of being a woman in mining and professional services.

They reflect on a time when women were barred from working underground, share defining career moments that demanded grit and resilience, and explore how unconscious bias still shapes workplace dynamics today. The discussion moves beyond struggle to focus on leadership, emotional intelligence, mentorship, and the power of women supporting women.

From “pull-her-down syndrome” to the importance of networks like WIMSA, this episode celebrates progress while asking the hard questions about inclusion, equality, and how industries truly change.

This is a conversation about showing up, being heard, and being recognised for one thing only: competence. Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Voices for safety in our homes and mines.

In this episode of WiMSA’s Voices for Safety campaign against GBV, Mogaleadi speaks with Sazini Mojapelo, the Global Gender GBV Lead at the IFC, about the urgent need to confront gender-based violence in our workplaces. Together, they unpack how history, culture, and power dynamics shape behaviour in our society and workplaces. They dig into why achieving true gender equality starts with eliminating violence in all its forms, from harassment and bullying to intimidation and emotional harm. This conversation goes beyond awareness. It offers practical actions: visible leadership and accountability, survivor-centred response, updated policies, and a culture grounded in respect. Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Celebrating groundbreaking WiM with over 20 years of experience!

In celebration of International Day of Women in Mining (IDWIM), Mogaleadi hosts a powerful and heartfelt conversation with two inspiring trailblazers in the mining industry — Dineo Mosimanyane (Mining Shift Coordinator) and Faith Phiri (Mechanical Foreman). Together, they reflect on their journeys, share personal milestones, and shine a light on the evolving role of women in a historically male-dominated field.

In this special episode, Mogaleadi digs into their experience, exploring everything from their first impressions, challenges, leadership evolution, and the skills that fuel longevity in the mining sector. You’ll hear fun facts, honest reflections, and proud achievements that illustrate both the progress and the passion of women forging paths in mining.

Whether you’re in the mining sector or just passionate about empowering women in STEM and industry, this episode is filled with motivation, real talk, and celebration of women who step up and stands out!

Tune in, get inspired, and join us in honouring the incredible women shaping the future of mining. What does IDWIM mean to you and how are you commemorating the day? Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Multiple Sclerosis - influence on daily life and work.

In this episode, Natalie Brand (General Manager of Earthlab Technical Division) and Kat Swanepoel (Occupational Therapist at CE Mobility) talk to host Maria Combrink about living with multiple sclerosis (MS). They explore the difficulty in getting a correct diagnosis and how this degenerative disease influences daily activities. Natalie and Kat speak to their lived experiences on how people perceive their disability, and how they navigate their careers and the challenges they may face. Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

Forge Your Future Fearlessly.

Raksha Naidoo is joined by Noleen Pauls and Claire McMaster to discuss WiMSA's first symposium, to be held in August 2024. Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts

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 · 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 [email protected] Connect with Zoya · Connect with Raksha · Connect with Petro · Website · Connect with WiMSA on Facebook · 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 · 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 · Connect with WiMSA on LinkedIn · Solid Gold Podcasts