Episode
Leading with Heart: Mia Gous on Breaking Barriers in Global Mining
- Podcast
- Hearts & Mines
- Published
- Apr 19, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3255
- Processing state
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Summary
In this episode of Hearts & Minds, we speak with Mia Gous, Regional Operations Manager at First Quantum Minerals. Mia is an accomplished engineer with extensive global experience, famously serving as the first female General Manager in Chile’s large-scale mining sector. She shares powerful reflections on leading through the COVID-19 pandemic and her journey across diverse cultures, commodities, and languages. The conversation explores the critical pillars of trust and purpose in leadership, the importance of culture in executing strategy, and the evolving challenges of maintaining competitiveness in the Australian mining landscape. A deep and empathic discussion with a pioneering leader dedicated to mentoring the next generation of industry talent. Mia Gous🔗 linkedin.com/in/mia-gous-49688450 David Beilby 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbeilby/ Alana Bray-White 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-bray-white-8b4478219/ ivy & gecko 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/ivy-gecko Timecodes: 00:00 Trailer 01:05 The Courage to Stay: Leading a Chilean Mine through COVID-19 04:00 Reflections on the "Pivotal Decision" to put people first 06:36 Formative Years: Growing up in Apartheid-era South Africa 08:00 The Impact of Nelson Mandela’s Moral Leadership 10:25 Navigating Different Cultures, Commodities, and Languages 14:45 Career Highlights: Becoming the first female GM in Chile 18:00 The Future of Mining: Changing the Industry’s Global Image 19:55 Mining Families: A daughter’s perspective on a FIFO career 23:45 A Day in the Life of a Global Operations Manager 28:50 Three Pillars of Leadership: Relationship, Trust, and Purpose 32:15 The First Quantum Values: Bolder, Smarter, Driven Together 36:30 Why Culture is the Bedrock of Strategy and Execution 39:40 Challenges Facin…