Women Working Ahead
By Sierra Mercer
Women Working AheadNov 18, 2020
Episode 20: Being a Sustainability and Climate Change Consultant | with Gabrielle Foss
Happy New Year everyone!
For the first episode of 2021 I am joined by Gabi Foss who is a recent graduate of Ivey Business School at Western University and who is currently working as a Sustainability and Climate Change Consultant at Deloitte. At the time of the interview, she was working as the Community Manager for the Upside Foundation of Canada, which helps founders of early-stage, high-growth Canadian companies to build social responsibility into their business by pledging equity to the charity of their choice.
We discuss her ongoing work with non-profits, including starting one of her own in high school, leadership and the importance of trust in team projects, some of the stereotypes that go along with one of the top business schools in Canada and why it's okay not to fit in with the "corporate success" mold, and her advice for any women thinking of pursuing a similar entrepreneurial path.
Such a great episode to start off the new year I hope you enjoy!
Be sure to reach out to Gabi over LinkedIn with any follow-up questions: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriellefoss/
Episode 19: Being the Co-Founder and CEO of Rithmik Solutions | with Amanda Truscott
This week I sit down with Co-Founder and CEO of Rithmik Solutions, Amanda Truscott. Under the promise "Mine Maintenance, Made Intelligent", Rithmik Solutions increases uptime in mines with advanced analytics that help optimize maintenance, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and extend equipment life.
We chat about her background in English Literature and early career in Journalism, how she became the Co-Founder and CEO of a company at the forefront of AI technology in mining, and her ongoing journey as a self-published author and blogger.
Be sure to connect with Amanda over LinkedIn with any follow-up questions:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-truscott-37aab86/
Episode 18: Being an Open Pit Senior Geotechnical Engineer | with Mikayla Morfin
A very fun episode this week! I got to chat with Mikayla Morfin, who is currently working as the Senior Geotechnical Engineer for Nevada Gold Mines at their Cortez property. We chat about post-secondary and the Geological Engineering program, what it's like transitioning from junior engineer to supervisor in a few short years, leading a geotechnical team made up of mostly women in a male-dominated industry, and the ongoing struggle of power outages and internet troubles.
Feel free to connect with Mikayla over LinkedIn with any follow-up questions!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikayla-morfin-83a787200/
Follow @womenworkingahead on Instagram and Twitter for more show details!
Episode 17: The Path to Success Part 1: Finding a Career that Fits You (and what to do if it doesn't work out) | with Stephanie Slocum
In this Part 1 of 2 episode series, I sit down with Stephanie to discuss her first job as an engineer, her advice for job hunting and finding the right company for you, key questions to ask (and not to ask) in job interviews, what to do if you're feeling stuck in your current role and much much more.
Feel free to contact Stephanie at stephanie@engineersrising.com or connect on LinkedIn with any follow-up questions.
Be sure to check out www.engineersrising.com and follow their Facebook page for more details.
Episode 16: Being the TruScan Manager North America at Boart Longyear | with Lori Martin
This week I had the incredible opportunity to sit down and chat with Lori Martin, who is the TruScan Manager for North America at Boart Longyear. Starting out as a graduate geologist logging core at a remote mine site, Lori has built both a successful technical career and management career, and is now paving the way for young women in mining and other technical fields. Working for the largest drilling company in the world, she manages the geological data services for all of North America and is actively working to bring the TruScan technology to underground drilling programs.
We discuss first jobs and living in flooded tents, going back to school as a full-time Mom, communication in the workplace, the importance of networking, and the seemingly never-ending learning curve that is our career.
Feel free to connect with Lori over LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorimartinpgeomba/
Episode 15: Being an Underground Graduate Geologist | with Avery Wright
This week I was able to interview Avery Wright who is currently working as an Underground Geologist at a gold mine in Western Australia. This interview was particularly exciting because it was my first time really getting to swap stories with someone who has also experienced working in an underground environment! Spoiler alert, even though we are on opposite sides of the planet, our stories were actually really similar!
We got to chat about all things mine rescue training, getting lost underground, the struggles of using a site-wide radio broadcast system, and the terrifying existence that is stink bugs in the Australian outback.
Feel free to send Avery any follow-up questions @ave_wright on Instagram or over LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/avery-wright/
Episode 14: Being a Structural Engineer in Training | with Janet Shaw
Feel free to contact Janet @janetshaw03 with any questions!
www.instagram.com/janetshaw03/
www.linkedin.com/in/janet-shaw/
Episode 13: Being the Co-Founder and CEO at RockMass Technologies | with Shelby Yee
This week I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Shelby Yee, who is the Co-Founder and CEO at a tech start-up company RockMass Technologies, which currently based in Toronto, ON. Graduating in 2016 from the Queen's Geological Engineering program, Shelby and her Co-Founder started the company as recent graduates with an idea, and four years later, they've developed the fastest digital rock mechanics tool for collecting structural orientation data underground.
For more information, check out https://www.rockmasstech.com/, RockMass Technologies on LinkedIn or @rockmasstech on Twitter.
Feel free to contact Shelby with any further questions!
Episode 12: Answering your Questions Part 2 | with Skyla Mercer
In honour of my first interview with Skyla being the first episode to hit 100 downloads, and the Women Working Ahead podcast reaching 1,000 total downloads this week, my sister returns to the show for this special episode and replaces me (temporarily) as host!
Together we go through more questions sent in by listeners over on the @womenworkingahead social medias, and cover a variety of topics ranging from struggling in school, to scariest moments working underground, to whether pineapple truly belongs on pizza or not.
Never a dull moment chatting with my crazy sister, we hope you enjoy!
Feel free to follow @womenworkingahead to join the community of working women and stay up-to-date on all show news.
Follow @skylamercer or connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skyla-mercer/
Episode 11: Being a Political Staffer on Parliament Hill | with Abbey Thompson
This week I sit down with Abbey Thompson, who is currently working as a staffer on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. We discuss her post-secondary experience in the Business Administration program at Nipissing University, the importance of mental health and her advice for anyone struggling with it, her job working day-to-day on Parliament Hill, and what it's like getting to be apart of the world where some of the most important decisions for Canadians are being made. Hope you enjoy!
Feel free to contact Abbey directly with any questions or contact the show to get in touch with her!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbeythompson/
https://www.facebook.com/abbey.thompson.73
Episode 10: Sounds of Underground | A Day in the Life of a Ground Control Engineer
In this episode I take listeners with me as head down to work in some of the deepest locations in an underground mine. From deafening fans to rumbling heavy equipment, working in an underground environment is sensory overload. Since I can't share the entire experience without bringing everyone underground with me, at least I can appeal to your ears and give you a glimpse into all the chaos that is working as a ground control engineer at one of the deepest mines in the world.
Episode 9: Being a Short Range Mine Planner | with Loréane Goma-Gakissa
This week I sit down with Loréane Goma-Gakissa, who is currently working as a short range planning engineer at an open pit in in Labrador City, NL. We discuss her post-secondary experience in the mining engineering program at McGill University, her many co-op placements (including one in Paris, France!), outreach initiatives to encourage young women in engineering and science, and what it's like working week-on/week-off in an ever-changing, high intensity mine environment. Hope you enjoy!
Feel free to contact Loréane @loreaneg with any questions!
https://www.instagram.com/loreaneg/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/loreanegoma/
Episode 8: Being a Plant Engineer at a Paper Mill | with Sarah Sassorossi
This week I sit down with Sarah Sassorossi, who is currently working as a Plant Engineer/Maintenance Manager at a Paper Mill in the US. We discuss her post-secondary experience in the Paper Science and Engineering program at North Carolina State University, the value of work placements, what her current role and responsibilities are, what it's like working as a young female engineering supervisor for a team of highly skilled and experienced men, and much, much more!
In this interview, Sarah not only provides listeners with an exclusive look into the unfamiliar world of paper processing, she also addresses a lot of the assumptions and stigmas associated with the industry. I know I learned a lot from chatting with her and I hope you will too!
Feel free to connect with Sarah on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahsassorossi/
Episode 7: Being a Junior Copywriter | with Victoria Malo
This week I sit down with Victoria Malo and discuss post-secondary in the French Immersion program at the University of Ottawa, doing an exchange in Australia, working day-to-day as a junior copywriter, and what it's like helping out with some of the biggest podcast names in the business. If you've ever considered attending the University of Ottawa, doing an exchange or coop program, or thought about working in a creative career, you are definitely going to want to tune into this episode. Victoria has got you covered.
From start to finish, you guys are not going to want to miss this.
Be sure to reach out to @victoriajmalo with any of your questions!
Episode 6: Being Open Pit Geotechnical Engineers | with Mary McLachlan & Felicia Lepore
A VERY fun interview episode this week! I got to chat with the wonderfully hilarious Mary McLachlan and Felicia Lepore, who are both currently working in Nevada as open pit geotechnical engineers. We chat about all things lawn flamingos, post-secondary and the Geological Engineering program, day-to-day work life at an open pit mine and the constant struggle of driving over wheel chocks. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it!
Feel free to DM Mary and Felicia @mary.mclachlan and @felicialepore if you have any more questions.
Follow @womenworkingahead for more show details!
Episode 5: Being a Marketing Account Coordinator | with Taylor Hummel
I sit down with my good friend Taylor Hummel this week to chat about all things post-secondary while still living at home, making a big move to the big city for the first time, keeping the spark alive in a 7-year relationship, and of course, what it's REALLY like working as an Account Coordinator at an award-winning advertising agency. If any of this sounds familiar in your own life, Taylor's got all the advice to get you through this.
If you have any more questions for Taylor please feel free to send her a direct message @tayhums:
https://www.instagram.com/tayhums/
Episode 4: Being an Exploration Geologist in Australia | with Meaghan Hiscocks
What do you get when you combine a girl who is hungover and another girl who is drinking coffee at 10pm? One crazy interview episode. In this week's episode of Women Working Ahead I interview the lovely Meaghan Hiscocks who is currently working as an Exploration Geologist in Australia.
We chat all about our university days and struggling our way through engineering together, we chat about her exchange in Sweden, and, of course, what she's been up to over the last year! If you've ever thought about packing up and moving to the other side of the planet, or even just pursuing job in geology, you aren't going to want to miss this episode!
Feel free to contact Meaghan with any questions @meaghanhiscocks
Episode 3: Being a First Year Rotman Commerce Student | with Skyla Mercer
This is a SUPER fun episode where I get to interview my sister Skyla about all the craziness that is first year university. Even if you're no longer a student, this episode will bring you back to those exciting and chaotic days, and hopefully make you smile with nostalgia. Make sure you stay tuned to the end of the episode to get an inside scoop on what REALLY goes on in some of the UofT commerce lectures. If you've ever been curious as to what it's like sitting in a lecture hall with almost 500 people, here's your chance.
Feel free to message Skyla over social media @skylamercer with any questions!
Episode 2: Being a Woman in Mining | Answering your Questions
In this episode I answer all of the questions sent in by followers over on the Women Working Ahead Instagram social media pages. I wanted to keep this as spontaneous and honest as possible so hopefully I was able to answer anything you might have been wondering about working in mining and/or working as a woman in mining. I cover things all the way from women's PPE to what it's really like working day-to-day underground.
Episode 1: Being a Woman in Mining | Introducing the Show
In this first episode of the Women Working Ahead podcast, I introduce myself and how I actually ended up working as an engineer at an active underground mine. I also discuss the goals of the show and the episode structure going forward. Enjoy!
Episode 0: Introducing Women Working Ahead | Show Trailer
Welcome to the brand new podcast Women Working Ahead, hosted by me, Sierra Mercer. On this show, I share my own story of working day to day as a young engineer at one of the deepest underground mines in the world, and where I interview other incredible women working in a variety of industries, so they can share their own stories.
This show provides an opportunity to share all the ups, downs and messy bits in between of being a modern working woman, and provides insight on how we all have the opportunity to make our marks in this world.
So, grab your permanent markers ladies and let's do this!
If you want to share your own story on the podcast, please feel free to contact the show through social media @womenworkingahead, or email womenworkingahead@gmail.com.