Dear Board of Directors
The recent class action suit has sent shockwaves through the mining industry. For some, it has reopened old wounds; for others, it has triggered past traumas or revealed the painful truth of what’s happening around us. This suit implicates two massive companies, but let’s not deceive ourselves—it isn’t just them. The outpouring of stories I’ve seen following last week’s post proves that this problem is pervasive. Yet, one sentiment kept coming up: the need for "difficult conversations."
That phrase didn’t sit well with me. What’s actually difficult in this situation is the decision to come forward—risking careers, livelihoods, and reputations. What’s difficult is enduring the aftermath: the whispers, the reputation-smearing, and the shaming. It’s not difficult—or at least it shouldn’t be—to confront perpetrators and say, "Enough is enough." It shouldn’t be difficult to address bullying, harassment, and assault, or to hold those responsible to account.
If the human cost isn’t enough to drive action, then consider the business case: the countless dollars spent on legal fees, settlements, HR investigations, and crisis management. Believing women, acting decisively, and fostering a culture of respect is simply good business. And yet, when perpetrators are removed, they often walk away with lucrative payouts and into their next leadership roles, with no accountability or consequence.
Boards hold immense power. I’ve been told before that boards "can only influence" but aren’t responsible for demanding change. I call that out as a lie. Your responsibility is to protect the company—and that means protecting its people, not just its profits. It means holding leadership accountable and refusing to turn a blind eye to systemic issues for the sake of optics or the bottom line.
So, I ask you: what will you do now? How will you use your influence, your voice, and your power to make radical, lasting change in this industry? Because this moment demands decisive action.
And to my fellow millennials rising into leadership roles: the runway ahead of us is long, and we are the ones steering this ship. We must do better—better for ourselves, for those who came before us, and for those who will come after. This is on us. Let’s not waste the opportunity to build a future that prioritizes respect, inclusion, and accountability.
The time for change is now. What are we waiting for?
