👤 Michelle Hohn, President and founder of Akashic Communications Corp.,
🎙️ Lindsey Schultz, CEO of MRC Recruiting
This conversation with strategist, sustainability and social performance advisor, and certified transformational coach Michelle Hohn traces a 30-year mining journey—and the launch of Gems on Earth, a global storytelling initiative capturing women’s lived experiences across the sector.
Michelle’s path into mining was unplanned. She began as a licensed financial advisor in the frenzy of Canadian junior resource markets, then spent a decade in investor relations and corporate communications for Vancouver-based juniors. Seeking more values-aligned work, she earned a master’s in communications just as CSR emerged, pivoting into sustainability and social performance consulting—work she’s now done for 15 years. Along the way, she trained as a registered therapeutic counselor (2019–2024), facilitated expressive writing groups on grief and journaling, and noticed how listening skills, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement deepened when she centered the human element.
Two formative influences shaped Gems. First, the “My Mother’s Story” project revealed that every woman—whether plot-driven or “ordinary”—holds extraordinary, relatable truths. Second, research Michelle led in Bolivia with women in “unconventional” roles showed that what they most wanted to talk about wasn’t equipment or output, but culture, family, identity, and trade-offs. Those insights sparked the idea to “unearth” the sector’s human stories—gems in every sense—and house them in one accessible place.
Gems on Earth offers a time-tested, safe, and practical path to story creation:
– A full-day workshop with optional pre-work, expressive writing techniques, timeline and values mapping, character sketches, and a two-hour writing block. Participants can write their own story or pair up to interview and write each other’s.
– A follow-up half-day accountability session to read excerpts, receive feedback, and build momentum.
– Optional one-on-one editing with Michelle to refine voice, themes, and takeaways.
– Publication to the Gems Global Archive, a dynamic digital library where users can assemble bespoke anthologies by role, region, company, or theme. Stories (roughly 2,000 words) can evolve over time as careers and lives change.
Michelle argues mining’s narrative often misses the whole person—family, community, spirituality, compromises, and the messages today’s women want to leave the next generation. Gems invites participation from every level and function, not just the “usual” high achievers, and aims to deliver real benefits: feeling seen without performing, safety to be honest, validation, connection, pride, visibility, and career advancement.
For organizations, Gems is both culture and strategy: a tangible attraction and retention tool; a leadership and communications development platform; and a creative way to meet ESG, DEI, and gender KPI commitments. Think candidate packs, trade-show materials, and onboarding resources that showcase your people. Allies can nominate participants, sponsor workshops, and ensure stories qualify for professional development support.
What’s next: An in-person Vancouver workshop on February 4 kicks off the series, with interest building in Toronto, London, Colorado, and Serbia. A temporary info hub sits on Michelle’s Akasha Communications site while gemsonearth.com finalizes. A nomination badge feature encourages peer-to-peer recognition—a simple, powerful way to say, “Your story matters. Please share it.”
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: ⏱️
0:00 – Introduction to Michelle Hone and Her Work in Sustainability
1:06 – Michelle’s Journey into the Mining Industry
3:05 – Transitioning from Financial Advisor to Investor Relations in Mining
4:23 – How Michelle Shifted Focus to Sustainability
5:39 – Incorporating Personal Development into Professional Work
6:46 – Integrating Therapeutic Counseling with Stakeholder Engagement
9:02 – Launching Gems on Earth: A Project to Showcase Women in Mining
10:59 – The Power of Women’s Stories in Mining and Leadership
12:57 – The Birth of the Gems Unearthed Concept
15:06 – Encouraging Women to Share Their Stories
17:39 – How Gems Unearthed Provides a Platform for Women’s Voices
19:27 – Importance of Balancing Personal and Professional Narratives
22:33 – Highlighting the Human Side of Women in Mining
25:09 – The Benefits of Storytelling in the Mining Industry
27:45 – How Workshops Help Women Find Their Voice
30:21 – The Structure of Gems Unearthed Workshops
34:33 – Feedback and Accountability in Storytelling Workshops
36:43 – The Vision for a Global Digital Archive of Stories
39:01 – The Evolution of Personal and Professional Narratives
42:33 – Nominations and Empowerment for Women in Mining
44:21 – The Power of Recognition and Support in Career Growth
46:43 – Closing Thoughts on Gems Unearthed’s Impact on Legacy
49:46 – How Gems Can Serve as a Recruiting Tool for Companies
53:22 – Upcoming Events and Ways to Get Involved with Gems
55:12 – Final Thoughts and Encouragement for Women in Mining
Connect with us on LinkedIn and check out monthly episodes of Ore-atory: Elevating Mining Minds on Apple Podcast or Spotify, where we continue to explore the mining industry workspace.
Tune in and be part of the conversation that’s shaping the future of mining!
Are you a job seeker looking for your next opportunity or an organization looking to hire your next team member? If you have time for a quick chat about your goals MRC can help connect with us.