Chief Storytellers In Mining Make The Data Dance
When I think of great CEOs, the first characteristic that comes to mind is that they are great at telling their company’s story. It is such a key aspect of their job that I think their title might better be Chief Storyteller.
Elon Musk has revolutionized the automobile industry with his Tesla electric vehicles. He is such a spectacular promoter that Tesla’s stock valuation is superior to almost all the gas vehicle makers combined. We need more of that in mining.
When it comes to mining, just like in other industries, the CEO wears many hats. He has to deal with the board, management, budgets, fundraising, accountants, lawyers and also be a student of the markets and often a therapist for the shareholders. With a focus on their projects and getting their story out in news releases, in their corporate presentations, in interviews and speeches.
In their quest to be the Chief Storyteller (CS), they have to rely on their team and when it comes to the projects, especially if they have several, the projects need a champion. For a miner, that includes people in their mining and exploration team. They are the ones that lead the charge and feed the CS with the details that go into presenting the story to investors.
When it comes to the project, the geological team puts all the data together to paint a picture. I’ve been blessed to have worked with and discussed projects with plenty of talented geoscientists. One common characteristic that always impresses me is when they can make the data dance.
Not only to other geologists, but in a way that investors can understand as well. The basis to be able to accomplish this is that they are talented researchers, compilers of the data and extremely focused on the project. They live and breathe it.
Another common characteristic is they are passionate about the project they are championing. So much so that they want everybody to see their vision, which makes them enthusiastic storytellers. When they are really great at it, they can help their own team and decision makers inside the company, investors and financiers see the big picture.
Their vision, passion and ability to make the data dance permeates outward from those inside the company and outside. You can see it in the news releases, in corporate presentations, when you talk to them and when the CS is out doing his work telling the story.
I’m passionate about the mining business, metals and the exploration for buried treasures and how to get those buried treasures out of the ground. I love to chat with executives of mining companies and the champions of projects. Sometimes they are the same person, sometimes not. When I get into the guts of a company and their projects, it helps me tell their story to viewers of my interviews and readers of my reports.
All the best,
Allan Barry Laboucan
