Women in Mining USA (WIM USA) launched the Mining Mentor Network.
WIM USA says the Mining Mentor Network is an inclusive, industry-wide community designed to connect professionals across the mining sector through meaningful one-to-one mentoring relationships.
Launched at the 2026 Women in Mining USA National Conference, the Mining Mentor Network builds on WIM USA’s long-standing commitment to professional development, equity and workforce advancement. The reimagined network welcomes mentors and mentees of all genders, career stages and disciplines, recognizing mentorship as a tool for strengthening individual careers and the mining industry as a whole.
“Mentorship is one of the most practical and powerful ways we build and sustain this industry,” says Julia Potter, president of Women in Mining USA. “It’s how people gain confidence, navigate challenges and start to see what’s possible in their careers. The Mining Mentor Network is about creating real, accessible connections across roles, backgrounds and experience levels so people can learn from each other and grow together.”
WIM USA says the Mining Mentor Network is designed to be flexible and participant-driven, with mentors and mentees able to connect as often as they’d like and whenever it best fits their schedules. Mentees guide the focus of conversations based on their goals, while mentors contribute insight and lived experience drawn from across the industry. Participants may engage as a mentor, mentee or both.
All mentoring conversations are hosted virtually via Google Meet, making it easier for participants to connect regardless of location or time zone. WIM USA says this approach supports the global nature of the mining industry and helps reduce barriers to participation.
Since its original launch in 2023 as a WIM USA initiative, the organization says the mentor program has facilitated hundreds of mentoring conversations among professionals spanning operations, engineering, geology, technical services and leadership roles. The Mining Mentor Network expands this foundation with a more inclusive name and broader reach, aligned with the evolving needs of the global mining workforce, according to WIM USA.
The network will be accessible year-round through the Women in Mining USA website and mentorship portal.
To learn more about WIM USA and the Mining Mentor Network, visit womeninmining.us.
