Boitumelo Tlala has had a career that is nothing short of an adventure. As the Senior Communications Officer (Africa & Middle East), Barrick Gold Corporation, Boitumelo pushes through various barriers to utilise the power of communications to spur safety and other best practices in the mining industry. In her interview with us, she shares her career journey as well as the value of Communications in the Mining industry.
Tell us about how you began your career in Communications and the deliberate steps you took to grow professionally.
My career in Communications started when I volunteered at a non-profit organisation in Pretoria, South Africa, for my final-year practical work portfolio. Unfortunately, I could not find in-service training at a PR agency or corporate agency and thus decided to volunteer. Taking on that volunteering role was a great learning experience for me. I was subsequently recruited by a Broadcasting company as a Prize Coordinator, then later moved into a support role in the Sales Department as a Trade Marketing Assistant.
After that, an opportunity opened up at a local airline for me to train to become a cabin crew member, and I took that opportunity. I was a cabin crew member for two years and rose to Senior Cabin Crew Member before I applied and got appointed to the position of Executive Assistant for GM Commercial, where I worked my way up to Specialist CSI, Events, and Sponsorships. From that point on, I applied to and progressively held communication roles in the mining sector, culminating in my current position as Senior Communications Officer at a global mining company.
To advance my career, I pursued continuous professional development, including obtaining a Master’s degree and completing targeted short courses. My strategic approach paid off because, for instance, after completing a Digital Marketing course I secured a new position within just three months. I believe in studying, as it is something that is in your control and can get you further. I also live by principles such as respect, integrity, and kindness; they go a long way in the Communications industry and the world of work in general.
Can you tell us what you do as the Senior Communications Officer (Africa & Middle East) at Barrick Gold Corporation?
My current role encompasses supporting the global internal communications strategy by rolling out elements of the strategy within our mining sites in Africa. I work closely with the Global Internal Communications Manager to ensure campaigns pertaining to safety, our values, and any other communication initiatives are executed at mine level. This is not an easy task, as you need to take language, the channels we need to use, and the messaging into consideration.
What impact does Communications bring to the Mining Industry?
I really liked the theme for International Women in Mining Day 2024: ‘I am Mining and I Belong’, because it indicates that not only engineers and geologists belong in Mining, but also professionals in Communications, HR, Finance and all other professions that contribute to the industry.
Communications plays a huge role in mining because we create and connect. We use various Communications platforms and tools to disseminate critical company information and facilitate feedback which enables information to flow between employees and the employer, or the employer and the various external stakeholders, enabling engagement and mutual growth. Safety and human capital are paramount in mining, and thus we support these functions extensively, coming up with creative and clear messaging, using our various channels to ensure the message lands.
Tell us about a major challenge you’ve faced in your professional journey and how you were able to overcome it.
The major challenge I still face today as a communications scholar and professional lies with the relevant qualifications and skills needed for communicators to move from technical roles to management and leadership roles. I think experience is important, but in our profession, experience in different industries is even more essential because you need to become a subject matter expert and a thought leader.
Also, not all communicators get the opportunity to work for a PR agency, which exposes us to various clients and communication tactics. It is important for communicators to get exposure and develop skills such as writing and Journalism while progressing in their career. I, unfortunately, have not overcome this challenge and am still on a journey but I think the good thing about communicators is our ability to adapt and change.
What valuable lessons have you learned on your career journey that you wish you had known earlier?
I wish I had been exposed to more career options whilst in grades 9 and 10 (at ages 14 and 15) in high school. I wish I had more knowledge of what I could study to still land in communication.
I think exposing the youth to what is out there and the options that will be relevant in the future, especially for the African child, is important. Research and exposure are important in making decisions that will position one better in the future.
If your career was a book, song or movie, what would it be named and why?
I think my life can be likened to the movie LION, starring Dev Patel. I like that movie because it touches on aspects that mirror my life, such as escaping danger when I was younger, being assisted by a stranger to change my life (I was lucky to have an angel funder for my tertiary education) and yearning to go back to where I came from to make a difference. The overall theme here is resilience.
