Ep 46: Leading From the Cab, Not the Corner Office

🎙️Lindsey Schultz, CEO of MRC Recruiting 🎧MRC Team: Samantha Larson, Heather Simoens, Sherri Powell, Laura Fletcher, Amanda Long What happens when there are more mining jobs than people ready to step into them? Lindsey brings the whole MRC Recruiting team together to make the case that the answer starts with real conversations and a wider lens on talent. Lindsey sits down with her MRC Recruiting team, Samantha Larson, Heather Simoens, Laura Fletcher, Sherri Powell, and Amanda Long. The team describes a market that feels like whack-a-mole, with new roles popping up as fast as searches close and candidates who can pick and choose. They dig into why, from retirements leaving gaps with no bench behind them to the push to build new mines in the US. Laura makes the case for defining what senior really means, Sherri shares how a flexible employer helped her move from mechanical engineering into HR, and the group talks honestly about AI-written resumes and why they still screen people the old school way. Lindsey also tells the story of placing a special operations veteran as an operations manager in Guyana. You'll walk away thinking about where your next leaders might come from if you're willing to look past the usual resume. Our Promise We spend time with people who are actually doing the work in mining, engineers, operators, leaders, and problem-solvers.These conversations are about how decisions get made, what's changing, and what people are learning in real time.The goal is simple, share ideas that stick, and help move the industry forward in a way that lasts. Stay Connected ➤ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mrcrecruiting/ ➤ Website https://mrcrecruiting.com/ ➤ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MRCRecruiting ➤ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/MRCRecruiting

👤Scott Chest, Harrison Western / UIT Safety Manager & Founder of Lead the Middle 🎙️Lindsey Schultz, CEO of MRC Recruiting  What happens when someone gets promoted for being great on the equipment, then gets handed a crew with no tools to lead it? Scott Chest makes the case that it starts with recognizing your own ego and owning every problem you see. Lindsey sits down with Scott Chest, a former MSHA inspector and investigator who now works in safety for a contractor, to talk about the people in the middle. Scott sees foremen and superintendents as the filter on every project, taking direction from above and information from their crews below, and getting hit from both sides. He shares how he landed his first mining job by meeting the superintendent at his truck every morning for two weeks, why his toolbox talks turned into videos, and how reading Marcus Aurelius shaped the way he thinks about ego. He also explains why a site needs one champion who can bring safety and operations together, and why a clear conversation about expectations gets most people to self-correct. You'll walk away thinking about what you tolerate on your own site, and who on your crew is watching. Learn more about Scott and his work at leadthemiddle.com Our Promise We spend time with people who are actually doing the work in mining, engineers, operators, leaders, and problem-solvers.These conversations are about how decisions get made, what's changing, and what people are learning in real time.The goal is simple, share ideas that stick, and help move the industry forward in a way that lasts.   Stay Connected ➤ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mrcrecruiting/ ➤ Website https://mrcrecruiting.com/ ➤ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MRCRecruiting ➤ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/MRCRecruiting

👤Mark Travis, Certified Professional Geologist & Founder of ARKENSTONE EXPLORATION 🎙️Lindsey Schultz, CEO of MRC Recruiting  What if the smartest move in mining is knowing when to stop? Mark Travis makes the case for clarity before commitment, and why independent judgment matters long before a report gets signed. Lindsey sits down with geologist and independent QP Mark Travis to talk about a tension mining knows well, the push to move fast before the picture is clear. Mark shares how his experience across commodities, especially uranium, has shaped his view that better decisions come from pressure testing assumptions early, not after money is already committed. They get into why outside perspective matters, where permitting and processing still bottleneck progress, and how knowledge transfer is becoming a real risk as experienced people get stretched thin. The conversation also touches on allyship, industry culture, and the kind of judgment that comes from time in the field, not just credentials. You'll come away thinking about what better hiring, better advising, and better decision-making could mean for the future of mining.   Our Promise We spend time with people who are actually doing the work in mining, engineers, operators, leaders, and problem-solvers. These conversations are about how decisions get made, what's changing, and what people are learning in real time. The goal is simple, share ideas that stick, and help move the industry forward in a way that lasts.   Stay Connected ➤ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mrcrecruiting/ ➤ Website https://mrcrecruiting.com/ ➤ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MRCRecruiting ➤ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/MRCRecruiting

👤Charles "Terry" Terranova, President & Founder of CharTer Consulting🎙️Lindsey Schultz, CEO of MRC Recruiting  Mining has a talent problem, but Terry Terranova makes the case that it starts much closer to home, with how people are led at work, and whether they leave shift feeling safe, respected, and proud of what they do. Lindsey Schultz sits down with Terry Terranova to talk about what is actually changing in mining leadership, and why it matters for safety, retention, and the future workforce. Terry shares what he has learned from years spent on mine sites, from the shift away from command and control leadership to a more coaching-based approach built on trust, accountability, and curiosity. They dig into psychological safety, hard conversations, frontline leadership, and the real reasons the talent pipeline feels so tight. A big takeaway, better hiring and better leadership do not just improve production, they shape better careers, stronger teams, and stronger communities around mining.   Our Promise We spend time with people who are actually doing the work in mining , engineers, operators, leaders, and problem-solvers. These conversations are about how decisions get made, what's changing, and what people are learning in real time. The goal is simple , share ideas that stick, and help move the industry forward in a way that lasts. Stay Connected ➤ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mrcrecruiting/ ➤ Website https://mrcrecruiting.com/ ➤ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MRCRecruiting ➤ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/MRCRecruiting

👤Curtis Johnson, President & CEO, Director Scout Discoveries Corp.🎙️Lindsey Schultz, CEO of MRC Recruiting  Curtis Johnson explains why he built Scout around one hard truth: discoveries come from getting the geology right and drilling more holes than everyone else. It is a conversation about grit, speed, culture, and what it really takes to build an exploration company from nothing. Lindsey sits down with Curtis Johnson of Scout Discoveries to talk about how he went from an average student to an exploration geologist, and eventually to a founder. They get into why traditional junior exploration models felt too slow, how Scout was built around first principles, vertical integration, and fast learning, and why culture matters as much as geology. Curtis shares what he has learned through risk, uncertainty, and building while under pressure. This episode leaves you thinking about ambition, how real discoveries get made, and why creating something new usually means committing before you feel ready. **Our Promise** We spend time with people who are actually doing the work in mining, engineers, operators, leaders, and problem-solvers. These conversations are about how decisions get made, what's changing, and what people are learning in real time. The goal is simple, share ideas that stick, and help move the industry forward in a way that lasts.   **Stay Connected** ➤ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mrcrecruiting/ ➤ Website https://mrcrecruiting.com/ ➤ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MRCRecruiting ➤ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/MRCRecruiting  

👤Daniel Rau, Founder of KUNIN Technologies 🎙️Lindsey Schultz, CEO of MRC Recruiting  Daniel Rau didn't plan on mining; he backed into it by asking hard economic questions. That instinct led him from lithium to building Kunin, a startup trying to help mines recover more metal from what they already process. Daniel explains how a chemical engineering path through hydrogen, oil, gas, and lithium turned into a sharp view of a bigger mining problem: too many useful metals are still uneconomic to recover. He shares why Kunin is focused on making ion exchange systems cheaper and smaller, and why that could unlock byproduct recovery from existing operations, tailings, and side streams. The conversation also gets into what he has learned as a first-time founder, how hard it is to build in mining, and why the industry still struggles to attract talent even as the need grows. You leave thinking about cost, urgency, and how much value may already be sitting inside assets we know well.   **Our Promise** We spend time with people who are actually doing the work in mining, engineers, operators, leaders, and problem-solvers. These conversations are about how decisions get made, what's changing, and what people are learning in real time. The goal is simple … share ideas that stick, and help move the industry forward in a way that lasts.   **Stay Connected** ➤ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mrcrecruiting/ ➤ Website https://mrcrecruiting.com/ ➤ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MRCRecruiting ➤ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/MRCRecruiting

👤Ravi Rajani, Speaker & Author of Relationship currency 🎙️Lindsey Schultz, CEO of MRC Recruiting  Charisma is not what you think, it is how you make others feel. In this episode, author and coach Ravi Rajani shares habits that turn communication into trust and action. Lindsey sits down with Ravi Rajani, author of Relationship Currency, to unpack five communication habits that help mining leaders earn trust and inspire change. They reframe labels and identity, explore charisma as making others feel significant, and practice empathetic questioning using the what, feel, who method. Ravi shares the ASI framework for authentic, specific, impactful compliments, plus crisp storytelling tools, hook, story, impact and the four Cs, context, conflict, change, conclusion. Expect practical takeaways for panels and keynotes, why nervous system regulation matters in leadership, and how an abundance mindset turns you into a trusted guide. Listeners will leave with scripts, structures, and confidence to connect, lead, and move people to action.   Our Promise: We aim to engage with the most creative minds in mining, from engineers and executives to environmentalists and geologists, to explore groundbreaking projects and pioneering innovations. Our discussions are designed not only to inform but to inspire action and empower our listeners to lead and innovate.   Stay Connected: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mrcrecruiting/ - Website: https://mrcrecruiting.com/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MRCRecruiting - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MRCRecruiting Resources: Ravi's Website: https://www.theravirajani.com/ Ravi's Book: https://www.theravirajani.com/book

👤MRC Recruiting Team 🎙️Lindsey Schultz, CEO of MRC Recruiting  Hiring in mining is getting more selective, but not necessarily faster. This team conversation gets into the real friction: companies need talent, candidates have options, and both sides are still figuring out what "fit" really means. The MRC team talks through what they're seeing in today's mining hiring market, where demand is growing, but decisions are still slowed by caution, relocation challenges, and a shortage of specialized talent. They discuss how candidates are thinking more intentionally about culture, family, stability, and whether a role is actually worth changing jobs for. They also spend time on an issue many companies still avoid: international candidates who need sponsorship, but may be some of the most capable and motivated people in the market. The conversation comes back to trust, clear communication, and the idea that better hiring happens when both companies and candidates are honest earlier.   Our Promise: We spend time with people who are actually doing the work in mining, engineers, operators, leaders, and problem-solvers. These conversations are about how decisions get made, what's changing, and what people are learning in real time. The goal is simple, share ideas that stick, and help move the industry forward in a way that lasts.   Stay Connected: ➤ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mrcrecruiting/ ➤ Website https://mrcrecruiting.com/ ➤ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MRCRecruiting ➤ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/MRCRecruiting

👤Sam Siebenaler, CEO of Precision Mineral Accounting 🎙️Lindsey Schultz, CEO of MRC Recruiting  Host Lindsey Schultz welcomes Sam Siebenaler, founder of Precision Mineral Accounting, to unpack the hidden world where ore becomes dollars. Sam traces his path from the Signal Corps to Newmont, then to PMA, explaining how bridging mine production data, metallurgical balance, and finance uncovers errors, clarifies contracts, and ensures royalty payees get what they are owed. They explore chain of custody, shared mills, tailings reprocessing, and why old agreements, geopolitics, and smelting bottlenecks shape today's deals. Sam shares pragmatic entrepreneurial lessons, leadership mindsets, and hiring insights, plus real talk on diversity, public perception, and student networking. Actionable takeaway, verify payments tied to minerals, define ownership before reprocessing, and ask the hard questions your contract allows.   Our Promise: We aim to engage with the most creative minds in mining—from engineers and executives to environmentalists and geologists—to explore groundbreaking projects and pioneering innovations. Our discussions are designed not only to inform but to inspire action and empower our listeners to lead and innovate.   Stay Connected: ➤ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mrcrecruiting/ ➤ Website: https://mrcrecruiting.com/ ➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MRCRecruiting ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MRCRecruiting

👤Aaron Love, Host, Producer, and Founder, Ones Ready Podcast 🎙️Lindsey Schultz, CEO of MRC Recruiting  Former Air Force Pararescueman (PJ) and Ones Ready co-host Aaron reveals how special operations principles translate directly to mining: clear purpose over pay, attributes over resumes, and checklists over complacency. He unpacks high-value traits—communication, grit, trainability—and how veterans bring risk assessment, safety culture, on-the-fly leadership, and small-team execution to the site. We dig into building trust as the new currency, the "build vs. buy" hiring model, rapid upskilling, and realistic expectations for military transition. You'll leave with a blueprint to attract, onboard, and retain veterans as force multipliers—without giving away all the playbook. Plus: SOTIF's role in connecting elite operators to industry.   Our Promise: We aim to engage with the most creative minds in mining—from engineers and executives to environmentalists and geologists—to explore groundbreaking projects and pioneering innovations. Our discussions are designed not only to inform but to inspire action and empower our listeners to lead and innovate.   Stay Connected: ➤ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mrcrecruiting/ ➤ Website: https://mrcrecruiting.com/ ➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MRCRecruiting ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MRCRecruiting