Like a natural diamond, Naseem’s journey to the top has not been without discomfort and grinding. Years later she shines bright and the crushing she endured was all worth it! Her story unpacks growing up in the village of Moshupa in Botswana, finding herself stuck in the wrong academic stream in university and making the bold step to choose courage over comfort and follow her dreams. Naseem Banu Lahri is a seasoned Executive Leader with more than 18 years of experience in the mining industry. She has a Masters in Strategic Management (BCOM, FCCA) and has held key strategic roles throughout her career. In May 2018 she was promoted to the position of Managing Director at Lucara Botswana, being the first woman and the first Motswana woman to serve in this capacity for a diamond mining company in Botswana and the youngest female MD in mining in the world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx