At B2Gold, careers are shaped by opportunity, experience and the people who help move the industry forward. For Julday Dia, that journey has taken her from West Africa to the Arctic, and most recently to the stage at CIM Connect in Vancouver.
Julday is a Mining Engineer with B2Gold’s Operations team, currently focused on underground life-of-mine design. Her work supports long-term planning and sustainability, helping ensure development is both efficient and strategic.
At this year’s CIM Connect conference at the Vancouver Convention Centre, Julday shared insights from her experience working across diverse operations, including Fekola Mine in Mali and Back River in Canada. Her presentation focused on a key topic shaping the future of mining: attracting and retaining the next generation of engineers.
Her message was simple but impactful.
“As young professionals, we want to feel like we are contributing and adding value,” she said. “You want to feel included, and that really influences whether you stay and grow within the company.”
Her perspective is rooted in hands-on experience. Working across different regions and environments has reinforced the importance of adaptability—understanding how teams operate, building relationships and remaining open to learning. These experiences have shaped her growth as both an engineer and a collaborator.
Support from colleagues and leaders has also played an important role in her journey. From B2Gold, Julday credits Michael Meyers, Director, Project Development, Engineering/Operations, and Peter Montano, Vice-President, Projects, Engineering/Operations, for encouraging her to pursue new opportunities and supporting her decisions to take on roles at both Fekola and Back River.
At CIM Connect, she saw how these experiences resonated with others. Following her presentation, students approached her with questions about travel, career development and gaining experience in mining, highlighting the importance of mentorship and creating space for new voices in the industry.
Julday also emphasized the importance of broadening perceptions of careers in mining. While the industry is often viewed as remote and centred on site-based roles, she noted that it offers a wide range of opportunities across operations, engineering, finance, technology and sustainability.
“I think there’s not always a strong understanding of how broad the careers in mining are,” she explained, noting this can sometimes discourage people, especially women, from considering the industry.
Her advice to women interested in mining is grounded in both honesty and optimism. Gaining site experience is an important part of building a career, but it does not have to define it. With a range of pathways available, there is flexibility to move into different roles over time and shape a career that aligns with individual interests, goals and lifestyles.
By sharing her experiences and encouraging others to explore their own paths, Julday is helping support the next generation of mining professionals while strengthening the collaborative culture that drives the industry forward.