Why Diamonds

While I haven't worked in the diamond industry for a number of years, I continue to consult entrepreneurs, eager consumers, jewelry companies and international development professionals on responsible mineral sourcing and mining. Here's why I believe diamonds are important:

I believe that the diamond industry can be a powerful driver of development and prosperity in impoverished diamond mining communities. When my friends started getting engaged to be married, the association of diamonds with both love and conflict was an extreme contradiction. 

Most diamond mining communities remain poor despite exceptional mineral wealth

I could not imagine a product with a greater disconnect between the circumstances of giving and the circumstance of its source. Having spent my early career working in sustainability, brand strategy and international development, I was struck by this contrast. I was compelled to learn more. I discovered that despite Africa’s vast mineral wealth, most mining communities remain in dire poverty. While large-scale mining companies are progressively taking steps to act as regional development partners, mining regions face immediate health, financial, and educational challenges. I learned that in most poor mining communities, people have few other livelihood opportunities. With little economic diversity, these communities rely heavily on large mines for employment. Lacking alternative livelihood options, people turn to artisanal and small‐scale mining (ASM) of easily accessible minerals for sustenance. ASM is dangerous, commonly illicit, prone to exploitation, and causes environmental harm that perpetuates poverty and insecurity. This cycle is unsustainable for producing regions.  I discovered that there is opportunity and desire for change. While many governments and organizations would like to bring an end to ASM, this widespread activity will not stop while there is money to be made and individuals lack more lucrative livelihood options. If done effectively, ASM, which supplies 20% of the diamond trade and 20% of global mining output, could be a powerful force for development. I learned that these issues were not unique to diamonds. As consumers, many of the products we buy contain minerals that exploit natural resource-based economies. What’s more, with our expanding use of technology, the demand for minerals will increase. Finally, I found that diamonds hold great power. Unlike most other raw minerals, consumers can see and already talk about diamonds. Consumers increasingly want to know how products are made and want to feel confident that their products do not cause harm. Equipped with this new perspective, I decided to be a part of the solution. I believe business can a nimble and potent agent of change. So, I focused my efforts on building a brand that provides consumers with diamonds that help drive development in impoverished diamond mining communities, and on creating a scalable model for a traceable, socially and environmentally-sound source of diamonds. Over six years, I worked with the diamond industry, miners, chiefs, government agencies, academics, NGOs, as well as, wonderful partners, investors and friends to make progress on these goals.

Artisanal diamond miners in Kono, Sierra Leone