Naseem Lahri

Naseem Banu Lahri is a professional accountant from Botswana and Managing Director at Lucara Botswana (Pty) Ltd., a subsidiary of the Canadian diamond mining company, Lucara Diamond Corp. She is the first female and first Motswana woman to run an African diamond mine; the youngest female MD in mining in the world. Labelled by Forbes, the New Yorker, Mining Weekly and Vogue as the youngest female to run a diamond mine in the world. In Nov 2020 nominated as the Top 100 Women in Mining. Awarded the Forbes Woman Africa Impact Award at the 2022 All Africa Business Leaders Awards. Received the African Mining Personality of the Year Award during the 11th African Leadership Magazine Awards in 2023. She has Masters in Strategic Management (BCOM, FCCA).

Quotes

• I am proud to say that I am the first Motswana female to run a diamond mining company. I am proof that with determination, hard work and not accepting any limitations as a woman, one can achieve great results and perform in a male populated dominated field like mining.
  • [1] Gender in employment

• If you are competent enough to do the job you will be employed irrespective of gender, which is a quality that very few companies in the industry have.
  • [2] Gender in employment

• It has statistically been proven that female-run organisations show an increased bottom line within two years. Additionally, there’s substantial evidence that gender diversity at management level enhances a company’s performance.
  • [3] Gender diversity

• Never give up and never let anyone tell you what you can do. You can achieve whatever you set your mind to - nothing is impossible, and the sky is not your limit.
  • [4] To career women seeking to progress in a male-dominated space

• Focus on what you want, and pursue it.
  • [5] To career women seeking to progress in a male-dominated space

• For anybody that's here that's an entrepreneur, you want to be different in the way you do things.
  • [6] entrepreneurship at 2023 Forbes Under 30 Summit Africa