My mentor was Robert Friedland. That means I share a mentor with Steve Jobs.

From 2007, we worked together on several gold mining projects. And keep in mind that I was 28 years old, just starting. When people ask me where I learned to do business in the mining world, I usually mention Robert.

Over the years, I have been Friedland's minority partner, his apprentice, and, I hope, his friend. During that time, I learned by watching how Friedland managed and structured large operations.

Friedland studied at Reed College, where he met Steve Jobs. The two shared a deep interest in Eastern spirituality. During those years, Friedland looked after his uncle's apple farm, which Jobs visited regularly and which inspired the name of his future company, Apple.

Not a bad place in history to have.

His business career began as CEO of Galactic Resources, a company that established a gold mine in Summitville, Colorado, where he began experimenting with some cutting-edge mining technologies.

Then, in 1993, he founded Ivanhoe Mines, now a global mining behemoth.. Ivanhoe struck discoveries in Africa and Asia, including the Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia, one of the world's largest copper and gold reserves, where he partnered with Rio Tinto.

Friedland is currently at the helm of large extractive projects, with a special attention on strategic minerals for renewable energy and electric vehicles. The future.

And he loves Kazakhstan, with whom he maintains a long-term relationship.

Recently, in May 2025, Friedland met with President Toqayev to promote new investments in the Chu-Sarysu basin, a key sedimentary copper reserve, and to commit new investments in the country in the years to come.

Friedland taught me to anticipate what is coming, to face the problems that investors in the sector experience, and to be disciplined. His influence marks my career today, and every day.

It was a pleasure to meet him the other day at the Astana International Forum and give him a hug. One should always stay close to the people one admires.