Failure is inevitable, and it’s okay. I wish I had been told that failure is a natural part of the entrepreneurial journey. Understanding this early on can help alleviate the fear of failure and encourage resilience. Embracing failure as a learning opportunity can lead to growth and eventual success.
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Anna-Mieke Anderson.
Anna-Mieke Anderson, founder and active CEO of MiaDonna, is globally recognized as the pioneer of the dynamic and booming lab-grown diamond industry. She is an avid philanthropist and successful social entrepreneur who has led the way in showing that you can do well in business by doing good. In 2005, after learning the conflict origin of her own earth-mined diamond, Anna-Mieke launched MiaDonna, creating a visionary business: the world’s first ethical jewelry retailer exclusively selling Lab-Grown Diamonds and Gemstones, existing solely for the purpose of giving 10% of net profits to help free children oppressed by the active conflict diamond mining industry through its nonprofit foundation, The Greener Diamond.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I didn’t set out to be a corporate tycoon or to start a new industry. The lab-grown diamond industry and my company, MiaDonna.com, is a byproduct of my activism. The diamond industry is traditionally run by men, with leadership roles exclusively passed down from generation to generation. It’s nearly impossible to break into with no connections or experience, let alone as a female. When I first realized I had likely purchased a conflict diamond, I became disappointed in myself for not being the conscious consumer I thought I was. So to make things right, I began sponsoring a mother, Mariah, and her seven-year-old son, Ponpon, in a mining community in West Africa.
That was going to be the extent of my philanthropy until something unexpected happened. Through our letters, Ponpon gave me a first-hand look at the dangers and instability of living in a diamond mining community. I will never forget the day he wrote to me and said, “I had a great summer because only one of my classmates was killed.” Those words changed my life forever, and that is when I decided I had to do more.
That is when I came up with the idea to sell conflict-free jewelry as a sustainable funding source to sponsor more children and their mothers. That is how simple the business plan for MiaDonna was. However, the more research I did into gold and diamonds, the more I found out there was no such thing as a conflict-free diamond if it came out of the earth. So I decided to make my own! That is when I turned to science and focused on perfecting a diamond grown in a lab.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
While perhaps not the most captivating tale, it’s certainly the most pertinent one to share right now. I founded MiaDonna on the promise that we would always be advocates for diamond-mining communities, the environment, and conscious consumers. Holding true to that promise, I see it’s time the public learned that not all lab-grown diamonds are created equal — and neither are the companies that sell them. Unscrupulous retailers market Lab-Grown Diamonds that could not be classified “conflict-free” by anyone’s measure, sourced from manufacturers who inflate profits at the cost of quality and the environment.
Over a period of time, I encountered persistent pressure from regulatory bodies regarding the marketing of lab-grown diamonds, with demands that they be labeled as “artificial” or “synthetic” diamonds. Then, in 2016, a few early adopters and I banded together to challenge these unreasonable guidelines. Eventually, our efforts paid off when our stance was acknowledged: a diamond is a diamond, regardless of its origin, as long as it is chemically, physically, and optically identical. It was a significant victory.
However, this victory also brought forth a new challenge. It opened the floodgates for large corporations to enter the market, resulting in our cutting-edge technology being rushed and compromised to expedite the growth process and in turn, more profit. In today’s diamond market, the mere fact that a diamond is lab-grown does not guarantee its sustainability, conflict-free, or eco-friendly.
Educating consumers about the new lab-grown diamond landscape is the next phase of my work.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Early in my career, I experienced a lot of pushback from the earth-mined diamond industry. They weren’t too wild about me stepping on their territory and I was being ostracised from the industry. Articles were being pulled right before print, I was given an “unofficial” gag order and many cease and desist letters were sent my way. Their attempts to intimidate me were working.
I was even “disinvited” from a jewelry industry gala in Las Vegas just before the event: “due to unfortunate circumstances, Anna-Mieke and her party would not be able to attend.”
Initially shocked with how petty it was, I allowed myself a moment of self-doubt. Then I quickly shifted my perspective. When you look at the world from a place of fear, you only see obstacles. When you change your lens to courage and optimism, you see opportunities.
In a bold move, I decided to attend the gala anyway. Dressed to impress, I confidently walked past security with one of my staffers assuming the role of my publicist. We navigated the red carpet, engaging with photographers and interviewers. By exuding confidence and acting like I belonged, no one questioned our presence.
The following day, my face, name, and quotes were plastered across highlight reels, and my presence was duly noted. This experience marked a significant turning point in my career, demonstrating the power of resilience and determination. It taught me that success often lies beyond the boundaries of rejection and adversity.
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
MiaDonna is a high-functioning social enterprise, and The Greener Diamond, the non-profit foundation I started, is the other side of our sustainable system.
We give 10% of MiaDonna’s net profits to The Greener Diamond, to empower diamond mining communities to live a life beyond poverty and mining to survive.
One of our recent projects secured 10 acres of prime mining land in Liberia to start a farm with 100% organic fertilizer, no pesticides, and no rototilling. Besides the obvious benefit of food security for the community, the farm teaches agricultural best practices and entrepreneurial skills, that can be used elsewhere.
Our past efforts have included supporting children’s schools, technical schools, women’s empowerment clinics and farms in Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and emergency relief projects for the COVID pandemic and for the Ukrainian war, which is funded in part by Russian diamond sales.
Our impact is even greater as we donate countless hours of our time to developing projects and making sure each project is successful, which allows The Greener Diamond to run with no administrative costs.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
Ponpon’s Mother, Mariah, is a huge inspiration to me. Motherhood, in general, is often overwhelming, disorganized, and flawed. The days are long, but we wear brave masks to hide our stress and worry.
However, I could never imagine raising children in the middle of a civil war or in a place that will always be on the brink of war as others fight over the wealth within the soil. A war funded by the sale of conflict diamonds that women like me — wives, mothers, and daughters of the Western world — purchase.
Motherhood is a shared bond, but by buying earth-mined diamonds, we are unintentionally hurting a whole generation of children, children with mothers desperately trying to keep them alive and safe.
I immediately connected with Mariah because I noticed the same pain in her eyes as my own mother. In adolescence, I became my mum Donna’s primary caregiver. Donna fought a decade-long battle with multiple forms of cancer. She lost the battle when I was just 16, and in the midst of devastating grief, I found myself shuttled into foster care.
This personal experience gave me more motivation and drive to make things right. I named my company after my mum and daughter, Mia, to honor women’s maternal instinct to protect others.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
Community: Educate yourselves about the products you buy and the ethics of the businesses that sell them. Ensure that the dollars you spend not only spur the economy but also promote positive actions toward people and the planet.
Society: Be open-minded to new products and challenge norms. It’s not about slick marketing campaigns and pricing anymore. It’s about aligning values with your actions. While engagement rings are significant purchases, the notion that one must spend “two months’ salary” on them is not a rule of etiquette but a marketing tactic designed to increase spending.
Politicians: Utilize your authority to address human rights violations perpetuated under the guise of capitalism. For instance, the current Russian diamond ban serves as an example of government intervention to halt the sale of products — Russian diamonds — whose proceeds contribute to human suffering, such as funding the war in Ukraine. Given the difficulty in tracing earth-mined diamonds and their easily manipulated value, governmental intervention to cease the sale of Russian diamonds for humanitarian reasons is commendable.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
Leadership involves inspiring, motivating, and guiding others toward achieving a common goal or vision, and leading by example. Additionally, empathy is essential for great leadership.
Leaders who demonstrate empathy, understanding, and care about the needs and perspectives of their team members not only create a supportive and inclusive work environment but also make business decisions that benefit the community and, in turn, the world as a whole.
This is what feminine leadership offers, as it’s proven that women generally lead with compassion and empathy. They lead from a place of community and focus on the “we” instead of “I.”
The Dalai Lama encourages putting women in leadership roles, such as female ministers of defense, stating, “If wars are a fact of life, then it would be better if women were in charge,” since they are more likely to empathize with those who suffer during conflicts. I have proven this with my work in the diamond industry; it took a mother’s love to correct many wrongs.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
1 . Don’t tell people your plans. Show them your results. Sharing your ideas too early can leave you vulnerable to criticism, imitation, and discouragement before you have a chance to fully develop or prove them. I came in like a wrecking ball, as my idea seemed so simple and logical, but now I can see how ludicrous it did sound. “I’m going to start a new brand, new industry, new foundation all at the same time and I’ll figure out how to grow diamonds in a lab along the way!” Instead, focus on execution to build credibility and attract interest based on your actual achievements rather than just your ideas.
2 . Failure is inevitable, and it’s okay. I wish I had been told that failure is a natural part of the entrepreneurial journey. Understanding this early on can help alleviate the fear of failure and encourage resilience. Embracing failure as a learning opportunity can lead to growth and eventual success.
3 . Pivot quickly: know when to adapt. As an entrepreneur, it’s natural to become emotionally invested in your ideas and plans. One of the most challenging aspects of entrepreneurship is recognizing when it’s time to pivot away from an idea or plan that isn’t proving to be a viable investment. In the dynamic and often unpredictable world of business, being agile and able to pivot quickly can be crucial for survival and long-term success.
4 . Don’t seek financial backing too early. Too much capital can (and most likely will) lead to wasteful spending. We grew organically for a long time, and during my journey, I witnessed many ventures fail because they received excessive funding without a solid foundation. Rushing into financial backing can result in reckless decision-making and undermine long-term success. New entrepreneurs should earn their stripes, demonstrating grit and proving the concept’s viability, before seeking external funding. This approach ensures responsible resource management and sets the stage for sustainable growth.
5 . Use a gender-neutral alias. If you have a traditional feminine name, consider using a gender-neutral alias in business dealings. It distresses me that in 2024 we are still grappling with this issue, but research has consistently shown that individuals with traditionally feminine names face bias or discrimination in certain business situations. I learned this firsthand when my employee named ‘Andrew’ and I, ‘Anna,’ would pitch the exact same idea. His pitch would get picked up almost 100% of the time, receiving immediate attention and often more than he was asking for. In contrast, my pitch would be met with questions, concerns, and requests for additional evidence to support and defend my claims. Using a gender-neutral alias can help mitigate this bias and ensure that individuals are evaluated based on their qualifications, skills, and contributions rather than their gender.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I aim for my story to inspire women to claim their seats at the table. I firmly believe that elevating women in business and leadership positions has the potential to rectify many of the world’s injustices.
Studies show that women in leadership roles not only do better in business but they will also invest their profits back into their local community. I’ve witnessed this firsthand through our foundation, The Greener Diamond, in West Africa. Investing in individual women yields a ripple effect, benefiting the entire community. Women often prioritize collaboration, inclusivity, and empathy, fostering collective success over individual achievement.
I want more women in politics, more women in business, more women in leadership roles, more women where decisions are made, improved access to funding for female entrepreneurs, and enhanced education on social enterprise. We need a more gentle and compassionate approach to big business, and that is what women offer. The idea that short-term financial gains must come at the long-term cost of people and the planet is just not right for the world anymore.
With over four billion women worldwide, imagine the transformative impact we could make by supporting women entrepreneurs.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“You do not lack a thing.” — My mother, Donna.
My mother is the “Donna” part of our brand, MiaDonna. She passed away in 1994 after a decade-long battle with cancer. Some of her last words to me were, “You do not lack a thing.”
At 16 years old, I lacked the life experience and tools to grasp her message fully. Now, with age granting me more wisdom, I understand. Embrace the power of self-belief and recognize that everything you need to succeed or navigate life’s challenges already resides within you; it’s just a matter of realizing the power within you.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
I want to convince Taylor Swift to run for president! We need her more than ever right now.
Her victory would not only be assured, but she’d also inspire a new generation, reshaping the presidency with empathy, advocacy, and dedication to progressive values, fostering inclusive governance.
I’m a New Zealand citizen; female leadership seems so logical to me. Not only was New Zealand the first country in the world to grant all women the right to vote, but they’ve also been led by female prime ministers since 1997. They even currently boast the strongest female representation on boards, with over 40% of CEOs being women, according to MSCI’s latest report.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Our beautiful fine jewelry, engagement rings, and wedding bands are always at miadonna.com, and you can visit our Portland store Mondays through Saturdays. We’ll be expanding soon, too, so keep an eye on our social media channels. On Instagram and TikTok, our handle is @miadonnadiamond. On Facebook and Pinterest, our handle is @MiaDonnaCompany.
I love to make new professional connections, too. My own LinkedIn is @annamieke and my handle on Facebook and Instagram is @annamiekeanderson.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Anna-Mieke Anderson of MiaDonna Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.