When Sophie Dessart enrolled at Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, a career in mining was the last thing she imagined. But today she leads public affairs and community engagement for Florence Copper, a leading in situ copper recovery operation in Florence, Arizona.
Her journey from business consulting to corporate communications reflects both a professional evolution and a deep connection to community.
While studying at Thunderbird, Dessart worked with Global External, a consulting firm specializing in external affairs for the mining industry. After graduating in May 2022 with a Master of Global Management (global business and global affairs), she continued her position at the firm, helping clients shape communication strategies and stakeholder engagement programs.
“That experience gave me a strong foundation in strategic communications and stakeholder engagement,” she said. “It also introduced me to the mining industry, which I hadn’t previously considered.”
Through consulting, she saw firsthand how communications and community engagement could influence organizations and industries.
“It laid the groundwork for my transition into corporate public affairs, where I could apply those skills within a company and community,” she said.
That opportunity came when she joined Florence Copper as manager of communications and public affairs. Relocating from Phoenix to Florence, she discovered the impact of serving both a company and a community.
Today, she heads the public affairs department, overseeing community and media relations, charitable giving and employee volunteer programs. She also serves as president of the Florence Copper Community Foundation, which supports local education and nonprofit initiatives.
Over the years, Dessart has taken on numerous leadership roles in Pinal County and across Arizona. She currently serves on the boards of the Pinal County Historical Society, Pinal Alliance for Economic Growth and Central Arizona College Foundation, and as president of the board of United Way of Pinal County. In November last year, she was named chair of the Arizona Mining Association’s Communications Committee.
Beyond these roles, she represents the business community on First Things First’s Pinal Regional Partnership Council and has participated in leadership programs such as the Arizona Forward Emerging Sustainability Leaders initiative and the Flinn-Brown Fellowship.
Among her proudest accomplishments is helping expand early childhood literacy through the United Way of Pinal County’s Reading 3rd Grade initiative, which distributes free books to local children through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
In 2025, when enrollment risked being capped due to limited funding, she led a workplace giving campaign at Florence Copper. The effort raised more than $25,600 through employee contributions and company matching funds, providing over 9,800 free books to local children.
“For me, it combined my professional skills, my personal passion for reading, and my commitment to supporting my community,” she said.
Her contributions to the community have been recognized statewide. Honors include being nominated by Arizona Forward as Emerging Sustainability Leader in 2022; receiving the Arizona Mining Association Rising Star Award in 2023; being nominated by the Pinal County Attorney’s Office for its Community Member Award and earning the Arizona School Public Relations Association’s statewide award for Florence Copper’s education partnerships in 2024; earning Arizona Forward’s Emerging Sustainability Star Award in 2025; and being selected this year as a Flinn-Brown Fellow, one of only 30 Arizonans recognized for statewide leadership potential.
Dessart says these accomplishments have been the result of tremendous effort, especially considering her industry. She says working in a historically male-dominated environment has challenged her expertise and self-advocacy.
“During a presentation, a community member once asked if it was my husband who worked at the mine,” she recalled. “Moments like that remind me how important it is to reshape perceptions of women in mining.”
She approaches such moments with empathy and openness.
“I use those opportunities to build understanding and trust while helping change how people view both modern mining and women’s leadership within it.”
Dessart credits Thunderbird with shaping both her career and mindset.
“My decision to attend Thunderbird was the turning point,” she said. “It opened the door to an industry I now love.”
At Thunderbird, she served as editor in chief of Das Tor, gaining hands-on management experience while expanding her global network. The school’s international curriculum, paired with that leadership role, she said, taught her to approach leadership with empathy and inclusivity — lessons that extended far beyond the classroom.
“Thunderbird instilled in me the importance of considering diverse perspectives,” she said. “That mindset has made me a more thoughtful communicator and a more inclusive leader.”
Her Thunderbird network remains a vital resource.
“I would not be in this position without my mentors,” she said. “Even now, I collaborate with fellow T-birds in the mining industry. That sense of camaraderie and global connection is one of Thunderbird’s greatest gifts.”
She encourages current students to take full advantage of those relationships.
“Find a mentor,” she said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without mine — which is why I now volunteer to mentor students myself. Get involved and say yes to opportunities. The relationships you build with fellow students can be just as transformative as the coursework itself.”
Asked to sum up Thunderbird’s influence on her life in one phrase, she didn’t hesitate: “I discovered my passion at Thunderbird.”
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