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Memoirs of a Wildcat: Unadoptable, Unstoppable, Unconditional Love
Mary Tidlund was never able to blend in, so she embraced standing out. Labelled as “unadoptable” because of the colour of her skin, the odds seemed stacked against her from the start. Memoirs of a Wildcat is the story of a woman’s search for identity and the solution to a genetic puzzle. Mary’s quest for an adventurous career led her to become the first black woman CEO in the energy industry, but when everything she thought she wanted in life came to a crashing halt, she had to look inside herself to figure out what to do next. From the struggle came The Mary A. Tidlund Charitable Foundation and Mary’s development work supporting women and children globally. Memoirs of a Wildcat is about trusting your own courage, pushing beyond internalized stereotypes and making your way in the world especially when it means taking a risk to achieve your heart’s desire. What people are saying "Mary Tidlund’s story is about so many layers of life – being black, being abandoned, being taken into foster care and then adopted by a white family. It’s the story of rejection and powerful love and a search for the missing threads in the tapestry that is her life. It’s also the story of a woman who becomes an enormously successful oil executive and then uses her wealth of connections to help other women and children. Mary ties all these threads together when she tells her remarkable story." Sally Armstrong, journalist, human rights activist "You may enter these pages through the poetry of flying, the psychology of tense negotiations, the science of drilling or the art of a jeté across a darkened boardroom. Whichever it is that draws you in, you’ll stay for this page-turner of an improbable and wondrous life." Cheryl Foggo, filmmaker, playwright, author
Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2020
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About the author
Mary A. Tidlund
1 book2 followersMary A. Tidlund is a philanthropist, entrepreneur and a new author. Mary co-founded and was president and CEO of numerous corporations, including Williston Wildcatters Oil Corporation, a public oil and gas exploration and service company that pioneered horizontal drilling. In 1998, Mary transformed herself, moving from oil to philanthropy with the founding of the Mary A. Tidlund Charitable Foundation. The global NGO worked in 29 countries for 19 years with over 90 programs focusing on empowering women and children to make lasting changes in health, education, and the alleviation of poverty.
Currently, Mary is a board member of numerous public corporations and NGOs and is an inspiring public speaker on philanthropy, transitions, purposeful leadership, and the power of choice. Mary is a pilot and an avid skier and enjoys hiking, tennis, traveling, reading, riding horses, yoga, and meditation. She enjoys living in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and learning about becoming a self-published author.
Currently, Mary is a board member of numerous public corporations and NGOs and is an inspiring public speaker on philanthropy, transitions, purposeful leadership, and the power of choice. Mary is a pilot and an avid skier and enjoys hiking, tennis, traveling, reading, riding horses, yoga, and meditation. She enjoys living in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and learning about becoming a self-published author.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 8, 2020
This book was for me a real page-turner as the author recounts the labyrinthine journey that led to knowing her birth parents. Adopted by devoted Christians at the age of eleven days, her new mom declared her to be the most beautiful and perfect baby, special. Many times the little one was told,
"I loved you right away." There was no money to spare, but a rich family life with foster brothers and sisters and nearby playmates.
At age seven, learning officially that her African birth father had been a university student, Mary began to dream of a very different future in academics, then a career, a busy social life, leadership, worldly success. And so it was...challenging and adventurous summer jobs followed. A high point of her younger years was being crowned Miss Black Alberta in Edmonton. Some years later after much hard work, the high point for Mary was being the first black CEO of her own oil company, and so creatively injecting new life into a tiny prairie town! Then the company's bankruptcy. a long and painful identity crisis and much soul searching.
After that came new life by intention, focusing on what would bring her more peace: working from the heart and helping others. So was born Mary's charitable foundation bringing medical programs with qualified volunteers to distant "third world" countries. Many well-told anecdotes help the reader be there too and appreciate the teamwork, the innovation, the needs, how they've been met or partially met, and the writer's personal growth through it all, as well as her growth through her extended families and many friends and colleagues. She ponders how 'random' moments have shaped her life. And her acknowledgement throughout of others' inspiration, expertise and trust is more than generous.
Mary Tidlund has given us a lively and open account of her journey, full of warmth, enthusiasm and love in action.
"I loved you right away." There was no money to spare, but a rich family life with foster brothers and sisters and nearby playmates.
At age seven, learning officially that her African birth father had been a university student, Mary began to dream of a very different future in academics, then a career, a busy social life, leadership, worldly success. And so it was...challenging and adventurous summer jobs followed. A high point of her younger years was being crowned Miss Black Alberta in Edmonton. Some years later after much hard work, the high point for Mary was being the first black CEO of her own oil company, and so creatively injecting new life into a tiny prairie town! Then the company's bankruptcy. a long and painful identity crisis and much soul searching.
After that came new life by intention, focusing on what would bring her more peace: working from the heart and helping others. So was born Mary's charitable foundation bringing medical programs with qualified volunteers to distant "third world" countries. Many well-told anecdotes help the reader be there too and appreciate the teamwork, the innovation, the needs, how they've been met or partially met, and the writer's personal growth through it all, as well as her growth through her extended families and many friends and colleagues. She ponders how 'random' moments have shaped her life. And her acknowledgement throughout of others' inspiration, expertise and trust is more than generous.
Mary Tidlund has given us a lively and open account of her journey, full of warmth, enthusiasm and love in action.
December 27, 2020
This memoir truly shatters stereotypes, providing an inspirational message for women, girls -- and for all of us.
Imagine a young woman of colour growing up in Calgary, becoming Miss Black Alberta and, following her passion for advanced education, becoming a "landman" in the oil & gas industry, eventually emerging as a CEO in the macho western Canadian energy sector. She then made a courageous mid-career transition to philanthropy, focusing her amazing energies on international aid.
Mary Tidlund's well-told story includes intimate details of her early life as an adopted child and her later successful search for her birth parents. She candidly describes her trials and relationships along the way. And her charitable work leading the Mary Tidlund Foundation leads to numerous lessons learned both at home and around the world.
She has a knack for storytelling and draws on a rich storehouse of personal anecdotes and professional experiences. Sure, she had some setbacks along the way and failures as well. And she experienced systemic racism too. However, her philosophical approach to life, combined with her irrepressible energy and strong sense of community engagement propelled her forward time and again. And she shares her valuable insights into the nature of leadership: "The best leaders embrace diversity and don't just stand out in front," she writes, "but encourage from behind and support others in their growth."
This impressive book -- Memoirs of a Wildcat -- is also a primer on the undeniable value of passion, persistence and unconditional love.
Imagine a young woman of colour growing up in Calgary, becoming Miss Black Alberta and, following her passion for advanced education, becoming a "landman" in the oil & gas industry, eventually emerging as a CEO in the macho western Canadian energy sector. She then made a courageous mid-career transition to philanthropy, focusing her amazing energies on international aid.
Mary Tidlund's well-told story includes intimate details of her early life as an adopted child and her later successful search for her birth parents. She candidly describes her trials and relationships along the way. And her charitable work leading the Mary Tidlund Foundation leads to numerous lessons learned both at home and around the world.
She has a knack for storytelling and draws on a rich storehouse of personal anecdotes and professional experiences. Sure, she had some setbacks along the way and failures as well. And she experienced systemic racism too. However, her philosophical approach to life, combined with her irrepressible energy and strong sense of community engagement propelled her forward time and again. And she shares her valuable insights into the nature of leadership: "The best leaders embrace diversity and don't just stand out in front," she writes, "but encourage from behind and support others in their growth."
This impressive book -- Memoirs of a Wildcat -- is also a primer on the undeniable value of passion, persistence and unconditional love.
December 5, 2020
This book holds all the emotions of a well lived life. No holding back from the peaks and valleys of huge successes and crushing life lessons. My husband grabbed the book when it arrived and couldn’t stop reading. I patiently waited to discover myself this compelling well written story. Can’t wait to read about the second half of her life in what I hope is the book to follow this one.
July 30, 2023
A Must-read!
Beautifully written memoir that had me gripped from the moment I picked it up. Mary’s thoughtful sharing of her life lessons is a gift for anyone who is on a search for identify, meaning and purpose in their journey.
Beautifully written memoir that had me gripped from the moment I picked it up. Mary’s thoughtful sharing of her life lessons is a gift for anyone who is on a search for identify, meaning and purpose in their journey.
December 10, 2020
Great story, easy to read, hard to put down! Highly recommend! Very inspiring.
August 30, 2021
Mary is an amazing author and every bit of her personality and care comes out in her writing.
January 4, 2021
Mary's book covers many varied aspects of her personal development and successes and failures. She is the daughter of a short-term union between a black man and a white woman. Adopted by a caring white family, she spent may years seeking out her birth parents and exploring the relationship between herself and her natural parents. Throughout the book we learn of her many talents and accomplishments.
We follow her success in founding an oil company in Saskatchewan which flourished then fell back to earth. Subsequent to that, she started a charitable foundation, raising money from her contacts. she spent many years helping people in different parts of the world and gaining valuable experience. Interestingly enough, she felt her best work was when she helped people on the local First Nations reserve. She likes the idea of being a bridge. she writes "I've often found myself to be the bridge between groups of people who think differently from each other. So relevant today.
I would recommend this book.
We follow her success in founding an oil company in Saskatchewan which flourished then fell back to earth. Subsequent to that, she started a charitable foundation, raising money from her contacts. she spent many years helping people in different parts of the world and gaining valuable experience. Interestingly enough, she felt her best work was when she helped people on the local First Nations reserve. She likes the idea of being a bridge. she writes "I've often found myself to be the bridge between groups of people who think differently from each other. So relevant today.
I would recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews