Mary A. Tidlund

Philanthropist, Entrepreneur, Author, & Advocate for Women and Girls Globally

Nicole Leclair Photography

Mary Tidlund is an experienced Canadian businesswoman and philanthropist with extensive international experience. She was the co-founder and CEO of Williston Wildcatters Oil Corporation, a public oil and gas exploration and service company that pioneered horizontal drilling. In 1998, Mary transitioned from the energy industry to philanthropy. She founded and led The Mary A. Tidlund Charitable Foundation, a global not-for-profit. From 1998-2018, the Foundation delivered 90 separate programs in 29 countries focusing on empowering women and children to make lasting changes to health, education, and the alleviation of poverty. Her philanthropic experience has given her the opportunity to develop a strong global understanding of innovative, relationship-based, and strategic-conscious leadership on a global level. Mary has a demonstrated ability to motivate, inspire, and foster cohesive direction to a diverse set of teams, stakeholders, and international community partners. 

Mary is a past director with Women Moving Millions and Tostan International, and is currently a trustee and board member of the NYC-based Grace Institute Foundation, Dallas, Texas-based public corporations Valhi Inc. and CompX International Inc., and the Alberta-based Strategic Advisory Board of the O’Brien Institute for Public Health. In addition to her current board governance work, Mary is the author of the recently published Memoirs of a Wildcat: Unadoptable, Unstoppable, Unconditional Love and is an inspiring public speaker. Mary is an avid skier, hiker, tennis player, traveler, reader, pilot and lives in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.