 Solution

Let $A=-dN$ be the self-adjoint shape operator. In an orthonormal principal basis, $⟨dN(v),dN(w)⟩=⟨Av,Aw⟩$, with diagonal coefficients $k_1^2,k_2^2$. The Gauss map is conformal with nonzero factor exactly when $k_1^2=k_2^2=\lambda >0$.

If the surface is minimal and has no umbilics, $k_2=-k_1$ and $k_1\ne 0$, so this equality holds. Conversely equality of the squares gives either $k_1=k_2$ or $k_1=-k_2$. The first possibility is excluded by the no-umbilic hypothesis. Hence $H=0$, proving minimality is equivalent to conformality of the Gauss map under the stated hypothesis. The factor is automatically positive because it equates positive definite inner products. The hypothesis is essential: a sphere has conformal Gauss map and nonzero mean curvature.