Rebecca Ponton, Forbes Contributor “I joke that I made either the stupidest or the smartest decision of my life,” Dianna Liu says laughing, “when I left my refinery job.” Liu is president and founder of ARIX Technologies, Inc., described on the company’s website as an early stage, venture backed robotics and…
By Rebecca Ponton, Forbes Contributor “It was an opportunity women my age could have only in Alaska,” Joey Roth, a veteran senior drilling engineer for Shell, says of working on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline (TAPS) in 1976. “They didn’t care if you were a woman or black or green; they just…
by Rebecca Ponton, Forbes.com contributor “Racism is systemic. It’s pervasive. The workplace is a microcosm of our society. The biggest problem is our history. George Floyd had to [lose] his life for people to say [systemic racism] is an issue, but it’s been an issue and continues to be an…
by Rebecca Ponton, Forbes Contributor It has been ten years since the devastating Deepwater Horizon tragedy, which took the lives of 11 men from among the 126-member crew working on the BP-operated Macondo prospect. Not much has been written about the five women named on Transocean RIG ’s personnel on board (POB)…
by Rebecca Ponton, Forbes Contributor Following five months in Europe after graduating from the University of Delaware with a marketing management degree, Paula Glover, then in her early 20s, had the choice between a position with the German luxury designer, Escada, in Manhattan or a decidedly less glamorous job with…
by Rebecca Ponton, contributor to Forbes “Why waste a good crisis?” has long been the motto of Katie Mehnert, founder and CEO of Pink Petro, and the universe has been happy to oblige with a number of crises. A two-time cancer survivor, she also survived the wrath of Hurricane Harvey,…
by Rebecca Ponton, contributor to Forbes “No! That doesn’t impact us,” was Alex Gerbasi’s initial reaction when her husband, who was studying for the ministry, told her he instead felt called to work against human trafficking. Despite her misgivings, she began praying about it. A week later, the massage studio…
Rebecca Ponton, contributor to Forbes You know, little girl, I’ve been watching you,” the longtime oilman said to Marsha Hendler. “You get this business; you need to be an operator.” Some women would have taken offense at being called “little girl.” Instead Hendler saw a golden opportunity to be mentored…
Rebecca Ponton Contributor Chevron Corp. Chevron VP HES Dave Payne, a 38-year veteran of the oil and gas industry, started his career at Getty Oil, at a time when “it seemed like the only women working in oil and gas were secretaries or in HR.” Of his three grown children…
As the UK offshore oil and gas industry embarks on an unprecedented recruitment drive, we should expect to see a more diverse workforce come to light. A new book, featuring inspiration and advice from high-profile women in the sector, sheds light on a rewarding and fulfilling career – irrespective of…