At this year’s Offshore Technology Conference, Energy Workforce President Molly Determan joined industry leaders for a panel discussion on workforce transformation and leadership in a time of change.
The session, Fueling Change: Women at the Forefront of Energy Innovation, was chaired by Lirio Quintero, Independent – Consultant, moderated by Cindy Yeilding, Board Chair – The Center for Houston’s Future and featured panelists Allyson Anderson Book, Chief Sustainability Office – Baker Hughes; Christine Mooney, Vice President of Procurement & Supply Chain – Archaea Energy; Basak Kurtoglu, Managing Director and Head of Technical – Quantum Capital Group; and Determan.
In her remarks, Determan emphasized that workforce isn’t a soft issue—it’s central to how the industry performs. “Energy is not just a commodity,” she said. “It’s a workforce story. It’s a human story. And it’s a powerful one when we tell it right.”
She spoke about the scale of the “Great Crew Change,” noting that the transition isn’t theoretical—it’s happening now, and many companies are struggling to replace experienced, skilled and technical talent fast enough
Determan stressed the need to prioritize culture—not as a nice-to-have, but as a business imperative. “It affects everything from productivity and safety to innovation and retention,” she said. “The companies that are prioritizing culture are seeing better results—not just keeping people, but keeping them motivated.
She also discussed how communication plays a key role in recruiting and retaining talent. “Younger workers expect transparency and authenticity,” she noted. “They want to see what leadership looks like inside the company—not just hear about it from the outside. The more we can connect real stories to real roles, the stronger our message becomes.”
The session closed with a shared call to action: elevate someone else. Whether it’s through mentorship, a recommendation, or an open door—small steps can lead to lasting impact.
Determan’s participation at OTC reflects Energy Workforce’s commitment to driving progress through workforce development, policy leadership, and operational excellence.
Karina Erickson, Communications Director, writes about the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. Click here to subscribe to the Energy Workforce newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, activities and more.
