Council COO Molly Determan was named as one of Hart Energy’s 2021 “40 Under Forty,” a recognition program for innovators in the energy industry. Honorees range from engineers to company founders, from sales representatives to chief scientists, and they represent an array of organizations including oil and gas producers, service companies and technology providers to industry associations.
“We’re pleased that Hart Energy recognized Molly’s vital contributions to the technology and services sector of the oil and gas industry,” said Council CEO Leslie Beyer. “She’s a leader in developing educational and workforce development programs, and addressing key strategic issues our sector faces like our response to the pandemic, promoting best practices, and inclusion and diversity.”
Determan was a leading force in the merger of the Petroleum Equipment & Services Association and the Association of Energy Service Companies to form the Council, which is the world’s largest association representing the technology and services sector of the oil and gas industry. The unified organization represents more than 600 companies and 600,000 workers in the technology-driven energy supply chain.
Quick to recognize the kinds of issues that would be raised for the OFS sector by the COVID-19 pandemic, Determan and the Council immediately convened regular meetings of member company leaders in human resources, and health, safety, environment, and quality. These groups worked cooperatively to identify best practices in addressing shared challenges and to navigate the unprecedented circumstances together.
Under Determan’s leadership this past year, the Council conducted new research providing insight into the concerns and attitudes of sector workers, and quantifying the number of jobs in the sector. The research opened the door to increased coverage of the sector in major media outlets, including BBC, Reuters, Bloomberg and the Houston Chronicle.
These initiatives helped position the sector as innovative and essential to the energy supply chain, which helped influence public perception and reinforce work with legislators and policymakers nationwide.
Determan is leading a renewal of the Council’s groundbreaking 2018 gender diversity study, which is expanding to set a sector-wide benchmark for racial diversity.
She led creation of the Council’s Inclusion & Diversity toolkit, which provided data and best practices to member companies. The toolkit served as a launching pad for the Council’s Inclusion & Diversity Business Champion program, a year-long training that equips participants to create lasting change within their companies.
In collaboration with members, Determan led development of the Council’s acclaimed Executive Leadership Program, which is in its seventh year of preparing high-performing individuals for leadership roles. She has steadily expanded the curriculum and grown participants each year. Determan launched the Council’s Leadership Forum Series, which allow member company high performers to interact with Energy Workforce Board and Advisory Board Members in an open dialogue structured around a targeted theme. Speakers have shared insights on topics like personal growth, leveraging personal brand, and effective networking skills for career progression, as well as the importance of intellectual curiosity to leadership.
Determan was instrumental in growing the Council’s Foreign Service Officers Training Program by building an operating committee including E&P companies, academia and Council Members. Working with industry partners, she developed an African diplomat program, officially endorsed by the African Diplomatic Corps, to equip new and seasoned ambassadors with the tools needed to ensure their success in Washington.
Read more information about the honor and a complete list of recipients.
