--- title: The future of energy is about the people who will deliver it description: The future of energy is about the people who will deliver it image: https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/ewo1J0Vw-1-scaled-pbqxsh77zqpbcsjey9uhnqf9dhcje2q7bqbtu5h3ew.jpeg --- - [BUILD WITH US](https://www.allyenergy.com/work-with-us) - [GALLERY](http://ally.photos) [![Company logo](https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/MJTW%20Assets/logos/ally-energy-logo-2.svg)](https://www.allyenergy.com/) - [ABOUT](https://www.allyenergy.com/about) - [INSIGHTS](https://www.allyenergy.com/resources) - OUR BUILDS - [Houston Energy & Climate Week](http://www.climateweekhouston.com) - [Energy Workforce of the Future](https://www.energyworkforceofthefuture.com/) - [The GRIT Awards & Best Energy Workplaces](https://www.allyenergy.com/2025-grit-awards-best-energy-workplaces-finalists) - [Energy Capital Markets Day on Wall Street](https://www.allyenergy.com/ally-tcs-worley-new-york-marathon-team) - [THE BEE SUITE™](http://www.thebeesuite.com) - 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[Running](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/running) - [Social Influence](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/social-influence) - [Storytelling & Personal Branding](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/storytelling-personal-branding) - [The Voices Of Energy](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/the-voices-of-energy) - [Uncategorized](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/uncategorized) - [Wellbeing & Self Care](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/wellbeing-self-care) - [Workforce Development](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/tag/workforce-development) Subscribe Select blog topic Career Search Change & Resilience Climate & Sustainability Creativity & Originality Initiative Critical Thinking & Analysis Digital Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Emotional Intelligence Energy Insights Entrepreneurship Intrapreneurship Explore ESG Female Execs of Climate Tech Financial Skills GRIT Giving Back Grit Awards Growth change challenge leadership Inspiration Leadership Marathon Member Insights Negotiation Parenting & Family Problem Solving & Ideation Race in the Workplace Recognition Relationships, Conflict, Power and Office Politics Running Social Influence Storytelling & Personal Branding The Voices Of Energy Uncategorized Wellbeing & Self Care Workforce Development # The future of energy is about the people who will deliver it Written by: [Katie Mehnert](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/author/katie-mehnert) - [Share](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.allyenergy.com%2Fblog%2Fthe-future-of-energy-is-about-the-people-who-will-deliver-it) - [Share](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.allyenergy.com%2Fblog%2Fthe-future-of-energy-is-about-the-people-who-will-deliver-it&title=The%20future%20of%20energy%20is%20about%20the%20people%20who%20will%20deliver%20it&summary=The+future+of+energy+is+about+the+people+who+will+deliver+it&source=) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/home?status=The+future+of+energy+is+about+the+people+who+will+deliver+it%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.allyenergy.com%2Fblog%2Fthe-future-of-energy-is-about-the-people-who-will-deliver-it) - [Watch](https://vimeo.com/allyenergy) ![](https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/ewo1J0Vw-1-scaled-pbqxsh77zqpbcsjey9uhnqf9dhcje2q7bqbtu5h3ew.jpeg) The new U.N. climate change [report](https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/reports) makes it clear: The unequivocal” role of human-caused global warming will lead to [“irreversible” damage](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/climate-change-impact-warning-report-united-nations-intergovernmental-panel-ipcc-code-red-humanity/)and “unprecedented” effects. Facing the climate crisis, the energy community has been pouring increasing focus into questions of *what* will provide the energy humanity needs in the future, and *how* it will be achieved. Which sources of energy will be used? Which technologies? What steps will be put in place to limit carbon emissions? Not enough focus has gone into the most important question of all: *Who* will make it all happen? To power the world, the energy industry will need a broad range of people with sharp minds and top-level skills. It will need diverse workers who bring [new ideas and innovations](https://www.barrons.com/articles/the-financial-case-for-hiring-more-women-in-energy-51548424814). Traditionally the industry has [lagged behind](https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/oil-gas-energy-climate-commitment-gender-equality/) other sectors, with fewer women and people of color, especially in leadership positions. This must be addressed. It’s something I look forward to discussing at the 2021 [Offshore Technology Conference](https://2021.otcnet.org/) (OTC) which, as The Houston Chronicle [reports](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/OTC-expands-wind-energy-component-as-oil-and-gas-16383794.php?sid=5b9c131fcdb7ec7b166e0fc3), is undergoing changes this year and putting greater focus on renewable energy. (My session is an [Executive Dialogue](https://2021.otcnet.org/technical-program-2021) on the energy workforce of the future.) The Covid-19 pandemic has brought great upheaval and an onslaught of new challenges, [slowing](https://www2.deloitte.com/global/en/pages/risk/articles/2021-climate-check-business-views-on-environmental-sustainability.html) some action on the climate. But in my work as CEO of [ALLY Energy](https://allyenergy.com), I’m hopeful for the future of energy. We see great possibilities ahead for the industry -- *if* we act quickly. ## **Drawing new talent and upskilling the generations** Careers in energy are very rewarding. We need to showcase [benefits](https://allyenergy.com/surprising-careers-energy-industry/) like the potential for good pay, opportunities for advancement, and great reasons to live in the [energy capital of the world](https://www.houstoniamag.com/news-and-city-life/2021/04/houston-is-the-most-diverse-city-in-america). Given that today’s workforce is driven by a sense of purpose, we should emphasize what a positive difference they can make in helping advance the transition to renewables and lower carbon technologies. We also need to create [inclusive cultures](https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/how-workplaces-can-invite-dialogue-on-race/) -- the kinds that provide psychological safety to ensure everyone is heard and recognized. In an [e-book](https://info.allyenergy.com/culturewall-0), ALLY and Gapingvoid Culture Design Group lay out the steps it takes to achieve this, from recasting the narrative of energy to celebrating individuality. Energy companies also need to show employees across the industry how they can grow and develop their careers in exciting ways. This includes guiding talent to where they can get the requisite training for upskilling or reskilling to satisfy companies’ needs. The more our people learn, grow, and feel empowered to challenge the status quo, the more positive disruption they deliver. Their world-changing ideas get a chance to flourish, and we speed up the transition to a lower carbon era. ## **Educating children** The energy community must play a major role in ensuring that STEM education is robust and that environmental literacy is a component of early education. And given that STEM efforts have traditionally been tilted away from girls and children of color, we must make sure to advance this education equitably. This includes supporting programs like the [Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation (CELF)](https://celfeducation.org/) and [Energy Day](https://energydayfestival.org/). Those of us who are passionate about working in energy should also share our stories with kids, inspiring them to consider the industry that allows the whole world to operate.  We recently joined up with award-winning children’s author and former Department of Energy educator, Erin Twamley to create [Everyday Superheroes](https://allyenergy.com/everyday-superheroes-women-in-energy-book/). This multicultural book features the careers of 26 fascinating women and the jobs they hold which drive our energy future.  ## **A just transition fuels economic growth** By building the teams of the future to lead a more equitable, just and environmentally sound transition, our economy stands to win big.  As the Houston Chronicle [reports](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/Energy-transition-could-create-1-1-million-jobs-16340230.php), Texas could see a [spike](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21016460-texas-climate-jobs-report) of more than a million jobs by increasing investments in renewables and making sure that well paying jobs in the sectors are available to everyone. For all this to work, energy companies must come together. Silos have long kept businesses in renewable and traditional energy separated, with too little cooperation. No more. Conferences like OTC are more essential than ever in bringing the industry together.  I launched ALLY to bring these disparate businesses and voices together into a single online community. We recently acquired[Clean Energy Social](http://www.cleanenergysocial.com), forming the most comprehensive platform for, as Inno [put it](https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/inno/stories/news/2021/07/20/ally-energy-clean-energy-social-deal-jobs-careers.html), “workers throughout the energy value chain to find job opportunities, skills training and networking.”   Ultimately, people are our most important resource -- and we must ensure that the pipeline never runs dry. [*Katie Mehnert*](https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiemehnert) *is CEO of* [*Ally Energy*](https://allyenergy.com/)*,* [*ambassador*](https://www.energy.gov/diversity/contributors/katie-mehnert) *to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Equity in Energy initiative, and author of* [*Grow with the Flow*](https://katiemehnert.com/)*.  She’s also a speaker at the* [*Offshore Technology Conference Executive Series*](https://www.otcnet.org/press-releases/2021-offshore-technology-conference-speakers-announced) *on workforce development.* ## Related Posts [![Landmark children's book features thirty-four women making history leading the energy transition](https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/Energy-Superheroes_1200x627.jpg) Career Search, Uncategorized Landmark children's book features thirty-four women making history leading the energy transition ![](https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/Erin-Twamley-Profile-picture.jpg) Erin Twamley](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/everyday-superheroes-women-in-energy-careers-features-thirty-four-women-making-history-leading-the-energy-transition) [![Accelerating the Energy Workforce of the Future™](https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/989937_Graphic-for-article_030121-p3ldcb86mzxxcxyugjlu4jh634sm5md10y73ybhi14.jpeg) Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Accelerating the Energy Workforce of the Future™ Rhoda Shapiro](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/accelerating-the-energy-workforce-of-the-future) [![How to Tackle Unconscious Bias in Recruitment](https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Bias-1-owr0kip3btg9qhvbubrhx6b020jc94lhohxnaavwjs.jpeg) Career Search, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion How to Tackle Unconscious Bias in Recruitment ![](https://www.allyenergy.com/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/Theresa_Magana.jpeg) Theresa Magana](https://www.allyenergy.com/blog/how-to-tackle-unconscious-bias-in-recruitment) ### Subscribe Here! 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