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Oil and gas companies invariably look to people who’ve gotten their hands dirty to fill their top ranks. And since historically most of those working the rigs and refineries have been men, it’s the men who have filled the executive suites.
Now the industry is facing a shortage of talent. Baby boomers are retiring in droves. The number of men graduating college with degrees in science and engineering isn’t keeping up with demand.
Sue Ellerbusch heads up BP’s North American biofuels business.
“Energy companies have a lot of roles that are about engineering, science, math, technology. And as we promote more women into those and we bring more women into the entry-level roles, what’s going to be important to move them through the organization is actually create mentorship opportunities and to create ambitions within the company to really provide pathways for women.”
BP has set a goal of having women make up 30% of its senior leadership by 2020.
