Startec recently had the opportunity to sponsor and attend The Young Women in Energy (YWE) Summit this year in Kananaskis Country, an event that brought together more than 200 women from across the energy industry.
This year’s theme drew inspiration from the four elements (Earth, Air, Fire, and Water), symbolizing the foundational forces that shape our industry’s DNA.
Just as these elements must work in balance, so must the people, projects, and processes that power the future of energy. The event explored how resilience, sustainability, equity, and leadership intersect to create lasting impact.
Leadership in Focus
Our CEO, Kristi Cawthorn, participated in the Women in Charge panel alongside senior executives from Petronas and TC Energy. The discussion centered on accountability, resilience, strategic decision-making, and the realities of executive responsibility.
She shared her own journey to becoming CEO, including the pivots, challenges, trade-offs, and lessons learned along the way. It was an honest conversation about what leadership requires: clarity, discipline, and the willingness to make difficult decisions while staying accountable to your team and your organization.
Real Conversations About Real Careers
The event brought together professionals from junior-level roles through to executive leadership. Across multiple panels, speakers spoke candidly about navigating a largely male-dominated industry, adapting when career paths don’t unfold as planned, and building the confidence to lead.
For our team members in attendance, the value was in the openness of the discussions; hearing how others handled setbacks, how they positioned themselves for growth, and developed the resilience required to lead at higher levels.
Practical Insight and Meaningful Connections
In addition to panel discussions, the days included workshops focused on:
- Leading in times of change
- Using AI strategically to drive results
- Staying informed and adaptable in a rapidly evolving energy landscape
Between sessions, our team had the opportunity to connect with peers from across the industry, learning about their work while sharing the role we play in delivering infrastructure and engineered systems that support energy development.
Why It Matters
Strong projects are built by strong people. Events like this invest in the leadership capacity of our industry, and that benefits everyone.
We’re grateful to the YWE and speakers who created space for thoughtful discussion and practical insight. We are proud of our team members who represented Startec with professionalism and curiosity throughout the day.
Interested in The YWE Summit?
Visit the YWE website to learn more: https://www.ywesummit.com/