By Catherine Reheis-Boyd

Every March 8th the world comes together to celebrate International Women’s Day, along with recognizing Women’s History Month throughout March in the U.S. I always appreciate this time of year as an opportunity to reflect on the incredible progress we have made in business, politics and society at large toward gender equality. But it always reminds me that there is more work to be done.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #AccelerateAction, focusing on taking swift and decisive action to achieve true gender equality, whether that be in the workplace or personal lives. At WSPA, we’ve proudly been practicing this mantra for years, from inclusive hiring practices to our Women of WSPA Initiative (WOWI) resource group. But the real progress we’ve seen is through the incredible women driving our industry forward and fueling our lives every single day.

Women in the oil & gas industry workforce has steadily increased in the last decade to around 1/3 of total workers, along with continuously rising leadership positions. One of the favorite parts of my job is getting to meet these incredible women who work so hard to support our industry’s progress and innovation and to support their families.

I’ve spent my career rising to leadership in an industry many would consider to be male-dominant, which has given me a unique perspective over the years. It is that perspective that has guided everything from leadership and mentoring strategies to team building and beyond, with a constant goal of ongoing progress. The reality is, a workplace – and any place – is better when women’s voices and critical thinking are included.

Accelerating action, to me, means continuing to invest in women through mentorship and job opportunities. It means taking the time to create an inclusive and welcoming culture. And it means committing to practices around equal pay. Creating this culture at WSPA has been the bedrock of my tenure here, and we’re continuing to strengthen our culture every single year.

While our industry has progressed significantly in gender equality over the decades, I know we can continue to improve. When I talk to the young women who are just starting out in the energy field I am so inspired. Their futures are bright, and even with the challenges ahead of us I know the future of our industry is bright as well, as we continue to power the world and deliver a sustainable energy future that works for everyone.