Egypt Oil and Gas (EOG) Group hosted the fourth edition of the ‘She Is Energy’ event at the Triumph Luxury Hotel on April 15, 2025. This edition was technically organized by the ‘Egypt’s Women in Energy’ Network, which operates under the umbrella of the EOG Committee.
The workshop kicked off with a keynote address by Eleanor Rowley, Managing Director Egypt at Capricorn Energy and Lead of Egypt’s Women in Energy Network. Rowley highlighted the significance of the event and its mission. “Obviously, one of the key aims of workshops like this is to allow us to network and get to know each other a little bit better,” Rowley said.
She shed light on the growing impact of the Women in Energy Network in the petroleum field, adding, “The Network is extremely active. We are building it day by day, and month by month. I am amazed at everything that has been achieved so far. We have already held many networking events, workshops, mentoring sessions, and informal get-togethers we call ‘Sips and Tips.”
In her motivational speech, Iman Hill, Country Manager and Managing Director (MD) of Vaalco Energy in Egypt, encouraged women to push through the challenges and strive for better careers. Offering practical advice on professional development, Hill said, “If you want to maximize your personal growth and development, deliberately leave your comfort zone. Do not stay in the same organization. But if you choose to do so, then work in different parts of that organization, and take on different experiences.”
Another impactful address was delivered by Heba Abdel-Kader, Assistant Chairman for Marketing at the Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM), who shared her insights and career experiences. She urged women to embrace their true selves while pursuing success in the industry. “You do not have to become someone else to succeed in this sector. You just need to become the best version of yourself. This industry is not about ‘muscle’, it is about mindset. It is about having the drive to learn, the courage to speak up, and the strength to keep going even when you get stuck,” she said.
Moreover, the She is Energy Workshop featured an informative presentation given by Marzena D’arcy, the Head of HR at Capricorn Energy. Her presentation, entitled “Elevating Your Authentic Brand: Building Trust, Authority and Impact”, addressed the inequality women face in the workplace. “A study of tech companies showed that more than 40% of women leave employment after 10 years, compared to 17% of men,” she noted.
D’arcy attributed the high attrition to challenging workplace conditions, undermining behavior from managers, and a sense of career stagnation. She added that another study revealed that women often left because of being repeatedly overlooked for promotion. During her session, D’arcy shared practical steps to help attendees build their own personal brand, make an influence, and engage effectively at all levels. “Personal branding is an intentional, strategic practice in which you define and express your value proposition,” she explained. D’arcy prompted attendees to consider how others see them, define their personal brand, and actively take charge of their professional growth.
Breakout Workshops and the Launch of Support Networks
The event also featured interactive breakout sessions, where participants selected one topic, from a range of relevant topics to discuss in smaller groups. These topics addressed key challenges facing women in the petroleum industry, such as Breaking Stereotypes and Bias in Energy, Fast-Tracking Women in Leadership and STEM, Work Life Synergy, Women’s Role in Sustainability, Equity and Clean Energy, Digital Transformation Empowering Women, Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Unconscious Bias and Microaggressions, Building a Supporting Network, Women’s Challenges in Business, and Managing Teams and Building Collaboration. Participants shared insightful solutions and action plans to tackle the challenges discussed.
To conclude the workshop, Sally Kenawy, Senior Strategist for Global Integrated Gas at Shell, announced the rollout of the ‘Sips and Tips’ Groups.” She described the initiative as a supportive networking platform. “It is something we, as an executive committee, have been doing for a while. It is essentially a space for women with similar lives and backgrounds to get together, help each other, build a network, and talk about the hard stuff. We are launching three groups: women in the field, new leaders, and early career professionals,” Kenawy said.
Rowley closed the event by emphasizing the need for digital literacy, and announcing the plan to run a session titled “How to be an Early Adopter of AI Productivity Tools and Transform Professional and Personal Life”. She noted that it may be held as an in-person workshop. Aiming to expand the Women in Energy network as much as possible, Rowley invited all attendees to stay connected via the LinkedIn page where all workshops and events are announced.
She Is Energy: EOG Honoring Influential Women in the Sector
In the evening, the event featured a gala dinner with interactive sessions focused on accelerating progress for women in the industry. Karim Badawi, the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, delivered a keynote speech where he emphasized the ministry’s commitment to inclusivity at all levels. He stated, “I am a firm believer that the Ministry’s pillars are equally applicable at all levels for both men and women. I have been privileged during my career by working in the field, in different countries, and in different environments. I worked personally with a lot of very successful men and women. I also saw the strength of the collaboration and the value that men and women bring by working together.”
For her part, Capricorn’s Eleanor Rowley highlighted the rich talent within the sector while acknowledging the challenges women face. She said, “There is rich talent within our industry, but they do face challenges. We heard some amazing personal stories from individual ladies. There was a lot of reverse mentoring going on in the room.”
Mohamed Fouad, CEO of Egypt Oil and Gas and Co-Chairman of the EOG Committee, stressed the need for effective communication, stating, “We recognize that fostering true gender equality and diversity requires more than internal initiatives. It demands effective communication and strategic lobbying.”
“The oil and gas industry is not just about extracting resources. It is about cultivating innovation, which thrives on diversity. Diversity is not a buzzword but a fundamental principle. Your insight, methodologies, and abilities to navigate complex challenges with both precision and empathy—these are the catalysts that transform our potential into tangible, sustainable success. Every project you lead, every team you inspire, and every negotiation you navigate leaves us with an indelible mark on our industry’s progression,” Fouad added.
“Gatherings like this provide us with moments to pause and reflect. They serve as a powerful reminder of the momentum we are creating across the energy industry,” said Dalia El Gabry, Vice President (VP) and Country Chair of Shell Egypt.
El Gabry added,“The energy sector has been slowly embraced by women. Gender bias and systematic barriers have held women back. But when we exclude women, we take out half of their creativity, half of their potential, and half of their ability to solve problems. I am very blessed because at Shell, we believe that real progress is most powerful when it is shared.”
