Bringing together rising female talents and energy industry leaders to bridge experience gaps through structured mentorship, knowledge sharing, and impactful conversations, Egypt’s Women in Energy Network (EWiEN) hosted a speed mentoring event under the theme “Career Woman: Grow, Advocate, Lead” on January 28.
The event included interactive speed mentoring rounds where women had quick, focused talks with various experts and coaches providing them with a chance to get direct advice and different viewpoints on growing their careers in the energy sector.
Since its launch in 2022 as a vital arm of the Egypt Oil & Gas (EOG) Committee, EWiEN has remained steadfast in its mission to support women throughout their professional journeys. This latest event marked a significant start to the 2026 calendar, reinforcing the network’s role as a catalyst for female empowerment in one of the region’s most critical industries. The event was sponsored by ExxonMobil.
“I am very excited that we are kicking off 2026 with this special event. This is our second year in a row to have a speed mentoring workshop sponsored by ExxonMobil. We are capitalizing on some of the learnings that we captured last year and integrating that into how we are shaping the agenda,” Nermeen El-Nawawi, Commercial Lubricants Brand Manager at ExxonMobil and President of ExxonMobil’s Women Interest Network, said in the events’s opening speech.
13 professional coaches and mentors from diversified backgrounds, including corporate executives, certified career coaches, consultants, and academics participated in the one-day event. These leaders brought real-life examples to the table, driving inspiring conversations that moved beyond theory into the practical realities of the modern workplace.
Breaking the Ice: From Networking to Business Strategy
To set a collaborative tone, the program began with an ice-breaking and team-building activity led by Quest Human Development, a regional leadership and coaching firm.
During this activity, attendees were divided into groups and tasked with answering the same personal and practical questions. The objective was to create high-energy atmosphere that shattered initial formalities.
Following the networking game, the focus shifted to collective reflection. Groups were presented with common assumptions regarding professional development, such as the myth that a mentor must always be older or more senior than the mentee. Teams debated these assumptions and presented their conclusions creatively.
Navigating Transitions and Building Visibility
The core of the event, the speed mentoring rounds, delved into critical topics previously identified by the network as common challenges for women in the workplace. Rather than providing abstract advice, the professional coaches and mentors shared real-case studies, failures, turning points, and decision-making frameworks.
Female attendees explored how to navigate career transitions, build confidence in complex environments and overcome Impostor Syndrome, a persistent, unjustified sense that one’s achievements are not real or valid. They were also introduced to strategies for leading diverse teams with empathy and equity, developing meaningful networks across organizational levels, and fostering allyship and female advocacy. Discussions further delved into business psychology and decision-making approaches, as well as enhancing personal visibility and branding, leveraging networking tools like LinkedIn.
A Year of Milestones
During the event, Sally Kenawy, Senior Strategist for Global Integrated Gas at Shell, reviewed the network’s activities in 2025 describing it as one of the most successful years in EWiEN’s history.
“We brought together hundreds of women from across the energy sector, enabling them to network, mentor and be mentored, and engage with seasoned professionals and leaders to build skills in key areas such as AI, and more,” said Kenawy.
Highlighting the past year’s momentum, she pointed to the launch of “Sips and Tips”-informal networking sessions designed to foster genuine connections across career stages. Other 2025 milestones included EWiEN’s debut booth at the Egypt Energy Show (EGYPES), participation in a Microsoft-powered AI workshop, and the landmark “She in Energy” event, where the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing women in the sector.
Looking Ahead: The Pillars of 2026
The network also outlined its flagship events for the coming year, which are built around three strategic pillars designed to create a holistic development ecosystem. The first is “She in Energy” which ensures women receive the visibility and acknowledgment they deserve in the industry. The second is “Lead Woman” which is a program focused entirely on equipping women to lead with influence and measurable impact. The third is “Well Woman” which is an initiative centered on mental and physical health, ensuring that women can reach their professional potential safely and sustainably.
“These pillars will create a holistic ecosystem, allowing us to grow on our own journeys and have the development and support we need in the sector,” Kenawy commented.
A Call for Diversity and Male Allyship
The event also highlighted the critical role of male participation in the advancement of women.
Mohamed Fouad, CEO and Founder of Egypt Oil & Gas Group and Co-Chairman of its Committee, argued that the next phase of progress requires deeper integration between field practice and industry policy.
“It was very important when launching the Egypt Oil & Gas Committee and having the network as part of it to show that women are playing an incredible role in our sector and in society at large,” Fouad said. “What we are missing is having more men here to listen, discuss, and engage. When we sit together, the mindset shifts completely. As an industry, we need more collaboration to become stronger, more effective, and competitively healthier in every way.”
“It is not about gender; it is about diversity. It is about building a more competitive industry and a healthier society.” concluded Fouad setting a moto that resonated throughout the day.
In the same respect, Amr Abou Eita, Chairman and Managing Director of ExxonMobil Egypt, emphasized that male colleagues must be proactive in their learning. “Do not assume that others automatically see the case for action,” Abou Eita urged. “Mentoring, networking, and building support systems matter because there are many realities in women’s career journeys that, as a male colleague, wouldn’t naturally occur to me. I have to be taught.”
He shared a story about a former female manager who made him rethink how society shapes people’s roles and expectations. Her perspective helped him see gender bias differently, especially in parenting. He explained that with his daughters, his goal is to give them the strongest opportunities and support, but let them make their own choices. He doesn’t want them to be limited or pressured by traditional or regressive social expectations.
Defining Success through Merit
In her remarks, Iman Hill, Country Manager and Managing Director of Vaalco Energy Egypt and Chairwoman of the EOG Committee, reinforced that diversity and inclusion must be anchored in fairness rather than gender rivalry.
“It is not about proving that women are better than men. It is about recognizing that we deserve the same opportunities, the same pay, and the same advancement,” Hill stated.
Hill also addressed the persistence of bias and structural barriers, urging attendees to focus on credibility, delivery, and mutual support while actively challenging inequity where it appears. She warned against internal competition among women, sometimes described as the “Queen Bee Effect”, and called instead for conscious peer support in a still-imbalanced industry.
“We only want to be defined by how good we are,” she concluded, calling for a shift toward measurable fairness and merit-based recognition.
EWiEN which began as a connectivity platform, has now evolved into a structured development ecosystem. Through events like the speed mentoring workshop, the network continues to build a vibrant community that inspires women across the oil, gas, and energy industry to achieve their full potential.
