"Rinse and repeat! Keep going along the path you’ve chosen for yourself. I learned this early on, when I ran for student council in school. I wasn’t an obvious candidate, and often felt like an oddball in school. But I knew I could do a good job. So I ran five times before finally winning. That made the success much sweeter! When things are especially difficult, the idea of continuing can feel like too much. But remember that a crisis or chaos can provide an opportunity — the chance to try a new path to achieving your goal. It’s a moment to build your resilience and persevere."
Katie Mehnert is an American energy executive, entrepreneur, business author, activist, and speaker. She is the founder and chief executive officer of Ally Energy, an online workforce development platform and career website for the energy industry.
"There are always critics. It’s really easy to say, “You can’t do something,” when you’re the one that’s not doing it! Don’t give in to that way of thinking. My experience on this journey proves that seemingly “impossible” things can be done."
Katie Mehnert"That would be Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Where my family lives in Houston, we were relatively safe — until the Army Corps of Engineers released the west side dams in hopes of preventing even worse flooding in other parts of the city. We had no warning, no time to escape. Suddenly, we were flooded. My daughter and I were rescued by strangers in a boat at our front door."
Katie Mehnert"Coming out of the storm, I not only worked to rebuild, but also became more committed than ever to the mission. To tackle climate change, we need to usher in the most diverse, inclusive workforce to the field of energy. We need all ideas and perspectives. We need to act as one, and stop the bickering."
Katie Mehnert"I’ve faced work bullies as well. At work, the violence wasn’t physical, it was more structural and psychological. But I learned to stand up to them as well."
Katie Mehnert"I’m also a cancer survivor. I got cervical cancer at age 24, and battled it alone, without telling people. I didn’t want to pop the bubble of an image I had created — that I was building an exciting career, on my own, in a new city. When the cancer returned years later, I didn’t make that mistake. I was a wife and mom, and shared the information with family and close friends. I had a community. I was no longer focused on what other people might think, and was able to put more focus on what I needed."
Katie Mehnert"When I started the business, most people said it would never succeed! They wrote off the whole idea that diversifying the energy workforce would be seen as a priority. They told me it would be a waste of time and money, that I was giving up my career for nothing."
Katie Mehnert