By Kiana Wilburg
CEO, Guyana Energy Conference & Supply Chain Expo
Guyanese women continue to break barriers in new and complex horizons as there are now 1,400 women working offshore in support of the country’s booming oil operations. Making this revelation recently was ExxonMobil Guyana’s Geoscience Manager, Jennifer Elliott.
During her appearance on the Energy Perspectives podcast, powered by the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, Elliott was keen to note that not only is she thrilled to be working in Guyana, but she feels immensely encouraged by the dedication of the nation’s women.
With Guyana producing 640,000 barrels of oil per day from the Stabroek Block, and a line of sight to 1.3 million barrels of oil per day by 2027, Elliott noted that there are hundreds of jobs on the horizon. In fact, Elliott said there will be a demand for 50,000 more workers, noting that this presents great opportunities for women.
Already, Elliott said, “1,400 women work offshore right now…” This she said is an outstanding achievement for the country and its people.
The ExxonMobil official also expressed her satisfaction with her company’s commitment to gender diversity. In this regard, she noted that “52% of our Guyanese employees are women. That’s actually better than our corporate average, which is 34% are women in the corporate force. So, to have more than 52%, which is very close to what the Guyana female population is, is truly representative.”
Additionally, Elliott said the American oil giant is pleased to have women in all stages of the business, whether it is in engineering, commercial, public and government affairs, or even at its site works for the nation’s gas-to-energy project.
“There is plenty of space for women in Guyana, and we are so happy to promote them in our workforce,” she said.
Elliott also highlighted the strides ExxonMobil Guyana has made in promoting gender parity, noting the company’s concerted efforts to address the well-known issue of women exiting the workforce at critical points in their careers.
“We often start with a 50-50 gender balance, especially in the sciences,” she explained, “but the challenge lies in what I call the ‘leaky pipeline,’ where women, particularly during childbearing years, tend to leave the workforce and don’t always return. Or, they return temporarily and then transition to focusing on their families, which is absolutely commendable. However, for those who wish to return, we need to create pathways for them.”
To combat this, Elliott detailed several initiatives that ExxonMobil Guyana has implemented, including rich mentoring programmes, equitable pay benchmarking, and networking groups like the WIN Network, which fosters cross-mentoring and focused discussions on career advancement. She proudly noted that for the first time, there are three women at the leadership table in ExxonMobil Guyana, all from STEM fields, serving as vital role models for the next generation of female leaders.
Elliott was also keen to note that her dedication to gender parity extends beyond corporate policy; it’s personal. “I make a point to reach out to working mothers because I understand the challenges they face,” she said, acknowledging the difficulties of balancing career progression with family responsibilities.
By nurturing women through the middle stages of their careers, Elliott hopes to prevent the significant drop-offs that often occur, ensuring a diverse and rich pool of talent is available for senior leadership roles in the future.
Transitioning from this robust discussion on gender parity, Elliott’s closing thoughts were not just reflective but profoundly inspirational. She addressed the very real struggles many women face in their professional journeys, particularly in male-dominated sectors like oil and gas.
“The journey is seldom easy—I, too, have grappled with imposter syndrome. But my advice to all women is to focus on the long road ahead. Seek out mentors, even if none are formally assigned. Identify those women whose paths you admire, whose careers you aspire to, and absorb the lessons they’ve learned along the way,” said the ExxonMobil official.
Elliott’s emphasis on seizing opportunities as they arise was also tempered with a reminder to cherish what she called “diamond moments”—the irreplaceable times with loved ones that should never be missed.
“Whether it’s a child’s birthday, a quiet breakfast at the kitchen table, or simply being present on a tough day, these are the moments that truly define our lives,” she shared.
In a rapidly evolving energy landscape, where Guyana is poised to take on a leading role, Elliott urges all Guyanese women to claim their place at the table while never losing sight of the moments that make their journey truly meaningful.