ERG Council Mastermind: Your Story of GRIT
ERG Council Mastermind: Your Story of GRIT
(90 mins, 10am Houston time 20th June).
Discover the art of bouncing back from setbacks with strength and grace, through real life stories. Hear personal journeys of overcoming significant challenges - and have the opportunity to share your own.
Participants will gain insights into the practical application of grit in the face of adversity and engage with their own stories to unearth the strategies, mindsets, and principles that guide us through our darkest hours.
Laura Aiken, a Resilience Specialist and Coach, will share key tools to enhance your ability to withstand stress, adapt to change, and emerge from challenges, and tell your story.
Through interactive discussion, you'll discover the strength you already have to hand, learn new tools to build a resilient mindset, and be able to tell a compelling story of GRIT that inspires others.
Speakers
Laura Aiken
Managing Consultant & ALLY Faculty in Residence
ALLY Energy
Laura Aiken founded Thrive Leadership after a ten-year career in engineering and construction to help companies help their people thrive. She’s worked and led teams on several multibillion-dollar engineering and construction projects in the energy industry has led DEI programming including strategic planning, inclusive leadership, ally engagement, and business resource groups for over 50,000 employees, and has facilitated resiliency training for a construction workforce of over 6,000 people. Laura is a part of the team delivering our member programming. She graduated from the University of Bath in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Materials and Biomedical Engineering.
Starlee Sykes
ALLY Energy
Laura Aiken founded Thrive Leadership after a ten-year career in engineering and construction to help companies help their people thrive. She’s worked and led teams on several multibillion-dollar engineering and construction projects in the energy industry has led DEI programming including strategic planning, inclusive leadership, ally engagement, and business resource groups for over 50,000 employees, and has facilitated resiliency training for a construction workforce of over 6,000 people. Laura is a part of the team delivering our member programming. She graduated from the University of Bath in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Materials and Biomedical Engineering.
Starlee Sykes
CEO
Archaea Energy, a bp company
Starlee Sykes is the chief executive officer for Archaea Energy, a bp company. Archaea is a US-based bioenergy company which was acquired by bp in 2022 and will accelerate growth of bp’s strategic bioenergy business.
Starlee previously served as bp’s senior vice president for the Gulf of Mexico and Canada, one of the world’s largest deep-water businesses. With over 25 years of leadership experience in the energy sector, Starlee led the creation of the first global subsea solutions business and is a strong proponent of standardized industry practices and improving collaboration. Starlee has also led diverse international teams solving some of the industry’s most complex challenges. Starlee has held an active leadership role on several boards, including bp, NOIA, API, Greater Houston Partnership, Spindletop Community Impact Partners and Texas A&M University Engineering.
Starlee was named ‘2021 International Citizen of the Year’ by the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, one of the top 25 most influential women in energy by Oil and Gas Investor and one of the most influential women executives by Women Inc.
Starlee earned her Mechanical Engineering degree from Texas A&M University. She lives in Houston with her husband, Al Vickers, and 3 sons (Jack, Cade, and Ethan). She enjoys traveling with family, great food, and the outdoors.
Alistair Vickers
COO
Grid United
Al Vickers is the COO of Grid United where he is developing long distance interregional transmission projects across North America. Al has 25 years of industry experience and was most recently the CEO of bp’s US renewables business. Prior to this, Al held numerous executive leadership positions in the oil and gas industry and numerous board positions including the world’s second largest biofuels company. Al has led a range of energy industry efforts, most recently as an Executive Committee member of American Clean Power. Al has a passion for people and the development of diverse talent and was named Executive of the Year by the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers. Al holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Manchester and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineers. He lives in Houston with his wife Starlee, and their sons, Jack, Cade and Ethan. He enjoys outdoor activities and travelling. He is an enthusiastic but average chef.