By Jordan French
Energy consultant Sarah Fluzin shared key lessons from her own career for breaking barriers in male-dominated industries
Women make up just under 14% of senior managers in energy-related sectors, dropping to less than 5% for top executive positions such as CEO and board chair, according to OECD and International Energy Agency analysis of nearly 2,500 energy firms. In oil and gas companies, women represent only 12.1% of senior roles. These statistics reflect structural barriers keeping women from advancing in energy careers.
The challenge isn’t just about numbers, it’s about breaking through what industry insiders call the “double barrier.” First, women must prove themselves in technical roles traditionally dominated by men. Then, they face a second obstacle: transitioning from technical expertise to strategic leadership positions.
The energy sector’s culture compounds these challenges. Women often find themselves the only female voice in meetings, fighting for credibility while navigating unwritten leadership rules.
Yet some women are successfully cracking the code. Sarah Fluzin, management consultant, represents a new generation of energy professionals who have navigated these barriers strategically. With a Master’s degree in Industrial and Mechanical Engineering and more than 15 years in the energy industry, she made a calculated transition from technical and operational roles to elite management consulting. Her journey from one of the world’s largest oil companies (ExxonMobil) to a top strategy consulting firm (McKinsey & Company) illustrates how strategic career planning can overcome industry obstacles.
Fluzin worked for many years directly or indirectly for ExxonMobil, the largest investor-owned oil company and seventh-largest U.S. company, building technical expertise across the energy value chain.
“Being a woman in traditionally male environments was challenging for quick progress,” Fluzin reflects. “This was one of the reasons why I felt I needed to expand my journey beyond my industry when I decided to switch to consulting.”
This approach appears crucial. Industry data shows that women advancing to senior energy roles spend longer in technical positions than their male counterparts.
The second strategy involves skill diversification through business education. Rather than climbing the engineering ladder, Fluzin pursued an MBA at HEC Paris. This reflects a pattern: successful women in energy pursue additional qualifications that men often don’t need.
Her business education proved essential for transitioning to management consulting roles. In her current role as Engagement Manager, she works with companies and governments across multiple regions.
The third strategy leverages international experience. Fluzin’s work spans multiple energy markets globally, which is valuable for American companies expanding internationally. Her consulting experience includes working on large-scale operational improvements and sustainability framework development.
“The biggest mistake I see women make is trying to prove themselves by working twice as hard in technical roles, thinking that excellence alone will get them noticed,” she explains. “But in male-dominated industries, you need to be strategic about visibility and career positioning from day one.”
This international dimension appears important as it allows women to build credibility in markets where their gender may be less of a limiting factor, and then leverage that success back home.
Women ages 16-28 hold 35% of leadership roles, while women ages 45-60 represent just 28%. This suggests younger women find new pathways by building diverse skills across industries.
Looking ahead, energy’s transformation toward sustainability creates opportunities for diverse leadership. Companies navigating technical and policy challenges value professionals combining engineering depth with strategic thinking. Many of these transitions occur alongside emerging trends like blockchain adoption in record management, which analysts note as industry-wide but still largely exploratory.
“Women often underestimate the importance of building networks outside their immediate industry,” Fluzin notes. “The energy sector can be insular, but some of the most valuable career opportunities come from adjacent industries like consulting or finance, where your technical background becomes a differentiator.”
At 41, Fluzin represents women redefining career paths in traditionally male industries. Her move from FPSO engineer to management consulting shows that breaking energy’s glass ceiling requires strategic thinking about career development itself.
This industry announcement article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.
