Jane Stricker is a highly experienced and accomplished Senior Vice President of Energy Transition and Executive Director of the Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI). With over 20 years of experience in the energy industry, Jane plays an instrumental role in shaping the future of energy by leading a coalition of industry, academia, and community partners to accelerate global solutions for a low-carbon future. Prior to her current role, Jane held various leadership positions at bp, where she served as a Senior Relationship Manager of Regions, Cities, and Solutions, in which she collaborated with cities and industry to implement low-carbon energy solutions.
Throughout her career, Jane has been driven by a passion for figuring out complicated issues and solving big challenges, which has led her to play a critical role in some of the most significant challenges in the energy industry, including Deepwater Horizon and Energy Transition. With her extensive experience, Jane is a contributing faculty member at the University of Houston’s Center for Carbon Management in Energy as well as the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, a Regional Advisory Board member for the Energy Industries Council, North & Central America, and a member of the Advisory Board of the Houston Chapter of WRISE.
Accelerating Solutions for a Sustainable Energy Future in Houston
The Houston Energy Transition Initiative is a strategic initiative of the Greater Houston Partnership dedicated to accelerating solutions for an energy-abundant, low-carbon future. As the Energy Capital of the World, Houston has a unique role to play in leading the way toward a low-carbon energy future. The HETI is committed to strengthening Houston’s leadership in this area by bringing together business and civic-minded leaders who are dedicated to the area’s long-term success.
Through innovative thinking and collaboration, HETI fosters an innovation ecosystem and creates a business environment that allows all energy companies to be successful. By championing growth and success in Houston, HETI is making the region one of the best places to live, work, and build a business and leading the way in the energy transition, while also driving sustainable growth for Houston through the energy transition.
Leading Houston’s Energy Transition toward a Sustainable Future
As the Senior Vice President of Energy Transition and Executive Director of the Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI), Jane Stricker holds a critical position in the organization. She is responsible for leading the partnership’s initiative to leverage Houston’s energy leadership to accelerate global solutions for a low-carbon future.
In her role, Jane provides strategic leadership and leads the development and implementation of programs, policies, and partnerships that advance HETI’s mission. She is also responsible for building strong relationships with industry, academia, and community partners to support HETI’s work and enhance Houston’s position as a leader in the global energy transition.
Effective Strategies for Building a High-Performing Team
According to Jane Stricker, building a great team requires setting direction, eliminating barriers, and giving the team space and opportunity to grow and develop solutions with her support. She emphasizes honesty and addresses performance and behavioral issues quickly to maintain a high level of accountability within the team. She believes in giving balanced feedback, ensuring that the team understands where they excel and where there is room for improvement. To keep employees motivated, Jane believes in giving credit where credit is due.
Jane believes in celebrating team accomplishments and bringing issues and opportunities to light early in the process. This creates opportunities for her team to shine while also providing the support, and encouragement to learn from their experiences and move forward. Jane recognizes that success is not a zero-sum game and that the team performs at its best when everyone is committed to working together. She creates an environment that encourages collaboration and teamwork, providing opportunities for employees to work across the organization to solve problems and achieve common goals.
Appreciation and Concerns for the Energy Industry
With Jane’s deep experience in the energy industry, she has developed an appreciation for the complexity of energy systems and the industry’s commitment to providing affordable, reliable, and resilient energy to the world. She has seen first-hand the impact of affordable, abundant energy in improving the quality of life for people across the globe, which is critical to economic growth. However, she also recognizes that the energy industry has a responsibility to reduce emissions and develop and implement low-carbon energy solutions to address the risks of climate change.
She believes that the energy industry can deliver on this dual challenge of more energy with fewer emissions and lead the way in developing and deploying innovative solutions that balance economic growth with environmental stewardship.
Prioritizing Health and Wellness for a Balanced Life
Jane believes that achieving a perfect work-life balance is not possible; however, it is important to make a conscious effort to prioritize health and well-being. She incorporates fun, exercise, and competitive activities like bicycle racing, to maintain a good overall balance. Jane understands that her career success is tied directly to her ability to make her health a priority.
She prioritizes making time to exercise regularly, eat well, and get enough sleep. Additionally, she believes in taking a break when necessary and knowing when to make the shift between work and personal life. For Jane, finding balance is about being intentional and mindful of her priorities and taking care of herself so that she can continue to perform at a high level.
Quotes:
“Don’t be afraid to work hard, give credit to others, and believe in yourself. You can do so much more than you think.”
