Forty Under 40: Shannon Manner, Noble Royalties

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Shannon Manner is nothing if not versatile. Her athletic endeavors include half-marathons and trail runs, mountain biking, skiing, and surfing. On the job, “being able to serve as a Swiss Army knife and willingness to take on any scale of role has been the key to enjoying my career path, and being useful to companies in various stages,” she says.

Why did you enter the oil and gas industry?
“I entered the oil and gas industry influenced by a family legacy of ingenuity. My grandfather was never a degreed engineer, but to this day, the men he worked with say his mind worked in ways they never saw again for the remainder of their careers. He contributed to several patents, including one related to the nitrogen tank design used on frac sites; and, my uncle was an early entrant in hydrogen station design. During my time at UT, I developed strong connections with the ConocoPhillips team, and thankfully, the Department Head at McCombs was a vocal advocate of mine. I double majored in Government & Business and had been flirting with the idea of law school for years, but when the time came to make a decision on my next move, I accepted the full-time with COP and never looked back.”

Which of your professional achievements are you most proud of?
“One of the most rewarding is undoubtedly co-founding Women in Minerals & Non-Op. This idea emerged from years of working in the industry, and a simple desire to be part of an incremental change. In early ’22, Cori Willett and I decided to test out a theory and see what kind of response we would receive. The tier 1 goal was to promote increased business transactions among women, and do so in a way that appeals to professional females. The community would be unified by a common interest in energy mineral and non-operated acquisitions, and we’d build a network keeping in mind a belief that we shared–that by cultivating genuine relationships across all career stages, celebrating the wins of one another and better preparing our members to lead in the industry, we’ll achieve our goals and more. The rapid growth we’ve experienced as an organization has been particularly validating. So many of these female leaders continue to engage in business with one another, and the network around us has continued to champion the Organization in a number of ways. We are continuing to find ways to collaborate across the industry to promote and connect our members; and in time, we will aid in increasing the pipeline of female dealmakers in our business. We have a lot in store for the future of WIM—stay tuned.”

What qualities do you think are necessary to be a good leader in the oil and gas industry?
“An effective leader is committed to pushing boundaries, has the ability to drive tangible results and, perhaps most importantly, the capacity to earn respect. Respect can be earned by practicing simple behaviors such as being actively engaged, listening attentively, and demonstrating genuine appreciation for the value that each team member contributes.”

What keeps you motivated and passionate about working in the oil and gas industry?
“The success stories and being immersed in innovation keep me moving at a fast pace. People outside of the business don’t recognize that the entrepreneurial spirit in this industry extends far beyond Spindletop or infamous wildcatting stories. There’s a foreseeable demand, a barrier to entry and a history of strong economics that makes the space ripe for creativity, advancement and investment within many niches of this business."