Forty Under 40: Shelly Albrecht, Avant Natural Resources

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Shelly Albrecht gives credit to those who have pushed her to grow throughout her career because they saw potential she may have not yet recognized in herself. “These are the people who asked unapologetically to complete a project within an unrealistic timeframe and with limited resources and brought on experiences that forced me to tap into my resilience, creativity and problem-solving skills,” she says. “Without them, I wouldn’t have the same appreciation for innovation and adaptation both in my leadership style and the way I recognize team efforts.”

Which career milestone did you reach sooner than you had planned?
Finding a dream team like I have in Avant. We’re small and privately funded, not to be confused with private equity, which allows us a unique advantage to make decisions quickly and move with unbelievable speed. Running a successful ground game acquisition program amidst the cutthroat competition of the Permian Basin is full of headwinds. However, due to our team’s distinctive experience, competitive drive and commitment to networking, we’ve been able to realize significant success on the A&D front. We put ourselves on the map by cobbling together a significant royalty position in the Midland basin, a position which we sold to Brigham Minerals in October of last year for a successful exit.  Additionally, while divesting those assets in the Midland Basin, we stood up an operating company in the Delaware Basin where we have also realized great results both operationally and on the A&D front. Pursuing multiple opportunities in multiple basins with a small team is challenging. Being part of a team that shares my passion and entrepreneurial drive is not only special but feels like a significant milestone.   

What or whom do you credit for helping you develop leadership abilities during your career?
I attribute significant credit to developing my leadership abilities to my mom. As a single parent raising my brothers and me, she exemplified the power of leading by example. Her insistence on our participation in sports, such as soccer and cross country running, served as a formative experience where I embraced essential leadership fundamentals that have proven invaluable throughout my career—namely discipline, perseverance, teamwork and competition.

What professional advice would you give other young professionals?
“Constantly surround yourself with people who inspire you to stretch for greatness—greatness beyond your own imagination. If you don’t already know folks like this, networking is a great tool to find them. Also, be authentic and embrace your unique style. It’s easy to be swayed by those who seem to have everything figured out, but rarely anyone does.”

Which transformations do you think the industry must undertake for it to thrive in the future?
“The oil and gas industry needs to shift from short-term profit-driven strategies to long-term planning and vision. This includes considering the impacts of the decisions we make today on future generations, the environment and society. Recruiting new, young talent is key to making this shift, as they will bear more of the consequences of today’s decisions and bring fresh perspectives to technological advances and ensure industry sustainability and responsible growth.”