Women in Energy: Shelly Lambertz, Continental Resources

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Originally from Enid, Okla., Shelly Lambertz found her career beginning in Washington, D.C., where she worked for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Her path then steered to a business that was more familiar. She credits her father, Harold Hamm, with motivating her to join the oil and gas industry. Her first energy-related job was serving as director of human resources and business development adviser for Hamm & Phillips Service Co. from 1996 to 1998.

“Growing up in the business, I was able to see first-hand the tremendous ups and downs of the industry,” she said. “I really appreciate what oil and gas have done to improve the quality of life for so many.”

She then spent the next six years as the executive director of the YWCA in Enid and later served as the COO at Hamm Capital for seven years. She also serves as director of the Harold Hamm Foundation.

Lambertz has served on the Continental Resources board of directors since May 2018, and she was recently promoted to executive vice president, chief culture and administrative officer.

Lambertz holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University. She is married with two sons and resides in Oklahoma City, where she enjoys playing tennis and being involved in her community.

Memorable career projects

“When I served as executive director for the YWCA in Enid, we raised funds to build a shelter for domestic abuse victims. [In addition] during my time working for Congressman Lucas, I was able to support constituents affected by the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City by securing funding for their recovery and the establishment of the OKC National Memorial.”

Leadership tip

“I had an awful boss early on in my career who felt powerful when tearing others down. This boss happened to be a woman, and as a woman who believes in empowering others, I often look back to this experience as it taught me what I do NOT want to be as a leader.”

Female allies

“We have to look at our differences as opportunities. Women have unique perspectives to bring to the table. I see this as an opportunity to speak up and add value that may be missed if we weren’t present. We also need to support one another. It can feel incredibly lonely when you’re the only woman in the room, so networking with other women is important.”

ESG efforts

“There is no more important work we can be doing right now than telling the story of our societal impact. What we do every day is truly changing the world. We have a great opportunity to educate consumers on the benefits of affordable, reliable oil and gas. We also must continue to make strides on the environmental front as well.”

Click here for a full list of “25 Influential Women in Energy” honorees for 2022.