Ashly Wolicki

Once a stranger to the industry, Ashly Wolicki joined oil and gas, as she’d say, by accident. However, upon arrival, she did everything in her power to gain the trust and respect of her team, eventually evolving into the trusted leader she is today.

Although she found her professional passion in oil and gas, outside of work, Wolicki enjoys “providing spontaneous service” to her community, whether that be donating to charities or cleaning up trash outside with her children.

Why did you enter the oil and gas industry?

“My path to the oil and gas industry was completely accidental. I worked all through college in the financial services sector and usually had a side job in retail. Shortly after graduating from college, I was equipped with a degree and some experience, but I still hadn’t found my passion. I connected with a recruiter that was looking to fill a role with an oil and gas company. As I learned more about the history of the industry, I became excited about the prospect of joining the energy sector and have found the industry to be mentally challenging and rewarding.”

Which of your professional achievements are you most proud of?

“Becoming a leader, not just by title. From late nights to early mornings, I had my sights set on learning the ins and outs of anything thrown my way. This learning journey helped me build confidence in my role, and this led to my managers and peers having greater confidence in me.”

What is a career milestone you reached sooner than you had planned?

“Without a doubt, achieving the rank of chief accounting officer. I have been fortunate to work with so many great leaders over the past 20 years and have been able to learn from their experiences. I did not have a timeline in mind, but I’m confident I achieved it relatively quickly because of the support of my direct managers and colleagues that were willing to guide and challenge me.”

How have you exercised leadership to help shape your department?

“I personally have appreciated having leaders that I could really talk to about my goals and the challenges I’m facing, so I attempt to create a culture that provides the same benefits to my team. My objective is to be a resource for my team and to prepare everyone for their own unique journey. Sometimes this means helping someone evaluate career opportunities, or it could mean providing feedback that may be difficult. I routinely ask members of my team about their short-term and long-term career aspirations, and I don’t shy away from asking about their vision of how long they plan to stay with the company. All of these conversations help me understand my team so that we can be better prepared for the future.”

What do you think young industry members as a group have to offer that is unique to them?

“I honestly think this applies to everyone, but we all have a unique personal journey that has led us to where we are today. As our paths cross, I think we all have the ability to offer our perspectives and to glean from others their perspectives. The generational gaps will create conversations that allow for true knowledge sharing.”