Jena Resnick
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In her first management role, Jena Resnick learned the importance of being Jena Resnick. When she took over a group of seasoned professionals, one of the veterans resisted her efforts at team-building. “I chose not to push her, and decided to just keep doing and being myself,” she says. “When I finally left the group two years later, that veteran employee ended up giving me the biggest hug, telling me that I was the best manager she had experienced in her career. This experience taught me to stay true to my authentic self as a leader and not to dwell on the perceived doubts of others due to my age and personality.”
Which career milestone did you reach sooner than you had planned, and what helped you reach it earlier than expected?
I feel like I quickly catapulted up the ladder in my career. I went from an on-site consultant to an in-house Air Permit Engineer, to an EHS Manager to an EHS Director at a public company with a market cap over $43 billion—all in about eight years. I think my quick growth can be attributed to my hard work ethic, the strong relationships I formed with my company stakeholders, my openness to continuous improvement, and my dedication to always going above and beyond expectations and my mentors.
Which transformations do you think the industry must undertake for it to thrive in the future?
I think for the industry to thrive in the future, it must stay nimble and adapt, while remembering our core competencies. I also believe it is crucial that operators stay connected to the places where they are operating—through stewardship, investment in infrastructure and the local economy, and engagement with local needs and charities. This is a key component of Antero’s success, and one that has made me truly love my work in this industry.
What advice would you give other young professionals?
Stay true to yourself. Be a role model for hard work and dedication. Go above and beyond your job responsibilities. Be curious and thirsty for knowledge. Times will get tough, but in the words of Dory, “just keep swimming!” and have faith in yourself. There will always be more seasoned professionals, with more experience and maybe even knowledge, who doubt you. But they can’t argue with results. And seek out people in your organization that will have your back. Often people with different work styles and personalities can be your greatest asset. The friendships I’ve forged in the industry are some of the most important to me because we’ve been in the trenches together.
What keeps you motivated and passionate about working in the oil and gas industry?
I stay motivated and passionate about working in the oil and gas industry, and specifically air permitting, air compliance and climate strategy, because the opportunities to grow, improve, learn and develop new processes to identify and reduce emissions and climate risks are endless. I know that I can enact positive change within the companies I work for and the environment if I keep working hard!
Take a look at the rest of the Forty Under 40 2024 winners.
