Katie Mehnert

In January 2020, Goldman Sachs announced during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that the investment bank would no longer carry out IPOs for companies in the U.S. and Europe that lacked at least one woman or non-white board member.

Katie Mehnert responded to Chairman and CEO David Solomon with a piece in the Harvard Business Review, calling his policy “misguided, and potentially damaging.” She contended that board representation wasn’t enough and that if “a company is genuinely committed to gender equality and diversity, that commitment will show up in its metrics at all levels.”

Solomon responded by reaching out to her for a one-to-one conversation.

“I was stunned and equally thrilled to have a conversation with him,” Mehnert said. “He encouraged me to join the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program and Women’s program that his firm and Babson College have put together to help small businesses grow. The course was intense, and I was lucky to complete it during COVID-19. It ultimately is what led me to change the name of the company and focus on the growth we’re experiencing now.

“I’m glad I had the courage to write that piece. Had I not, who knows where the company would be today?”

Hard to tell, but with Mehnert at the helm, ALLY Energy, formerly known as Pink Petro, would likely be in good shape anyway. Her first energy-related job was with Enron. She went on to other traditional oil and gas roles, including high-level positions at Shell and BP, before realizing that she was a creator and builder who wanted a bigger purpose than just Big Oil. Her mission had evolved to one in which she would lead the charge in changing hearts and minds to shape the energy workforce of the future.

“I had the courage to leave a very well-paying leadership role and executive path for the chaos of becoming an entrepreneur,” Mehnert said. “I cut my pay to $0 for two years and have bootstrapped my company to seven figures.”

ALLY Energy works with companies to develop a framework and thought leadership to become brand leaders, attract top talent, build culture and retain high performers. At ALLY, Mehnert employs a people-centric philosophy.

“We cannot solve big energy demand and emissions goals without people,” she said. “Human capital is the heart of what we do. Our workforce is woefully short, and we need to get more people excited about the opportunities and challenges we face in energy.”

Mehnert advises young professionals, particularly women, to “know your worth and add tax. You are the best stock you own, so invest in yourself because no one else will.”

Finally, “find a great partner/spouse who will be your equal partner.”

She credits her spouse, Mark Mehnert, for believing in her and giving her the space to do this work.

“He’s stood by patiently, and often in the background, giving me the encouragement to go for it,” she said.

Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Meta and author of “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead,” has been her mentor for a decade.

“Her one resounding piece of advice to me has stuck with me since I met her,” Mehnert said.  “She asks a question: ‘What would you do if you weren’t afraid?’

“That question is something I ask when I feel fear,” she continued. “Sheryl was a first in her industry. She got the conversation started for women around the world. Being able to call on her for advice in my journey has been invaluable as I’ve navigated as a ‘first.’ I’ve joined and formed Lean In mentoring circles to encourage other ‘firsts’ that they are not alone.”

Check out the rest of Hart Energy's 2024 Women in Energy here.