Danielle Fuselier

Danielle Fuselier’s professional life is a variation on the sandwich generation theme: following the example of her mother, a 33-year veteran of the energy industry, and setting an example for her 13-year-old daughter. 

Her mother was an early influence on her career choice.

“Being a female engineer in the industry in the ’80s was tremendously more challenging than any of my experiences,” Fuselier said. “She’s been there to listen, support, encourage and offer her opinions personally and professionally. She, along with my daughter, are my inspiration to push as far as I can—to show my mom her sacrifices were worth it and made me the person I am today, and to show my daughter that with hard work and dedication you can have a fulfilling career.”

Her mom is still her No. 1 mentor, but many others, from peers to direct managers, have provided guidance in her career.

“The best advice I have received was to learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Building on that, if a potential role makes you nervous, it’s a good sign you may actually be ready to take it on, because if a role doesn’t scare you, it’s more than likely not going to challenge you,” she said. “That advice came from a previous CEO of our company and I’ve tried to embody that when role opportunities have been presented since then.”

The opportunities have come with challenges, especially during industry downturns like the one in 2016. Her work scope expanded considerably in what she now terms a “trial by fire.” At the same time, it provided an opportunity to bolster her executive engagement and presentation skills, work with senior leaders and build a wider network across the company. 

Her first expat role threw her into a completely new job function supporting a new region (Sub-Saharan Africa) while relocating her family to the U.K. 

“I learned a ton about resilience and how to lean on my team, and it was an incredibly humbling experience, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out seven months later,” she said.

Navigating motherhood and career has also challenged Fuselier, not just in the broader notion of a work/life balance, but adapting to day-to-day urgent needs like stomach bugs, fevers and business trips.

“I leaned on my husband and mom a lot and still do; my mom helped with day care pick-ups when I was away from home for longer international trips when our kids were younger,” she said. “Female co-workers going through similar challenges were another source of support to compare notes with. But it was a tough time, especially when encountering external judgement on being a working mom sending her kids to daycare and recovering from a medical complication after my daughter’s birth that required 18 months of physical therapy shortly after returning to work.”

Fuselier advises young professionals in the industry to “enjoy the ride” and be flexible with opportunities to advance.

“Early in your career, progression is more structured and skill-based, but as you progress to mid-career, role changes can be more opportunistic and seemingly out of the blue,” she said. “It’s important to know what you want to achieve, but focusing on the learning a role can provide versus just the title can help you be prepared when those phone calls come. It’s also equally important to understand your non-negotiables.”

Check out the rest of Hart Energy's 2025 Women in Energy here.