Jennifer Charbonneau

Jennifer Charbonneau, chemical engineering degree in hand, launched her career by heading straight to the California oil fields in a hydraulic fracturing role for Halliburton. She would spend a good portion of her career in the field, working across multiple states, in part because it offered what drew her to the oil and gas industry in the first place: teamwork.

“I loved the idea of working with a team, running equipment, working outside, being in operations and getting results,” she said. “And I still do!” After relocating to Houston and eventually transitioning to a role with Chord outside of operations, she remains committed to visiting the North Dakota field sites, believing operations represents the heart of the business.

That team-first attitude is reflected in her management style.

“My colleagues have shared that I balance knowledge, curiosity and enthusiasm—sometimes I have the answers, sometimes I don’t, but I’m always determined to figure it out,” Charbonneau said. “They’ve described motivating others as ‘Jennifer 101:’ identifying areas for growth, providing the tools and resources to improve or change, and fostering a culture of learning and development.”

The Jennifer 101 workplace is an environment that she strives to make both challenging and supportive for members of the team.

“Feedback from colleagues has highlighted that I’m driven, passionate and committed to continuous improvement, which inspires those around me,” she said. “I communicate goals early, ensure buy-in and use innovative, engaging approaches to keep the teams motivated.” 

The supportive atmosphere includes filling in gaps for those gaining new skills.

“If they are more knowledgeable, step aside and find mentors or tools to help them continue refining their skills,” Charbonneau said. “Contribute to the team’s success where possible, and if the team fails, focus on identifying lessons learned. Continuously ask if there is anything needed and if there are any obstacles that can be addressed.”

Sometimes, addressing those obstacles means gathering insight from unexpected sources. One executive at Chord Energy shared an article on emotional intelligence that Charbonneau used to help transform the safety and leadership culture for the 130 employees working on the frac fleet.

“One thing I try to keep in mind is that everyone I meet has a unique set of experiences, and, if I am really listening, has the possibility to teach me something new and be a mentor,” she said.

Charbonneau has driven many division- and company-wide changes in her career. Some initiatives succeeded; some didn't.

In 2018, she was tapped to attend Leading Organizational Change, an executive education course at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton business school, which helped her understand how to enable her team to lead future changes and achieve the desired results.

The openness to new ideas is a handy trait for a leader in a constantly changing industry. Her flexibility and willingness to learn all aspects of operations, even if it meant relocating or living on-site for months, led to more opportunities and a deeper respect for the entire process, from permitting and drilling a well to bringing it online and maintaining production.

Another Charbonneau trait: When she takes on a challenge, she is all in.

“In the last few years, my roles have changed twice,” she said. “My current position was not anticipated, but when asked to lead new teams in an unfamiliar area, I swiftly adapted, created strategies, set goals and hired staff.

“When faced with unknowns, I dive in, making it both my work and hobby. In my new role, I spent many nights and weekends during the first year working, involved my daughter (Annabella, 12) in learning data science, AI and coding on the weekends, and established connections with experts in these fields.”

But success is nothing if not shared.

“For me, the most rewarding part is understanding what excites individuals and inspires them to contribute to something bigger,” Charbonneau said. “Helping them build new skills, grow in their careers and feel part of a meaningful mission is what drives me to show up every day and give it my all.”

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