Laura Preng

Laura Preng’s career arc has taken her from interviewing people for her job as a TV journalist, to interviewing people as part of the recruiting process for energy executives. 

“I love our industry and the talented, smart people in it,” Preng said. “I love that I get to take my interviewing skills as a reporter and apply them to my role as a search consultant. I genuinely enjoy learning about people and hearing their stories; I get to tell my client’s story and attract top talent, which undoubtedly impacts and influences the business.”

Preng began her career as a reporter and anchor for the CBS affiliate in Jackson, Miss., before moving up to the NBC affiliate in Nashville, Tenn. She left television news to be spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Public Safety before returning to her hometown of Houston and the executive search firm founded by her father that bears the family name.

“When I first entered the industry, my goal was to learn as much as I possibly could and become an expert in my field,” she said. “I wanted to establish credibility based on my merit and not just my last name, so that companies/clients would entrust me to lead their most critical search needs.”

So, she became a student, reading everything she could get her hands on, and attended classes and workshops for newcomers to the industry. She started as a recruiter for Preng’s sister search firm, Energy Careers, reaching out to engineering talent. It wasn’t easy, because reservoir engineers at that time were bombarded by calls from recruiters.

“Fortunately, I called a few people who were kind enough to take the time and explain to me what they did for a living, because it was clear I had no idea what I was talking about,” Preng said. 

“Although I am engaged in higher-level searches at Preng, those conversations were valuable and led to some long-lasting friendships,” she said. “I realized that putting yourself out there can be intimidating, but if you are persistent and open to listening and learning, you can overcome most challenges.”

One of those challenges has been her role as a woman in a male-dominated industry. 

“When I was a journalist, there were a lot of women in the newsroom or on air to look up to and want to emulate,” Preng said. “When I began working in the energy industry, I was fortunate to meet some women who were very successful in their fields. So, while I often felt like the odd man out, so to speak, in the early days, I knew that with hard work and determination, rising to the top was achievable.”

Nevertheless, it was intimidating for her to walk into a boardroom to convince the directors that she was the best consultant who represented the best firm to lead the search for their next CEO or other top executive position.

“I struggled with imposter syndrome, for sure, but I continued to put myself out there, and today I’m proud of the companies I have had the opportunity to partner with, the leaders I have placed and the positive effects they had on the business,” she said.

While oil and gas is considered a relationship business to a large extent, the executive search function of the industry is almost entirely about relationships. Preng was fortunate to be mentored by her father, David Preng.

“I joke that he is the mayor because he seems to know everyone in the energy industry,” she said. “He has always stressed that we are in the people business, and it is important to build and nurture authentic relationships and treat others how you would like to be treated. It seems obvious, but sometimes it is important to step back and realize that the work we do will influence someone’s career path, impacting them and their family, as well as our client and the future of the company.”

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