Samantha Martinez Castillo

When Samantha Martinez Castillo began her career in oil and gas, she knew little about the industry other than it was a hot spot for technology and innovation, and full of challenges for females. She would give it five years, she told herself, then quit and start her own business.

“Twenty years later, I’m still here, as excited as I was the first day,” she said. “I remember being the only female in my area and I really wanted to set an example and even pave the way for the ones that would come after me,” Martinez Castillo said. “I felt I was as capable as any man to perform the job and add value.”

She also wanted to have an international career. Martinez Castillo grew up in a small town in Mexico and had never left the country. She aspired to immerse herself in other cultures and learn from them. To accomplish that, she set a goal to understand and learn as much as possible about the oil and gas industry and its main drivers and opportunities.

“Every assignment has been a learning experience that has helped shape who I am today (taking into consideration that I was changing roles every two to three years on average),” she said. “In my first assignment, being in my home country but away from my family, the company gave me early responsibilities as a manager. At that time, it was a highly male-dominated industry where there was a lot of unconscious bias and harassment. It taught me resilience, to be strong and to never give up.”

The gender bias and stereotyping Martinez Castillo encountered were obstacles to overcome. 

“I was excluded from some jobs because the customer wasn’t allowing women offshore,” she said. 

The workplace environment, however, would improve.

“I saw the culture changing positively as more companies started implementing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives aimed at creating a more inclusive environment for women, from recruitment to retention; there, it was all about resilience and not giving up,” she said.

Balancing the life of a mother (her son is now 7) with the work schedule of an executive was another challenge.

“It’s a work in progress, but the first thing is understanding that I don’t need to be perfect as a professional, as a mom and as a spouse,” Martinez Castillo said. “Managing priorities is important, together with building the right support system with my husband, family and friends. Companies nowadays recognize the importance of diversity and are more willing to support the career growth of women.”

For Martinez Castillo, leadership stems from adaptability. Team dynamics and circumstances determine how much and what levels of guidance and coaching, direction and support are needed to encourage collaboration.

“I believe in teamwork, empowering those around me. It’s only by having a strong team that you can make an impact and take the right level of risk suitable for your business.”

To succeed in this business, Martinez Castillo advises young professionals to learn as much as they can.

“The energy industry is constantly evolving, so developing a habit of lifelong learning is crucial. Stay informed and adapt to change. Don’t be afraid to explore different roles early in your career; the energy industry can be volatile so developing resilience and a positive attitude in the face of setbacks will help you succeed in the long term,” she said.

And embrace problem-solving, the trained engineer urges. The energy sector faces complex challenges, so learn to think critically and creatively about problems and be open to unconventional solutions.

“Most importantly,” she said, “be a part of shaping the future of energy by embracing sustainability and innovation, and don’t be afraid to seize opportunities in both traditional and emerging energy markets.”

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