Sarah Delille

Fresh out of engineering school in France, Sarah Delille knew she wanted to work abroad, but didn’t know much about the oil and gas industry when Total called with a job offer. The position, however, was in Houston, home to NASA’s manned space flight program. That made the decision to accept it an easy one for the self-described space enthusiast.

She found the energy industry to be just as compelling.

“From the moment I started, I was amazed by the industry—drilling deep into the ocean, building platforms that can handle hurricanes and broadly utilizing cutting-edge technology was truly captivating,” Delille said. “Now, with the energy transition and AI shaking things up, it’s even more exciting and continues to fascinate me.”

In her role as head of U.S. Country Management for Equinor, Delille must possess at least some knowledge in a wide array of fields, a good fit for someone with an insatiable curiosity.

“Early on, I realized it’s not possible to master everything—engineering, drilling, construction and financial controls—though I wish it were,” she said. Instead, she focused on excelling in her own roles while learning from colleagues, books, conferences and podcasts. This enabled her to connect the dots among disciplines and gain a solid understanding of how they interfaced.

Delille’s career progression has been helped by leaders and mentors who made time to listen and coach. One who had a particularly significant impact was a senior colleague early in her career who worked with her to develop financial models for offshore platforms.

“He took the time to walk me through every step, answering all my questions—no matter how basic—and cheering me on as I built a new model for the Gulf of Mexico,” she said. “What really stuck with me was how knowledgeable yet humble and approachable he was. It inspired me to aim for that same balance in my own career: mastering new skills and helping others grow. That experience taught me how crucial mentorship, collaboration and always keeping an open mind for growth can be.”

Not all of her mentors worked in a nearby office.

“One of the most impactful mentors was Terry Bonno, who was a senior executive in a different company. We’d meet regularly to talk about career and leadership, and her advice has stayed with me to this day,” Delille said. “Terry once said, ‘Sarah, you’re still young. Treat challenging situations like a petri dish—experiment, observe the outcome and learn from it. Over time, you’ll get better at handling anything that comes your way.’ That was over a decade ago, but I still live by her advice and share them with my own mentees. This philosophy has shaped how I face obstacles and embrace opportunities, always with an eye toward growth and learning.”

That approach has been put to the test numerous times early in her career when she occasionally encountered gender bias in a male dominated workplace, sometimes mistaken for an assistant or intern and burdened with admin tasks in addition to her actual job. Frustrating? Absolutely. Eye-opening? No doubt. Fortunately, society has made some strides since then.

“I learned to navigate with confidence and resilience, constructively challenging biases and advocating for others who share these hurdles,” she said. “These experiences inspired my commitment to fostering inclusivity, supporting diverse perspectives, and mentoring younger women. Although progress has been made, we must keep pushing for meaningful change.”

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