Sonja Bruce
As a finance student, Sonja Bruce never imagined that knowing the technical details of extracting hydrocarbons from shale formations would be part of her day-to-day life—but now she’s glad it is. Bruce has an MBA, a certificate in energy finance and management, and is a licensed investment banker—the rest she learned on the job.
“I never imagined I would need to know so much about petroleum engineering and geology in a finance career,” Bruce said. “Understanding decline curves, well spacing, reservoir pressures and fracking all go into understanding the financing of an oil and gas company and how to structure a debt facility.”
As a relationship manager, she manages a large portfolio of oil and gas companies, which means consulting with CEOs and CFOs, and providing the full spectrum of energy-related products and services.
Fresh out of college in 2005, Bruce walked through the doors of BOK Financial and has not looked back. She was immediately drawn to the culture of the company.
“From the first person who sent me up to HR, onwards, I felt like this was the place for me. After that, I was driven to work hard, and to learn and grow within the organization,” Bruce said. “I was surrounded by people who loved their careers at BOKF and who saw my drive and encouraged my professional development.”
A few years into her career, she learned about the impact of George Kaiser, chairman of BOK Financial with deep roots in oil and gas. That inspired her to learn as much as she could about the energy business and join the company’s energy group. In 2012, now with an MBA in tow, she got her chance.
“What I love the most about this industry is how the hydrocarbons that we help extract from deep within the earth have changed the world for the better,” Bruce said. “Things we take for granted like turning our lights on, having heat in the winter, flying across the globe and picking up a phone to FaceTime someone on the other side of the world in an instant. It makes me immensely proud to be able to say that I am a part of this industry.”
Bruce grew up in Jägersburg, Germany, where her father was stationed with the U.S. Army. As the sole provider for a family of six, he worked long hours to advance in his career and also earn a college degree at night.
“His expectation was for us to attend college and earn our own degrees but first he needed to earn his,” she said. “He said he would never set expectations on us that he did not have for himself, and that has always resonated with me.”
The foundation of her leadership philosophy is leading by example.
“I believe that actions speak louder than words,” Bruce said. “Going back to the lesson my dad taught me at a young age: Don’t expect others to do something you are not willing to do yourself.”
She considers her strongest trait to be optimism, which allows her to approach challenges with confidence, knowing there will be a solution. Bruce also makes it a point to see the best in others, which helps her to build trust and lasting connections.
They are traits she puts into practice in her personal life as well. She is an active volunteer in her community in Denver, spending over 100 hours a year in service to others.
Her advice to young professionals seeking to emulate her: Embrace lifelong learning.
“Our industry is constantly evolving and facing new challenges,” Bruce said. “To remain relevant, we have to stay curious and continue to learn.”
Check out the rest of Hart Energy's 2025 Women in Energy here.
1. I have a twin sister, who is my best friend, and we are the oldest of two sets of twins.
2. My dad enlisted in the Army at 17 and was stationed in Germany at 19, where he met my mother and where they raised us. He served our country for 38 years, almost all those years in Germany, where they still live to this day.
3. BOKF was my first job out of college, 20 years (as of January 2025) and counting. I started my career as a teller and got to where I am today by being eager to learn, asking lots of questions and listening to feedback from my managers and peers.