Thaimar Ramirez

To succeed in the rapidly evolving oil and gas industry, young professionals are advised to be open and adaptable to change. 

For Thaimar Ramirez, though, it’s never been a problem. The native of Venezuela embraces it, whether it’s changing countries (Venezuela and U.S.), roles (petrophysics, reservoir engineering, completion engineering, field operations in well site geology, completions, production), basins in various geographical locations (Alaska, Venezuela, India, West Africa, Oklahoma Panhandle, Peru, Middle East, Rocky Mountains, Permian, Canada, Argentina, Anadarko, Uinta) or even vineyards (she is working on her sommelier certification).

“Change,” said Ramirez in an understatement, “is part of my DNA.”

But it’s also an element of her ambition. The political and economic environment in Venezuela was in such disarray when Ramirez graduated that she couldn’t find a job, even though she was valedictorian of her class with a degree in industrial engineering.

Opportunities, she decided, were elsewhere, so she studied English, pursued a graduate degree in the U.S. and went after them. 

“Every job I have had has been an event that continues to shape my career,” Ramirez said. “I have been offered projects no one wanted to work on because they were not high profile, but I did them and created opportunities.”

That included a position as an operations geologist, one that didn’t appear to match her skill set. But she trusted the judgement of her boss and found success. 

As a leader, she relies on two pieces of advice from mentors: “The team needs to function with you or without you,” and “It is about them, not about you.”

“I encourage people to learn their strengths and weaknesses, focus on their strengths to excel and work on their weaknesses with stretch goals (as I do for myself), strive for excellence and extend trust,” Ramirez said. “Empower employees by ensuring they have the competencies and clarity on the organizational goals, set clear expectations and provide real-time feedback so everyone succeeds.”

Even high-performing employees need a work environment that fosters success. Ramirez said her team has repeatedly achieved or surpassed its goals and has created a winning culture. 

“This is not a coincidence; it is the collective effort,” she said. “Reward the team for their success—they take all the credit, I take the blame. However, when they are empowered, they take ownership and are accountable.”

Ramirez wants her team to take risks and experiment. 

“Rather than the saying, ‘fail fast,’ I encourage the team to ‘learn fast,’” she said. “Provide opportunities for self-development. Pursue excellence. Help individuals work effectively in a team environment.”

Effective leadership requires effective and assertive communication from the leader, which Ramirez said she continues to work on.

“Everyone has elements of the message being communicated right but also elements that are only their perception,” she said. “I had to work hard on empathy and overall emotional intelligence, including self-awareness. I work on my weaknesses—not all at the same time, as they are many—but I set a clear vision and stretch goals for professional and personal development. I’ve learned to be comfortably uncomfortable and to rely on a large and diverse support network.”

From the start of her career, Ramirez has pushed herself to be her best by continuing to learn and expand her skill set, taking on roles that made her uncomfortable and challenging the status quo. She encourages young professionals to do the same, as well as ignoring so-called ceilings to advancement.

“Be persistent until you achieve your goals, taking one step at a time and celebrating progress along the way,” she said.

“Seek out sponsors for your ideas and use your strengths to differentiate yourself. For each rejection, understand what is holding you back and work on it immediately. Focus on understanding people’s interests rather than just taking a position on a matter. Finally, find an environment where you can be your best self.”

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