My story is one that is simply complex. I am a native Houstonian who matriculated through the Houston Independent School District. I fell in love with numbers and education at an early age. My plan was to become a principal, but life had other plans for me. After becoming a mother to a beautiful baby girl at the age of 18, I did not attend college right after high school. However, I decided that I would fight through the stereotype often associated with single motherhood. My daughter motivated me to strive for greatness regardless of its path.
However, my daughter motivated me to strive for greatness regardless of its path. I decided that I would fight through the stereotypes often associated with single motherhood, which is in part why I founded a non-profit organization (Dr. CGK Foundation, Inc.) dedicated to serving low-to-median income single moms by changing the trajectory of their lives through education.
After initially working in healthcare, I realised that I wanted to learn skills and software that were more transferable. So, I landed in the oil and gas industry and fell in love. Though I had gone to college off and on through the years, I had not firmly decided on a career path. It wasn’t until I arrived at Wood that I became aware of project controls. My proclivity for numbers and desire to learn energises me, which made project controls the perfect career path in my eyes. The opportunity to employ my values of determination, integrity, accountability, and commitment, while expanding my realm of knowledge, fueled me with passion and compassion that burns to this day.
Talking about what makes me unique is somewhat uncomfortable for me because it borders bragging about myself, something that does not come easily to me. However, I believe there is uniqueness in my ability to rationalise during irrational moments, as well as think and act with precision in critical situations. There is also uniqueness in my relentless pursuit of what was meant to be unattainable for me, like my doctorate that I am proud to have obtained in May 2021. The uniqueness of my educational journey is in part why I founded Dr. Courtney Gatlin Keener Foundation, Inc. , a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to serving low-to-median income single moms by changing the trajectory of their lives through education.
To me, inclusion and belonging at Wood means being afforded the same opportunities for advancement irrespective of our varying differences, such as race, gender, age, or any other legally protected characteristic. I am proud to work for a company that provides various platforms by which employees can connect and share in truth
I initially came to Wood as a contingent worker and I must acknowledge my former supervisor Diana Giraldo, who was not only partly responsible for me turning down a job offer to stay at Wood, but also instrumental to my transition into project controls. She encouraged engagement and open communication. Her approach ensured my comfort and cultivated my sense of belonging. Beyond biases and stereotypes, Diana showed trust in my talents and ability to perform and was committed to mentoring me through the next phase of my new career.
I have experienced a lot since starting with Wood in 2013 and can say without trepidation that most memories are fond and filled with inclusion. However, there is one standout incident that helped shape my emphasis on the need for inclusion. I had been handling the project control responsibilities for over a year at that time, and patiently awaiting the promotion that was promised to me. However, a change in leadership made that promotion elusive. In short, I could keep performing the project control function, without receiving the promotion in title or pay. To say I was hurt is putting it mildly, but it’s not in my nature to let pain prevent performance. Instead, this propelled me to keep pressing towards my goal. Today, I am proud to say that I ultimately received my long-awaited promotion into project controls and have thrived for the past five years.
Having first-hand experience with someone who was challenged in the areas of inclusion and diversity served as a reminder to be careful with words. “Sometimes your sharpest weapon lies within the sentences you speak.” Had it not been for my fortitude, that experience could have shifted the course of my career. I am thankful for the tenacity that lies within me to persevere in the face of unyielding opposition, as well as the compassion I must cultivate the very best part of people.
Listening, sharing and encouragement are some of the tools I utilise to make others feel included. I have found conversation to be a powerful tool that can reveal commonalities, needs and most importantly areas where we can connect. It is my belief that actively listening and engaging others can be quite beneficial. Whether gaining better insight or inspiring change, being deliberate in our listening and engagement can clear the subjective lens of interpretation, allowing everyone to feel included. I make it a point to engage with the people with whom I encounter, within and outside of Wood, and providing encouragement comes naturally to me. That is in part how I contribute to an environment that values kindness and understanding. I am committed to doing my part to aid as many people as I can, through word or deed, to become the best version of themselves and remove the barriers that tend to separate us.
Trust, support, respect, and transparency are crucial ingredients to growth and success in any relationship, and ones that I endeavor to reciprocate amongst colleagues. We must not be afraid to share both victories and failures with one another. By the same token, we must create safe spaces for vulnerability, and operate in integrity when entrusted with it. I subscribe to the notion that success is the sum of individual and team commitment and contributions. Keeping these values in the forefront will aid in developing a “we” mindset and encourage the togetherness that makes a team flourish. Each of us is crucial to the success of the team as a whole.
My experience at Wood has reinforced my belief that working hard and staying the course will yield positive results. I credit two of my former managers at Wood for fostering this viewpoint. The caring leadership that Diana Giraldo and Gabriel Iglesias presented created some of my greatest professional experiences. They were genuinely concerned about my desires for personal and career development, and actively supported my efforts. I was naturally inspired by the confidence they exhibited in me, and the grace and space by which they allowed me to learn. Having provided the perfect balance of challenge and reward, I was able to grow as a person and leader.
The characteristics displayed to me by Diana and Gabriel helped shaped my outlook on management and inspired my adoption of them. Being a manager is not just about a title, it’s about true leadership. There is a quote that says, “When I talk to managers, I get the feeling that they are important. When I talk to leaders, I get the feeling that I am important.” That powerful distinction highlights that we are all leaders, independent of a managerial title, and we have a charge to unselfishly help others feel important.