When Alex Reid talks to college students about working in the energy industry, she advocates finding mentors of all types, and not just those in their career discipline.

“Finding a mentor is a great way to set yourself up for so many opportunities to grow and develop, especially as a woman in a field that has historically employed more men,” she said.

Reid, a project engineer for our Central Gathering and Processing assets, said she’s welcomed guidance from other engineers, those in non-technical roles and other mothers navigating parenthood and career.

Reid said those influences led her to chair the Women of Williams Employee Resource Group (ERG) so she also could be of service to others.

“Throughout my career I’ve had women who have inspired me, influenced me and mentored me, so it means a lot to step in and find ways to give back,” she said.

“It’s important we are able to come together and create allyship,” she said of the ERG. “There are so many opportunities in our industry for women to grow and develop in STEM fields and leadership roles.”

Reid, a Texas A&M graduate, joined Williams in 2016 as a rotational engineer, working in various roles in Houston, Pittsburgh and Charlotteville, Virginia.

As an electrical engineer, like her father and grandfather, she sometimes was in the minority among her male peers, but found inclusion in the teams she joined, thanks to mentors and leaders who championed her success.

Today, she works with teams that engineer and design tactical projects in the Haynesville, Permian, Barnett, Eagle Ford and Anadarko basins.

“The work is fast paced and provides both challenges and opportunities,” she said.

Reid said she knew at a young age she wanted to enter a STEM field because of her love of math and science. She was drawn to electrical engineering but shared a passion for astronomy with her father, a hobby she continues today.

She and her husband live in Houston with their 16-month-old daughter, where they sometimes look at the evening sky through a telescope. The planets seem closer that way and remind her that while the world is a very big place, she is making a difference in her own orbit.

The Women of Williams ERG is planning several events for Women’s History Month, including supply resource drives for nonprofits and a Q&A session with Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Debbie Pickle who will share about her career journey as a working parent and provide insights into how Williams attracts, retains and promotes women.

Interested in learning more about inclusion at Williams? Visit the Diversity & Inclusion page on our website.