International Women's Day: An Interview with Six of STEP's Influential Women

To celebrate International Women’s Day, we are showcasing six of STEP’s influential women. From supervising operations in the field to leading the corporate finance team, take a look at how these incredible professionals continue to pave a path for women in the energy industry and #EmbraceEquity. 

Danielle Fowler

Fracturing Services Supervisor 1, Grande Prairie, AB

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at STEP.

I was born and raised a farmer girl from Newfoundland. I was driving an international farm tractor, making drills for vegetables and disking up farmland at the age of eight. My mother and father always told me you can accomplish anything if you set your mind to it. So, back in 2011 I decided I wanted to work in the oilfield. I was hired with another company and made my journey driving from Newfoundland to Grande Prairie. I started working with STEP Energy Services in 2017 as a pump operator and today I am supervisor 1.

What piece of advice would you give to young women to succeed in their career?

The piece of advice I would give to young women to succeed in their career would be set a goal and you can succeed by working hard.

Share a women’s empowerment moment that inspired you.

My mother is the embodiment of female empowerment. She is an inspiring woman who never lets the concept of fear or self-doubt get in her way of achieving her goals or continuously excelling in her career.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #EmbraceEquity, what does that mean to you?

To me, #EmbraceEquity means honoring women's social, economic, and cultural accomplishments. 

Vaishali Chikhlia

Accounting Manager, Calgary, AB

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at STEP.

I was born in India but came to Calgary when I was eight. I studied at the University of Calgary getting a B.Sc. in Psychology, a M.Sc. in Neuroscience before I made a career shift to accounting finishing my Certified General Accountant certification in 2010. I started working at STEP in 2017 as a senior accountant in Canadian operations. After COVID, I moved to corporate finance, working on internal controls for the company, consolidations and then my eventual role I am in now. I’m the accounting manager for Canadian operations where I supervise a staff (directly and indirectly of 11). I review and post entries, prepare reports for operations and corporate along with managing the team.

What piece of advice would you give to young women to succeed in their career?

It’s important to be honest with yourself in what you want. Don’t be shy about applying for roles that you don’t see yourself in. You will be surprised how well you can do. Aim high everyday with compassion, kindness, and ferocity. It’s ok to make mistakes as you move along in your career. The only way to grow is to fall down first!

Share a women’s empowerment moment that inspired you.

Seeing an Indian woman elected as Vice President in the U.S. was inspiring. It shows that with hard work and tenacity, it is possible to reach higher levels to inspire women. I was excited to see them having to change the banner to Madame instead of Mr. I think it encouraged young girls and women to strive higher.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #EmbraceEquity, what does that mean to you?

#EmbraceEquity to me means having an equitable and inclusive system for women and girls whether in work, school or social situations without the fear of backlash or suppression. 

Amanda Townsend

Account Manager, Midland, TX

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at STEP.

I’m an account manager for STEP Energy Services. My role as an account manager consists of sales of our services, we take pride in (Frac, Coil and N2).

I’m a 4th generation oil & gas professional, my great grandfather started in the Permian hauling and raising derricks when they were made of timber. My grandfather was a roughneck on the Santa Fe Explorer 1, the first to drill deep wells in Alaska and went on to Sumatra, Singapore, Iran and finally ended up back in the states and served over 15 years as a company man for Mobil Oil. I was inspired to continue this family tradition that was bred into our bloodline. This gives me and my family the opportunity to pursue the American dream and live a certain quality of life. My entire career has been in oil & gas, I started from the bottom as a receptionist, worked my way up to accounting manager. I realized I had a knack for dealing with clients. I then moved my career to sales and find myself continuing to grow within this industry with higher goals than I thought I could achieve when I first started.

What piece of advice would you give to young women to succeed in their career?

I truly believe that if you commit yourself and work hard you can achieve anything in this world as man or woman. My advice to the younger women is to work hard and be passionate about your goals. Always respect yourself and keep pushing yourself to the next level. Surround yourself with people that you aspire to be.

Share a women’s empowerment moment that inspired you.

I have had the opportunity to meet and work with some incredible women in this industry. From managing operations and teams of men to hustling in the field to get sales. Women are a force to be reckoned with, we may have had the last rights to vote, but every year we are raising the bar and accomplishing more.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #EmbraceEquity, what does that mean to you?

#EmbraceEquity to me means fair treatment, equal opportunity and advancement of women’s careers to contribute to society and the world.

Amber Cissell

JM Parts Lead, Grande Prairie, AB

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at STEP.

I like to keep busy. I grew up on the farm, so I’ve been no stranger to hard work and finding ways to achieve things (thinking outside the box). I’m active in sports including volleyball and slow pitch, I have horses and I have taken up archery. I like to learn to do as many things as I can and be as self-sufficient as possible. 

My role at STEP is the lead for the parts department in Grande Prairie. I’ve been extremely thankful for the roll I play at STEP as it allows me to converse with professionals, learn what their needs are and where there is room for improvements or changes. We all have ideas and thoughts on things that can increase STEP’s productivity. I encourage people to always share ideas and tell me how we can improve. I feel that listening to people’s ideas and understanding them empowers people and allows them to feel heard and valued.

What piece of advice would you give to young women to succeed in their career?

My advice to young women is to always believe in yourself and that your gender should never affect the goals you set for yourself. Keep pushing and working towards your end goal, setting small milestones will always allow you to feel like you’re moving forward and in the right direction. As women, we still face many challenges but overcoming those challenges will be the most rewarding feeling.                     

Share a women’s empowerment moment that inspired you.

When I first started in the parts world, it wasn’t as common for women to be in this trade. I worked with mostly men and I had to prove myself to the customers of my value. It took time, but it came a point where I was the one they wanted to deal with. I think the thought of me being less capable than a man pushed me harder and gave me something to prove.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #EmbraceEquity, what does that mean to you?

It’s probably different than most would think. To me, it means we are all capable of anything we set our mind to. No matter your age, race, or gender, everyone is able to achieve goals that they set for themselves. It just takes determination, mindset and drive.  

Casey Howie

Receiving Coordinator, San Antonio, TX

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at STEP.

I have been with STEP Energy Services for two years. I started as the office administrator for the northern U.S. coil districts in North Dakota and Colorado. I am now the coil purchaser for all four of the U.S. coil districts as well as handle any administrative tasks that those districts may need. 

What piece of advice would you give to young women to succeed in their career?

I would tell young women to not be afraid to shatter the glass ceiling. We are where we are today because of the past generations of strong women who fought for their spot in the workplace. Like the women before us, it’s up to us to widen the path to make way for more.

Share a women’s empowerment moment that inspired you.

I found the Mystique Movement very inspiring. Women were no longer just fighting for basic legal rights, but also for equal opportunities and personal freedoms.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #EmbraceEquity, what does that mean to you?

To me, #EmbraceEquity means opposing gender stereotypes and offering support in changing those narratives. Allowing everyone to rise together and leaving no person at a disadvantage on the way to the top. 

Caitlyn Kummel

Major/Minor Components Supervisor, Red Deer, AB

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at STEP.

I have been at STEP for coming up on seven years. Within that time, I have met some of the most influential people of my lifetime. I started here as a raw materials purchaser under the supply chain group. I understood my strengths of organization and attention to detail, which led me to move into the supply chain group’s analyst role. While in my analyst role, I was very interested in the components used to keep equipment working on jobs and how all these little pieces ultimately work together to make something rather large happen. My interests shifted fully to the realm of daily operations and their requirements. Ultimately, this led to my current role of major/minor components supervisor. I feel very lucky to work with the team I have and the professionals that comprise the team. I am originally from the interior of BC but have been an Albertan for nine years now. I enjoy anything outdoors, art, reading, horticulture and of course my wonderful family (including our two sassy dachshunds and bright yellow snake).

What piece of advice would you give to young women to succeed in their career?

Every convoluted development in life is a disguised opportunity for you to learn something new about yourself. Lean into it and discover new interests, capabilities and how to establish goals, then accomplish them.

Share a women’s empowerment moment that inspired you.

The moment my mom decided she wasn’t fulfilled in working a job she had no passion for. At the age of 40 she enrolled in a strongly male based carpentry program. She finished at the top of the class and then went on to operate her own successful carpentry business with numerous employees working alongside her. This showed me that no matter your age, no matter other people’s judgement and no matter the odds stacked against you – that anything is possible if you make it a goal.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #EmbraceEquity, what does that mean to you?

#EmbraceEquity to me means not treating everyone as equals but equally being there for everyone’s different needs.

Written by Jasmine Lim Tung