Empowering Energy Leaders
AI-driven leadership development to close the talent gap in Canada’s energy sector.
The Problem
Canada’s energy sector stands at a crossroads. An aging workforce combined with negative perceptions of the industry among younger professionals has led to a growing shortage of skilled workers. Meanwhile, the sector is struggling to retain employees, with approximately 42% of workers who leave the industry transitioning to other sectors.1
These challenges have created stark leadership gaps. Over half of employers state that they cannot find leaders with the necessary skills, while 41% of workers lack formal leadership training.2 Women in particular face significant barriers, and their representation sharply declines at senior levels.
How We Are Solving It
Led by Monark in collaboration with the consortium partners Magnum Services (a leading Energy and Infrastructure Solutions Provider with operations across NA) and Young Women in Energy (a 200+ women non-profit, representing leaders from 21 of Canada’s biggest energy companies), this project aims to help address the talent shortage in Canada’s energy sector by enhancing Monark’s AI-driven platform that provides leaders with instant, feedback on management and decision-making skills. Additional input will come from participants Axiom Exploration (multi-disciplinary consulting firm specializing in Geological, Geophysical, Environmental, Energy and Geomatics Services) and Krux Analytics (an enterprise-level software platform revolutionizing the Mining & Drilling industries).
By using advanced large language models (LLMs) and natural language processing, the platform will analyze conversation dynamics during one-on-one meetings between managers and direct reports. It will then deliver personalized recommendations to managers to help them improve skills like decision-making, adaptability, and resilience, while also enhancing daily productivity by capturing key points and action items.
This project aims to engage 130 leaders within the energy ecosystem, from C-suite executives to front-line managers across energy companies in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. Recruitment will have a dedicated focus on including women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, newcomers to Canada, and individuals from rural or remote areas who face barriers to professional development. While currently focused on Canada, the scalable model has the potential to be applied to international markets with similar energy sector challenges.
By fostering resilient teams and promoting AI-enhanced productivity, the project will aim to help companies grow and retain top talent, attract new leaders, and position Canada as a global leader in sustainable energy solutions.
