In a message that resonated throughout the vitality business, Denise Hamilton, CEO and Founding father of WatchHerWork, known as on attendees to “reclaim actual human connection” throughout her keynote handle on the 2025 Ladies’s International Management Convention in Vitality (WGLC), hosted by Gulf Vitality Data.
Denise Hamilton, CEO and Founding father of WatchHerWork
Talking to a full ballroom on the Marriott Marquis resort in downtown Houston, Hamilton delivered her keynote, “In Individual: The Science and Artwork of Human Connection.” Her discuss blended psychology, storytelling and humor to discover how belief, empathy and intentional communication stay important management abilities in an more and more digital and globalized vitality business.
“In a world that feels extra related but extra divided than ever, we’ve got to be intentional about constructing relationships that matter,” Hamilton mentioned. “You don’t unintentionally construct a relationship. You need to do it on goal.”
Hamilton emphasised that in an business more and more formed by AI, distant collaboration and automation, the flexibility to attach meaningfully is turning into a vital management differentiator. “Unplug and discover actual human connection,” she urged.
Go analog. Hamilton challenged attendees to prioritize genuine communication by means of ‘old style’ strategies—cellphone calls, handwritten notes and real dialog. “Our youngsters are afraid to speak to one another in actual time,” she mentioned. “These instruments we’ve got are superb, however they shouldn’t exchange an precise human connection.”
Attain throughout generations. Hamilton subsequent described strategies to encourage dialog throughout age teams—a talent she mentioned the vitality sector must nurture, because it balances legacy experience with next-generation innovation. “We’re shedding our capacity to speak throughout generations,” she mentioned. “There’s one thing to be realized from each era—don’t transfer in packs of your individual age group.”
Construct an actionable community. Hamilton additionally underscored the worth of a real community that may help skilled development in a dynamic, cyclical business. “You probably have tons of of contacts in your cellphone however nobody to name once you need assistance, that’s not a community,” she mentioned.
Because the business navigates digital transformation, Hamilton closed with a problem to reclaim focus and humanity. “The typical particular person’s consideration span is now 8.25 seconds,” she mentioned. “Our consideration is being grabbed at each flip. Learn longer, put down distractions, contact some grass—get exterior and do one thing actual.”
Prioritize tangible connections. Hamilton wrapped up her speech by acknowledging the speedy rise of AI throughout sectors, together with vitality. She added: “AI goes to do numerous issues higher than us, nevertheless it’s by no means going to out-human us. Let’s keep related.”
The morning session was chaired by Pearl Chu, Director of Technical Domains & College Relations at SLB, who highlighted the corporate’s two-decade sponsorship of the occasion and expressed appreciation to these behind its continued success.
“SLB has been a proud sponsor of this convention since its inception greater than 20 years in the past,” Chu mentioned. “I’m honored to function your chairperson, and I’d prefer to thank Rachel McGhie and Melissa Smith for doing such an important job of organizing this occasion and bringing us all collectively as soon as once more.”
