Dear Editor,
It is with immense pride—and a touch of disbelief—that I write this letter as a reminder to myself and to other women that anything is possible.
Just a few days ago, I came across an article that stated 75% of the businesses registered with the Local Content Secretariat are owned by women. What a time to be alive.
As I stared at that number, I thought back to four years ago, when my eldest daughter graduated from the University of Guyana. Calmly and confidently, she told her father and me that she wanted to pursue a career in finance. We supported her wholeheartedly, but we also knew it wouldn’t be easy.
After a few trial-and-error moments with her business model, she came to us and said she wanted to explore opportunities in the oil and gas sector. Editor, even with my limited knowledge of the industry, I knew one thing for certain—it was a space long dominated by men. Deep down, I wasn’t sure how she would manage, much less succeed, but as her mother, I backed her passion and determination.
She’s still finding her way in this evolving sector, but I felt an overwhelming sense of hope when I learned that, as of this month, 75% of the 1,250 local companies registered with the Local Content Secretariat are fully female-owned. I remember the early days of oil in Guyana—when local businesses were just trying to figure out where they fit — and conversations about whether women would even have a seat at the table were common.
Now, in 2025, we are seeing the shift. Over 1,300 Guyanese women are supporting ExxonMobil Guyana’s onshore and offshore operations, and more than half of their workforce is female. Women are not just present—they’re leading, whether as helicopter pilots, marine captains, or senior managers.
It brings me so much joy to see my daughter—and so many women like her—carving out space for themselves and creating a path for the next generation of ambitious young women in the oil and gas industry.
Cynthia John
