Veslemøy's Story
Working in the Fossil Fuel Industry
I actually started my career in satellite communication, as I graduated during a low period in the oil and gas industry. After a short time, I moved into oil and gas in 2006. With my background in geophysics, it felt like a natural next step—and in many ways, the expected one.
I worked with seismic interpretation and subsurface analysis, collaborating with engineers and geoscientists across disciplines and countries. I was surrounded by highly competent and curious people, and I learned a great deal from them. I especially loved the aspects of the work that involved learning, exploration, and applying new tools and innovative methods.
Within the industry, the narrative was coherent: the world needed energy, and we were helping to provide it. We were solving complex geological puzzles and contributing to energy security. For many years, that gave me a strong sense of purpose.
Looking back, I don’t regret that period. It shaped me in important ways and gave me valuable insight into an industry that continues to play a central role in the world today.
When I realised it was time to leave
Over time, my understanding of climate science deepened, and with it came a growing internal tension. I sometimes describe it as “sandpaper in the conscience” , a cognitive dissonance between what I knew and what I was contributing to.
At the same time, the industry itself was going through downturns and restructuring, which made it clear that staying was not entirely within my control. My decision to leave wasn’t purely voluntary; part of it was shaped by external circumstances.
This period was challenging. My professional identity was closely tied to the industry, so stepping away meant entering a space of uncertainty and rethinking who I was outside of that role.
I’ve never felt comfortable with a simple “us versus them” narrative. Many of my former colleagues are thoughtful, capable people navigating complex realities. For me, leaving was not about rejecting the past or assigning blame, it was about seeking alignment between my values and my work.
What I'm doing today
Today, I work at the intersection of personal and systemic transition.
Through my podcast, writing, and collaborations, I explore how people can navigate change without falling into shame or polarization. I’m particularly interested in building bridges between those inside legacy industries and those advocating for change.
Many of the skills I use today were shaped during my time in oil and gas—systems thinking, comfort with uncertainty, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. What I’ve had to unlearn is the idea that identity is fixed.
I’ve lost the stability of a defined title and predictable career path, but I’ve gained something else: a sense of alignment and purpose. My work now reflects my values more closely.
Both my podcast and Substack are called Stories for the Future, and I use them as platforms for conversation rather than debate—spaces where complexity is welcomed and explored.
Parting Reflections
I don’t reject my past, because it has shaped who I am. I still believe I have worked alongside some of the most skilled and solution-oriented people during my time in oil and gas.
What I’ve learned is that transitions are rarely about switching sides. They are about seeking alignment. You don’t have to turn your past into an enemy in order to move forward.
For me, what matters most is allowing for complexity, staying curious about other perspectives, and resisting the comfort of certainty.
In Norway, much of our identity is closely tied to the oil and gas industry, and conversations about transition can be emotionally charged and divisive. Through my work, I aim to create spaces where we can have conversations instead of debates, where change can happen without dehumanising one another.