Uncapped with Executive Roustabouts: Does Diverse Thinking Improve Performance?: Jen Koury on Fitting In, AI, Diversity | Ep 14

In this episode of Uncapped with Executive Roustabouts, Jon Krome sits down with Jen Koury, a seasoned executive with more than 35 years of experience spanning C-suite leadership roles at ExxonMobil, BHP Billiton, and Enterplus Resources. A business graduate from the University of Alberta, Jen has worked across oil and gas, mining, and construction, and currently serves on the board of Bird Construction, chairs the Calgary Zoo board, and is a co-founder of Board Ready Women. Her career has taken her from Imperial Oil in Canada to senior HR leadership roles in Houston, where she supported BHP's worldwide petroleum business and helped build the executive team for the Jansen potash mine. The conversation explores the tension between fitting into corporate molds and staying authentic, with Jen reflecting candidly on why she left Exxon and how she learned to choose herself first. She offers practical advice for young professionals on the importance of cultural fit, the value of core skills, and the need to be flexible in how those skills are deployed. The discussion also delves into the evolving nature of HR, the critical link between engagement and discretionary effort, and how AI is reshaping everything from compensation benchmarking to recruitment screening. Jen shares her perspective on executive compensation, the wisdom that experienced workers bring to safety and operations, and why diversity remains a business imperative even as the conversation around it shifts. Listen to the full conversation for a thoughtful and candid look at leadership, culture, authenticity, and the future of work from an executive who has navigated the highest levels of some of the world's most demanding organizations.