Women in Energy: Carol Trosclair

Mar 15, 2022

In celebration of Women's History Month and International Women's Day, LAGCOE is highlighting women who have been instrumental in the energy industry and supporters of our organization. Our intern, Meredith Privat, interviewed six women. Here is the third, Carol Trosclair.

“The world doesn’t need what women have, it needs what women are.” 

-St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Saint, Philosopher, Martyr

Women have had the challenge of being overlooked in history, though there have been many great contributions towards society that would not have been possible without them. We all know about famous names in energy such as Nikola Tesla and Albert Einstein, but what about Edith Clarke, inventor of the Clarke Calculator, or Lise Meitner, the scientist discovered nuclear fission?  Americans highlight the overlooked figures by celebrating Women’s History this month. To commemorate the month of March, LAGCOE will be looking at some modern women in the Energy Industry who have worked hard in their positions in various companies. 

Name: Carol Trosclair

Company/Organization: Carol Trosclair, Inc.

Position: President

Carol Trosclair studied at the University of Louisiana and received her degree in petroleum land management. She also went to Westmont College for social work and Dale Carnegie for human relations and effective communications. She has been in the energy industry for 31 years as a petroleum landman, or as the women there like to say, “land ma’am!” Her career is not the only thing that is important to her; she and Brian Campbell created a scholarship in memory of Carol’s late son, David. The David Trosclair Memorial Scholarship remembers the academic achievements of David by awarding a kinesiology student at the University of Louisiana with this opportunity. Her love for her son allowed her to create something great from his tragedy.  

Carol has a great amount of faith that she takes with her in all aspects of her life, including the oil and gas industry. “We pray the Lafayette Association of Professional Landmen (LAPL) Prayer at all of our landman gatherings – and I have been called on to pray this prayer hundreds of times and this part of the prayer has me counting my blessings for the good fortune I have had with a career in the energy industry every time I say it: ‘Our Father and our God, with your help we preform our work and by your power our work produces a fruitful harvest’ as it has enabled me to live a generous life – and work with some of the most giving people you will ever meet!” This habitual prayer that she recites has had a unique effect on how she feels about her job; there is a sense of joy, gratitude, and charity within her speech. 

Carol believes that young girls should take their shot in STEM careers. “Go for it; the world is your oyster!”  She says that “Pursuing a STEM career will prepare you to think deeply and to think solutions and give you the opportunity to become the innovators, educators, researchers, and leaders who can solve the most pressing challenges facing our nation and our world, both today and tomorrow.” As more and more women make the decision to work in a field that requires science, technology, engineering, or math, they make it easier for the next generation of women. Hard workers such as Carol are proving to the industry that these minds are valuable, and the acceptance and inspiration that they are encouraging are opening up opportunities to more and more young women. 

Carol has seen the strengths of her womanhood within her career. “Actually, being a woman in a male dominated industry has worked to my advantage!  On more than one occasion in team meetings I have been asked to share with my team of men what makes me so successful - and my answer is: ‘Being a woman!’ In this day and age, when so many don’t have a home phone, I have to just show up on your doorstep unannounced with an oil and gas lease in hand. Because I look harmless compared to my male colleagues, I am invited in the house to discuss the oil company’s exploration endeavors.  And, when invited in, I think the feminine qualities of gracefulness, empathy, cooperativeness and understanding, etc. work to my advantage!” She does not try to be more like her male colleges, she uses her unique qualities and embraces who she is to get the job done. Women in this industry do not need to be less than what they are, they excel by embracing what they have in their minds that makes them special. 

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 Blog entry by Meredith Privat. Meredith is an intern with LAGCOE majoring in Visual arts at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.