Enbridge's Career Pioneers series: Part 7, Samantha Schofield
Samantha Schofield, Operations Field Manager, Brampton, Ontario
A celebration of achievement. A promise of untapped potential. An ongoing quest for equality.
International Women’s Day, fast approaching on March 8, is all of these things and more. “The evidence is clear: equality for women means progress for all,” says United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
In honor of UN International Women’s Day, we’re profiling women in the Enbridge workforce who’ve chosen to pursue non-traditional careers. Today’s spotlight is on Samantha Schofield, an operations field manager with Enbridge Gas Distribution, based in Brampton, Ontario.
Q: How did you end up working as an operations field manager? What sort of journey brought you here?
I began working as an engineering project leader when I first started with the company. I was open to all opportunities presented, and was fortunate to have exposure to a variety of different departments. The experience I gained led to a natural progression towards the operations side of the business.
Q: What does a typical day look like for you?
The day usually begins with a brief team meeting where our field crews receive their scheduled work for the day, and various aspects of the jobs are discussed, such as safety, tools, and dependencies. From this point forward, each day unfolds differently as our team responds to potential emergency situations. We shift resources, escalate issues and make these situations safe. Every day in this role is different, which is what I love most about my job.
Q: Do you have a philosophy on choosing a career, work ethic, or work/life balance?
Most of my personal growth in leadership was obtained from roles that, early in my career, I wouldn’t have anticipated I would enjoy. However, my career philosophy has always been to be open to any opportunities presented, accept the most challenging positions and make the most of every role. As a result, I have obtained a variety of experience and knowledge that has led to my current role.
Q: What motivates you to get up in the morning?
My team. I am fortunate enough to work with an amazing group of people, such as our front-line field staff, office workers, supervisors and managers. Some of our days are long and tough, but I am always impressed at the determination and perseverance of our team, as well as their ability to have fun and enjoy their work. It is rare that a day goes by where various members of our team don’t share in a good laugh.
Q: What do you find most intriguing about the work you do?
I love the unpredictability of every day and each new challenge that occurs. It’s very satisfying to troubleshoot and solve these situations as they occur, and end each day with a feeling of having accomplished something tangible.
