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Midland, Texas native Caleb Weatherl counts being able to work with his father to start, build and then sell two companies as a special part of his life and career. “To have the opportunity to work with someone who you love and look up to so much has been tremendous,” he says. “I’m really grateful for the chance I’ve had to work with my dad.”

Why did you enter the oil and gas industry?
“Growing up in Midland and Corpus Christi, I have been around oil and gas my entire life. My dad is a geologist and most of my friends’ parents were a part of the industry in some way, but I don’t think I truly appreciated the oil and gas industry until I actually became a part of it. Billions of dollars are being invested in the Permian, but handshake-deals still happen in Midland every day—sometimes the handshake is with your neighbor! Those features make it a fun and fulfilling industry to be a part of.”

Which career milestone did you reach sooner than you had expected?
“I don’t think I ever imagined becoming a CEO by the time I was 36, and it’s a milestone that others helped me achieve. Oil and gas is a team sport and it’s hard to achieve good results without every discipline firing on all cylinders. The reason that I am in the position that I am in is only because I have been fortunate enough to work with a tremendous team of high performers.”

What qualities do you think are necessary to be a good leader in the oil and gas industry?
“I have had the privilege of working with some incredible leaders, and I have found that those leaders are hungry, humble, clear and responsive. They are hungry in that they are inherently driven and persistent in accomplishing their goals. They are humble in that they hire people who are better and smarter than they are in various ways, and then listen to what those people have to say instead of being threatened by what those people might accomplish one day. They are crystal clear about goals and expectations to make sure everyone is pulling in the same direction. And, finally, they are responsive by putting themselves in others’ shoes and making it a priority to get back to their teammates and others with feedback or a response when it’s asked for.”

How have you exercised leadership to help shape your company?
“Heading up the recruitment process for Stronghold II and Garrison has been one of the ways I have seen my leadership be the most impactful. Everything we have been able to accomplish we’ve accomplished as a team where everyone’s contributions have played a major role, so being able to get the right people to join the team was vital. I’ve also been able to contribute in helping to ensure everyone is focused on the right things—that we are all ‘rowing’ in the same direction in a coordinated manner, pursuing the opportunities that create the most value for the company.” 

What advice would you give other young professionals?
“My dad likes to say, ‘everyone has a boss,’ meaning everyone is accountable to someone, regardless of the position, pay or power they appear to have. Therefore, it’s important to be thinking about the information and answers they may need to have in order to take their next step. This advice has been helpful to me when communicating with our team, partners and investors, and it’s advice that I would pass on to others.”

Take a look at the rest of the Forty Under 40 2023 winners. 

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