Full Name
Mariela Poleo
Job Title
Interim General Manager Government and Public Affairs
Company
CITGO
Speaker Bio
Mariela Poleo has a diverse background, born in Venezuela and having lived in Venezuela, England, and Norway before moving to Houston, Texas in 2011. Her travels are the result of an extensive career with Equinor ASA and its predecessor, Statoil, where she has supported major strategic decisions relating to projects, asset management, business development, project management, finance and control, and process improvement. She has worked with many countries including USA, Canada, Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia, Venezuela, Angola, and Norway. Mariela holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architecture, as well as an Advanced Management Program at IESA and has done many courses in the oil industry and management.
Ms. Poleo is currently manager and president of the Simon Bolivar Foundation, the non profit 501 C3 for Citgo Petroleum Corporation, where she is leading the transition of an economic model where there is greater impact by supporting a higher number of vulnerable populations, victims of disaster, poverty and conflict. In only 4 months she has launched several processes to provide immediate access to resources to help mitigate COVID 19 in Venezuela, and has promoted a move towards becoming an organization that award grants to NGOs, launching several initiatives in Venezuela and Latin America. She is also the Interim General Manager for Government and Public Affairs, where she is heading the corporate social responsibility programs in education, environment, disaster relief and resilience and health. She contributed to the issuance of the first ever ESG report at Citgo.
Ms. Poleo has served Equinor ASA and its predecessor Statoil in multiple roles going back to 1998. Mariela has served as Head of Finance and Control, Exploration USA/Development Production USA Offshore and as Controller, Exploration North America. She has also served as a Leading Commercial Analyst for Angola Block 17 and has occupied key roles in major development projects, including Kizomba C project, Basic Engineering for Deep Water Terminal Project, Gas Injection Plant in Amuay, Orimulsion Expansion project.
Mariela’s passion is traveling and learning about new cultures, empowering women and helping others. She has been in the Board of Directors of the National Charity League, Bright Star Chapter, and Project Management Institute Venezuelan Chapter. She is involved in organizations such as AIPN, PMI, SPE, and Women Energy Network (WEN). She is currently a mentor in Lean In Energy and in WEN and volunteers at the Women's Resource Center providing financial training to women and girls. She was one of the founding members and part of the Houston Committee in the Employee Resource Group at Equinor. She is currently in the Steering Committee for 5050 Women on Boards Houston event.
Ms. Poleo is currently manager and president of the Simon Bolivar Foundation, the non profit 501 C3 for Citgo Petroleum Corporation, where she is leading the transition of an economic model where there is greater impact by supporting a higher number of vulnerable populations, victims of disaster, poverty and conflict. In only 4 months she has launched several processes to provide immediate access to resources to help mitigate COVID 19 in Venezuela, and has promoted a move towards becoming an organization that award grants to NGOs, launching several initiatives in Venezuela and Latin America. She is also the Interim General Manager for Government and Public Affairs, where she is heading the corporate social responsibility programs in education, environment, disaster relief and resilience and health. She contributed to the issuance of the first ever ESG report at Citgo.
Ms. Poleo has served Equinor ASA and its predecessor Statoil in multiple roles going back to 1998. Mariela has served as Head of Finance and Control, Exploration USA/Development Production USA Offshore and as Controller, Exploration North America. She has also served as a Leading Commercial Analyst for Angola Block 17 and has occupied key roles in major development projects, including Kizomba C project, Basic Engineering for Deep Water Terminal Project, Gas Injection Plant in Amuay, Orimulsion Expansion project.
Mariela’s passion is traveling and learning about new cultures, empowering women and helping others. She has been in the Board of Directors of the National Charity League, Bright Star Chapter, and Project Management Institute Venezuelan Chapter. She is involved in organizations such as AIPN, PMI, SPE, and Women Energy Network (WEN). She is currently a mentor in Lean In Energy and in WEN and volunteers at the Women's Resource Center providing financial training to women and girls. She was one of the founding members and part of the Houston Committee in the Employee Resource Group at Equinor. She is currently in the Steering Committee for 5050 Women on Boards Houston event.
