Editor's note: For SXSW 2021, the Greater Houston Partnership produced two days of interviews and panels hosted by me — Natalie Harms, editor of InnovationMap — and focused on Houston innovation. One focused on how Houston is leading the energy transition and the other highlighted Houston's progress on creating a thriving and inclusive innovation ecosystem.

In this video, Katie Mehnert, founder and CEO of ALLY, weighs in on the future of the energy industry's workforce and how diversity — racial, gendered, and even generational — is extremely key moving forward. Visit our SXSW Houston House special section to watch them all.