We recently had the chance to connect with Mrs. Courtney Stephens and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Courtney, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Who are you learning from right now?
I’ve recently been binging Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team on Paramount+, and surprisingly, I’ve learned a lot from it. Kelly Finglass (DCC Senior Director and Brand Manager) and Judy Trammel (DCC Head Choreographer) run a very different kind of business than mine, but there are striking similarities.
In my world, I run a bootcamp-style training program for professionals. We start with about 100 applications, select 12 for the bootcamp, make cuts along the way, and typically finish with about six graduates per quarter. Watching Judy and Kelly has taught me so much about going with your gut, trusting your intuition, and navigating the challenges that inevitably arise when you’re guiding people toward ambitious goals. Their ability to balance high standards with deep care for their team has been both fascinating and instructive.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Courtney Stephens. I help people launch amazing professional careers, and I’m fortunate enough to make a living doing it.
Back in 2010, I started QED Energy Associates with a simple dream: to make “duplicate copies” of myself. I knew the skills I had picked up in my early career in upstream oil and gas were unique, and I had a knack for breaking down technical concepts in a way that non-technical people could understand.
So I built a model that invests directly in people. Every quarter I find about a dozen recent college graduates, or sometimes even non-graduates, and I bring them into our training room. At my own expense QED trains them to become excellent professionals who can serve the upstream oil and gas industry with confidence and expertise. We don’t charge them anything. In fact, I cover everything: the software, trainers, rent, insurance, and all of the costs that add up to more than $20,000 per trainee.
It is an investment plan, but not the typical kind. My return comes when our clients, who trust the QED approach, hire these QED-trained professionals. It has been one of the most rewarding ways to grow a business because the payoff is not just financial. It is watching people who once had no clear path launch careers they are proud of and make a real impact in the energy industry.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My parents. Deep inside, I always knew I had a leader within me. As a child, I was the one who volunteered first when teachers begged for participation. I was the one who carried group projects across the finish line to make sure we got the A. That urge to lead, to step up, was always there.
My parents saw it early on. They noticed how, even in our little neighborhood group of friends, I naturally took responsibility. I organized, built consensus, and made sure people were included. They nurtured it. Every single day, they poured encouragement into me. They told me I could do it. They told me nothing held me back. I believed them.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Courtney, you’ve had it all along. You’ve always carried the strength and wisdom you need. Trust yourself. You’ve got this.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe in God, and I follow Jesus. I know I mess up and fall short. I am not perfect. I believe God is perfect, and He will accomplish all things in accordance with His will. Even though I make mistakes, I trust that His plan is greater than my failures.
I believe everything happens for a reason, even if I cannot see it in the moment. My business may succeed, or it may fail. Either way, I believe it is in God’s hands, and that whatever brings Him glory is what I want most.
So while I cannot prove it, I believe God’s plan is good, His purposes are perfect, and my role is to trust Him and walk faithfully, even when the outcome is uncertain.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope that when I’m gone, people, Hunter, Rachel, Jackson, Ray, Frankie, Arienne, Kelsey, Eduardo, Sham, Joe, Cody, David, Alishan, Neil, Francois, Candace, Mark, Jesse, Jennifer, Mohammed, Matt, Eva, Michael, Mike, Leisha, Kyle, Cindy, Stephen, Whitney, Jacob, George, Franklin, Sarah, Sam, Allison, Milie, Patrick, Paula, Leo, Tim, Braedon, Teresa, Alyssa, Stephan, Rikki, Sidney, Grayson, Jon, Lance, Daniel, Conner, Zachary, Grace, Sam, Raudric, Rebecca, Stephanie, Hien, Aaro, JD, Kacy, Richard, Zhariff, Ryan, Samuel, Dorothy, Courtney, Will, De, Moira, Paola, Andy, John, Anthony, Kim, Fatou, and all of the QED’ers—will tell their families that I was fair, that I helped them, and that I added value to their lives. More than anything, I hope their prosperity continues forever and that something I did helped make their journey just a little better.
I hope they say, “Courtney looked out for me. She always did what was right for me, even if it wasn’t right for herself. She put me first.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://qedea.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-stephens-35b93842/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU5fvZFAsIlySGOKN7lXYkQ
Image Credits
DXG Images
