Women Who Mean Business & Houston Energy in Focus

This week on HBJ On the Record, Managing Editor Erica Ponder takes you inside the Houston Business Journal newsroom for a reporter's roundtable on the stories shaping Houston business. Publisher Traci Peltier and Assistant Managing Editor Julie Garcia join the conversation to preview the upcoming Women Who Mean Business awards — one of HBJ's signature events of the year. With 76 honorees across energy, finance, healthcare, hospitality, law, and nonprofit sectors, and Lifetime Achievement honoree Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher of Houston City College, the team discusses what it takes to earn a nomination, how the event has grown, and why celebrating women in leadership matters now more than ever. Julie also walks through open nominations for 40 Under 40, CFO Awards, Most Admired CEO, and Community Leadership Awards. Then, Energy Reporter Naomi Klinge breaks down the biggest stories on her beat: the Strait of Hormuz closure and its ripple effects on diesel prices, major CEO retirements at ConocoPhillips, Occidental, and Enterprise Products Partners, and the ERCOT data center audit that's putting Texas energy permitting on hold. She also shares a standout moment — interviewing the all-female legal team behind the $26 billion Constellation–Calpine acquisition. The team wraps with a look at upcoming cover stories, including a deep dive into Houston's growing luxury condo market and the Women Who Mean Business special section. This podcast is presented by Withum, a top 20 advisory, tax, and audit firm, and supported by Douglas Elliman, Spring Branch Management District, and Right Choice Construction. **🔗 Links & Resources** - 📰 Subscribe to HBJ (print + digital): https://www.houstonbusinessjournal.com - 🏆 Women Who Mean Business Event — October 15th: https://www.houstonbusinessjournal.com/events - 📋 Open Nominations — 40 Under 40, CFO Awards, Most Admired CEO, Community Leadership Awards: https://www.houstonbusinessjournal.com/nominations - 📧 Contact Laura Mudd (Douglas Elliman): [laura.mudd@elliman.com](mailto:laura.mudd@elliman.com) **🏢 Sponsors** This podcast is presented by **Withum** — a top 20 advisory, tax, and audit firm. https://www.withum.com Supported by **Douglas Elliman** — https://www.elliman.com Supported by **Spring Branch Management District** — https://www.springbranchmanagement.com Supported by **Right Choice Construction -** https://rightchoiceconstruction.com/