Building legacy through leadership

What makes you proud to work at TC Energy?

“People are counting on us to power their daily lives. I’m proud that what we do—delivering essential energy—matters to communities and matters to the world. That’s what drives my passion to make a real impact.”

—Desiree Cromwell

As Director of Operations for TC Energy's Gulf Region based in Houston, Desiree Cromwell leads a team of 170 field employees who operate assets stretching from Indiana to Louisiana. For Desiree, leadership isn't just about managing compressor stations and pipelines.

"I have to be in a place where I’m helping others and truly making a difference,” she says. “For me, leadership is about legacy—what you build, who you develop and what you leave better for the people who come next.”

That philosophy has guided Desiree throughout her career journey, from her early days as a chemical engineering intern working at a refinery to her current role, overseeing critical energy infrastructure that serves communities across North America.

Leading in the field

After spending 21 years in the oil and gas industry, Desiree joined TC Energy three years ago, drawn by the vision and leadership she encountered during the interview process.

Members of the American Gulf Region team.

Desiree takes a personal approach to operations leadership, conducting one-on-one meetings with every employee across her entire team to build relationships beyond formal reporting structures.

"It’s very important to me that my team knows who I am and understands that I genuinely care about them and about TC,” she says. “I’m trusting them to do what they need to do every day, and they’re trusting me to make decisions that allow us to be here—strong and positioned for long-term success—for another 75 years and beyond.”

That focus on trust and connection directly supports operational excellence—driving safety, reliability and long-term resilience across the region’s assets.

At its core, her leadership philosophy is rooted in purpose, accountability, and service to others. "Servant leadership is about empowering others while staying true to your values,” Desiree says. “It’s about making a real difference in people’s lives and taking responsibility for leaving things better than how you found them.”

Breaking barriers

Early in her career, more than two decades ago, the landscape looked different—women faced limited opportunities in engineering, particularly in the field. When she got her first leadership role in refining, she was told she was the first woman leader there.

That first leadership role brought unexpected resistance. When her promotion was announced, a significant portion of the team raised concerns with her leader. “At the time, it was clear that some people were forming opinions before they really knew me,” she says. “They assumed I wasn’t a good fit.”

Fortunately, she had a leader who believed in her potential and stood firm. Through hard work, she earned her team’s trust. And 18 months later when she moved to a new role, that same group of people who initially resisted her leadership, were back in her leader’s office, this time telling him that they didn’t want Desiree to leave the team.

The impact of that experience continues to resonate. Years later, a former team member called her personal number with an unusual request.

"He said, ‘My son is in college and going down the wrong path. I thought about who I could reach out to that might really help him—and I thought about you,’” Desiree says. “To this day, seven years later, I’m still mentoring his son.”

Desiree and team members at a Vermilion River clean-up event in Abbeville, Louisiana.

Desiree’s legacy

That mentoring relationship exemplifies Desiree's dedication to developing others—a passion that extends throughout her work at TC Energy. She’s participated in Women@TC’s Elevate(her) mentorship program and maintains relationships with multiple cohorts of mentees. Having benefited from many great mentors throughout her career, she believes in doing the same for others.

Desiree follows what she calls the "5-5-5" approach to personal and professional mentorship: maintaining five mentors internal to her organization, five external mentors and five international mentors. She refers to this group as her "board of directors."

“My board of directors doesn’t tell me what I want to hear,” she says. “They tell me what I need to hear.”

Desiree's commitment to making a difference includes her new role on TC Energy's Inclusion Leadership Council, which she joined this year. 

“I love the idea of being able to impact everyone at TC Energy by influencing culture,” she says. “It’s about how we do things, the values we live by, who we are as an organization and how that drives strong business outcomes.”

Advice for the next generation

For anyone considering careers in operations or field work, Desiree offers practical and empowering advice.

“What we do in operations fundamentally helps people around the world,” Desiree says. “If you want to grow, be challenged and do work that truly matters, operations is a great place to be.”

But her most important message is about confidence and authenticity: “Be yourself in an organization where you’re seen, heard and encouraged to bring your full self,” she says. “Your voice matters—never think you don’t deserve a seat at the table.”

As Desiree continues to build her legacy at TC Energy—through her servant leadership, mentorship and inclusion work—she remains focused on the same principle that has guided her entire career: leaving things better than she found them, for the teams she leads today and the generations that will follow.