What Early-Phase Leadership Really Looks Like in Energy with Trond Knutsen Hundsnes | Energy Sector Heroes

In this episode, I speak with Trond Knutsen Hundsnes, Head of Early Phase and Subsurface Capital Decommissioning Projects at Equinor. For those of you navigating leadership, project portfolios, or trying to understand how to build a meaningful engineering career—this episode offers practical examples of how to do just that.What struck me most was how Trond balances risk, trust, and team empowerment across some of the most complex projects in the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Whether you're a graduate engineer, mid-career, or in a leadership role, you'll likely relate to the questions he raises about timing, motivation, and how to manage constant change in the energy sector.We talk about:How to lead change across a mature asset base while keeping people motivatedWhy early-career engineers shouldn't rush progressHow broad technical exposure helps you ask better questions as a leader🔑 Key Takeaways🔧 Manage transitions like a portfolio, not a pivotTrond shares how he gradually transitioned from deep technical roles to senior leadership—not through drastic career moves, but by building cross-functional experience over time.➡️ Action: Seek out cross-discipline exposure every few years to understand different interfaces in the business.💬 Your ‘superpower’ might be simpler than you thinkFor Trond, it's talking to people—regularly, candidly, and across all levels. He credits open dialogue as the single most powerful driver of trust and project alignment.➡️ Action: Schedule regular, non-transactional check-ins with team members or stakeholders. It builds long-term credibility.🛠️ Don't rush for the next big thing—build impact firstHis advice for younger professionals is to master your current role before moving on. Fast moves might look good, but depth creates value and new opportunities will follow.➡️ Action: Track how your current role is influencing business outcomes—use that to signal readiness for future roles.