Leadership is about how you show up, says Raelee Dielwart, Manager of Energy Projects at LandSolutions. “Over the years, I’ve learned that growth happens in the uncertainty and discomfort of the journey. That wasn’t something I set out knowing; it was something I had to learn to accept and adapt to. Your attitude plays a huge role in your ability to lead and execute. Curiosity, hard work, and a willingness to take on what’s unfamiliar will always amplify the impact you can make—because that mindset pushes you beyond your comfort zone. And that’s where growth happens.”

Rae adds that leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about creating the conditions for others to succeed. For her, structure isn’t just about organizing work, it’s about empowering teams. Her systems-driven approach helps teams scale, adapt, and deliver with clarity, especially when the path forward is complex.

As LandSolutions celebrates 25 years of growth and change, Rae’s message is clear: discomfort isn’t a barrier—it’s a signal that you’re doing meaningful work. That mindset doesn’t just build strong leaders; it builds resilient teams and reliable outcomes.

From Fields to Frameworks

Eight years ago, Rae walked into LandSolutions for a conversation with Jody Refvik, VP of Operations. She was exploring a return to the workforce after a couple of years at home with her kids and was curious about a junior land analyst role supporting Midstream operations in Western Canada.

That initial conversation sparked a new chapter—one grounded in shared values and a vision for growth.

“Jody has had a significant impact on me as a person and as a woman in the energy development industry,” Rae says. “I’m deeply grateful for the mentorship I’ve received from her. As a woman building my career in a demanding industry while also raising a family, having a mentor who believes in my potential has been transformative. Jody challenged me to think beyond the day-to-day and step into strategic leadership. She encouraged me to take on stretch opportunities, guided me through tough decisions, and modeled the kind of resilience and focus it takes to succeed. She also showed me that it’s possible to be both ambitious and present as a parent—that leadership and motherhood aren’t competing roles, but complementary strengths. Her empathy gave me permission to embrace flexibility, set boundaries, and still strive for excellence.”

Rae brought nearly a decade of experience running her own land access firm, supporting electric transmission and upstream development, while farming grain in central Alberta. She understood the work, the stakeholders, and what it took to deliver consistent, accurate project support. As a business owner, she had already built systems to make it happen. But Rae was ready for more. She wanted to apply her systems thinking on a larger scale, gain exposure to new sectors and geographies, and work alongside people she could learn from. She was looking for a role that would challenge her and give her the tools, feedback, and mentorship to grow into the kind of leader she knew she could become.

“I missed working with teams,” she says. “I wanted to find a place where I could grow, and maybe even finish my career there.”

She accepted the junior analyst role—despite being overqualified—because for Rae, it wasn’t about the title. It was about the opportunity.

“I’ve always believed in taking opportunities as they come,” she says. “I told myself, just show up and give it everything you’ve got. Work hard. Take on new challenges. You’re going to make mistakes—but let that guide your learning.”

And that’s exactly what she did.

Curiosity as a Growth Engine

A turning point came during what was supposed to be a simple one-hour lunch-and-learn on project management. Rae walked in expecting a quick overview—but walked out with her perspective completely shifted on how to best manage multi-year projects.

“I left thinking, ‘I’m going about this all wrong.’ Not in a bad way, but I saw a better way. I saw an opportunity to learn something I didn’t know.”

Instead of feeling overwhelmed, she leaned into curiosity. She enrolled in Mount Royal’s project management program, not because it was required, but because she wanted to do it right.

“It wasn’t about checking a box. I wanted to lead with intention, and that meant learning how to do it right.”

Leading with Clarity

That intention shows up in how Rae leads her team—with clarity, directness, and trust. “When someone joins my team, I ask how they like to receive direction and feedback. Then I tell them upfront: I’m going to be clear and direct. That’s how I give feedback, and that’s what I hope for in return.”

That approach hasn’t always come easily. “There were times I looked back and thought, I should have said that differently. But you grow through those experiences.”

Her teams know where they stand, what’s expected, and how to move forward. That clarity creates trust, and trust is what keeps projects moving when things get complicated.

Clarity also means understanding what each person is working toward. “It’s important to me to understand both the short-term and long-term goals of everyone on my team,” Rae says. “Someone might be great at a role, but that doesn’t always mean it’s the path they want to pursue. I work with each person to make sure their responsibilities align with their goals for growth and development.” Together, they set achievable milestones and explore development opportunities, whether that’s internal training, attending industry events, or pursuing external education through organizations like IRWA or CALEP.

Turning Trial into Progress

When the work calls for a new approach, Rae’s ready to dive in and figure it out.

On a recent project, Rae and her team had to use MapTraxx (LandSolutions’ project management tool) in a new way: layering third-party data and landowner records into the system so the team could see parcel-level detail in real time.

“It was a little painful at first,” she admits with a smile. “Like trying to use the system backwards. But once we figured it out, it opened doors we didn’t even know were there.”

Her vision isn’t technology for technology’s sake. It’s about reducing friction and getting quality data into the hands of both field crews and decision-makers, so they can make informed decisions.

“I’d love for someone in the field to click on a parcel and instantly have everything they need,” she says. “That’s the goal: making the work simpler and faster for everyone.”

Rae’s Leadership Lessons

Rae’s story offers a reminder for anyone stepping into leadership: it isn’t about being the expert. It’s about how you show up, how you implement systems and processes that serve others, and how you create the conditions for success.

Her lessons are simple, but powerful:

1. Stay curious. Treat new challenges as opportunities to learn. ‍
2. Be clear. Direct, respectful communication builds trust. ‍
3. Think in systems. Implement solutions that scale, so no one has to start from scratch.

As she puts it: “Work hard. Accept challenges. Accept that you’ll make mistakes. And surround yourself with experts who challenge you and push you to grow.”