Hallie: A Day in the Life

Hallie Vanderhider – Photo By Gittings

You can never quite understand what’s going on in the mind of Hallie Vanderhider. Her calm and composed demeanor will break down defenses and lull you into a fluid conversation. We chatted over a healthy grilled fish lunch at La Grigila on West Gray, to discuss the upcoming LCAHouston cover-shoot. Hallie accepted my personal questions with a humble smile and openly shared details about her simple beginnings. “I think I didn’t get to play dress up enough as a child so I overdo it now!,” she laughs. “Being from a military family, we had a very modest life and moved routinely. The closest I ever got to dressing up was my Barbie doll’s clothes. I made dresses for her from scraps of fabric. I always hoped someday that I would have the chance to wear beautiful clothes.”

As a single mother for twenty-five years, Hallie Vanderhider managed a demanding work life while raising her son Michael, to become an amazing and talented young man. She considers him to be one of the greatest accomplishments of her life.

We were intrigued to learn more about this graceful lady in the perfect Monique Lhuillier gown, who is currently the Managing Director of the Private Equity Firm, SFC Energy Partners. Hallie is a strong and resilient woman with a career spanning over 40 years, which included running a $4 Billion oil & gas company to starting her own merchant banking firm. How does she achieve that perfect balance of healthy and happy, yet insanely busy? “It must take diligent strategic planning,” Hallie acknowledges. “Be kind and think happy thoughts! I love to listen to music and read. I also love sports and the arts,” she shares.

Philanthropy is a significant part of her life. While single-handedly juggling work and home, Hallie manages to sit on several Boards and is committed to championing charities close to her heart. “My father was a former Colonel in the US Air Force who instilled a very strong work ethic in me, as well as the understanding of what the gift of service means. I credit him with my desire to be successful in business and my desire to give back.”

“I have never changed jobs for money but rather for the opportunity to learn and be challenged. If you do your job well, the money will follow,” she advises. She is a woman in a male-dominated industry, and she tells me with a smile that “I’ve been patted on the behind more times than my dog, I won’t lie, I have often been mistaken as an assistant.” She chuckles.

How did you decide to start your own merchant banking firm?

“I was diagnosed with cancer, so I retired from my job as President so I could have a more flexible schedule. I knew a young man that needed a mentor in the oil and gas business, so we started Catalyst Partners LLC which focused on Foreign Direct Investment from China. Fortunately he was fluent in Mandarin! We eventually sold a water treatment plant to the Chinese National Oil Company. Once I was done with my treatments and he was ready to move on, I closed the company and took on the Managing Director position at SFC Energy Partners.”

She firmly believes that timing is everything, so if at first you don’t succeed, don’t give up. “Some of the most successful people I’ve worked with have had some failure along the way, but they learned from it and that propelled them to success later.”

There was no perfect balancing act for Hallie, “To be honest, I didn’t do a great job in that department. I was a single mom since my sons were five. I have always had jobs that required a significant commitment of time.” She was fortunate however to have the support of good friends to help her.

If you had to pick just five things from your closet, what would they be?

The Monique gown I’m wearing on the cover, a J. Mendel fur, an ODLR dress for running around, a pair of Christian Dior pumps, and some beautiful diamond earrings!

Hallie’s phone has been buzzing continuously throughout the interview, a testament to her incredibly busy life. But before we call it a wrap, I wanted to know one secret that not many people knew about her.

“I am a decent cook,” she informs us with a sly smile.