Flipping the Barrel is a podcast created to shine a light on women and men in energy by sharing the stories of successful individuals in this industry. Because everyone has a story that we can all learn from.
“Proved them Wrong” with Vicki Knott- Co-Founder & CEO of CruxOCM.
Mar 27, 2022
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Today on the podcast we have Vicki Knott, tune in to learn how this young 30 year old literally automates the control room! She went from working at a major corporation having her ideas shut down to starting her own company CruxOCM.
Vicki originally wanted to work in forestry, after living in a logging camp she decided this wasn’t the path for her. She ended up switching her major to engineering, she picked chemical engineering because of her summer jobs in pulp and paper. At 19 she wrote a published paper on how to automate the pulp and paper mill to be more efficient. Wait until you hear her talking about the algorithms she put together… at 19!
Vicki took on a role at one of the biggest oil and gas pipeline companies in the world. As a junior engineer she purchased her managers to let her work in the operations room. A position many junior engineers would not be able to do. She talks about her motivation behind wanting to work in the role and how it helped develop her skill set.
Vicki challenged the company on automation and new processes. She had ideas to go beyond excel sheets and hands off processes that can be done from any location. No one wanted to hear her ideas, they would rather keep the same processes they have adapted over the years. After being shut down she decided her idea on automating the control room could become a stand alone company. She took the risk, left a comfortable job with a big career ahead of her, to go head first into CruxOCM. Vicki talks about what success means to you and the changes you can make in your environment if you are not comfortable with where you are, or not happy in your position. She tells how you have to overcome the fear and follow your true passion.
She describes the struggle and why she hired a career coach early on. It's about knowing yourself and understanding your personality traits. She talks about going two years door to door with no sales and putting everything on a credit card. It was hard to get buy-in from people who weren’t willing to change their process. Vicki tells how she learned to run a business from not even understanding how to raise capital. Once she started receiving funding and buy in her path began to change. If you are looking for inspiration, this is the podcast for you.
If your interested in working with us, please contact : flippingthebarrel@gmail.com
To find out more about our sponsor TechnipFMC please visit: TechnipFMC
To find out more about our sponsor Varel Energy Solutions please visit: Varel Energy
“You’ll never be CEO” with Felipe Bayon - EcoPetrol CEO.
Mar 14, 2022
Show notes
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Felipe Bayón is Chief Executive Officer of Ecopetrol, the largest company in Colombia and one of the leading operators in Latin America. He has over 29 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. Before assuming his role as CEO in 2017, he served as Ecopetrol’s COO and prior to that he held different executive positions at BP, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of BP America and Head of Global Deepwater Response.
From the start Felipe knew he wanted to be an engineer. He pursued a degree in Mechanical engineering to be in the automotive industry. His path changed when he was offered a role at Shell. Felipe talks about the differences between working in the automotive industry vs oil and gas.
Felipe was told by a former colleague that he would never be CEO because he simply just didn’t have everything it took and there was way too much competition out there. He talks about this comment and why you don't need to change who you are in order to achieve your goals. Felipe tells of the time he was presenting to a group of younger engineers and was told he was a “dinosaur”. He talks about how the world has moved on with the acceleration of digital, internet and social media and why you need to adjust to the new way of work.
Felipe walks us through his top advice in growing your career. You do not want to miss this.He goes into how he uses his own advice in the decisions he makes as a CEO and breaking down the barriers he had based on other people's opinions.
We learn about Ecopetrol and how they have the largest pension fund that touches more than 17 million Colombians. Felipe explains how important the oil and gas industry is and what EcoPetrol is doing to ensure a more sustainable and carbon neutral future.
Felipe talks about recognizing the hard times as CEO. The time away from family and the impact that had on his work life balance. He shares the changes covid made between the relationship with his daughter. Something we can all relate to as well.
If your interested in working with us, please contact : flippingthebarrel@gmail.com
To find out more about our sponsor TechnipFMC please visit: TechnipFMC
To find out more about our sponsor Varel Energy Solutions please visit: Varel Energy
“Be Limitless” -with Starlee Sykes, Senior VP Gulf of Mexico & Canada at BP.
Mar 08, 2022
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On the podcast today we have Starlee Sykes, she is the Senior Vice President for the Gulf of Mexico and Canada, one of the largest deep water businesses in the world. With over 20 years of leadership experience in the energy sector.
Starlee has been recognized as one of the “25 most Influential Women in Energy'', she was named in , “ Women Who Mean Business” by the Houston Biz Journal and most recently recognized in the Houston Chronicle - “ Power Couple” interview.
Starlee shares with us on the podcast her story on how she ended up working offshore and why the numbers for women in offshore positions have stayed stagnant around 3.6%. Starlee always had high aspirations as a child and wanted to work for NASA. She talks about what made her different and how she built confidence. She explains why she has never been someone who “ Self limits” and why this is so important both in your career and personally. This rings true throughout her interview as she describes her balance while having three kids and dual career.
She opens up about her divorce and the hard times that come with it. She brings a sense of normalcy to the chaos that life can bring.Believe it or not Starlee was an introvert growing up. She talks about how she opened up and was able to overcome her fears.
If your interested in working with us, please contact : flippingthebarrel@gmail.com
To find out more about our sponsor TechnipFMC please visit: TechnipFMC
To find out more about our sponsor Varel Energy Solutions please visit: Varel Energy
“Not an overnight success” with Jack Hamlin- Energy Strong Co-Founder.
Feb 22, 2022
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Jack Hamlin, is the Vice President of Sargent and Lundy formerly known as Summit Engineering before being acquired in 2020. Jack is also the co-founder of Energy Strong, a grass roots energy advocacy group dedicated to educating the public about the benefits and safety of oil and gas development to the citizens and municipalities starting in Colorado and expanding it to other oil producing states.
Jack’s curiosity drove him into the oil and gas industry. He shares the story behind his lunch drives that ultimately lead him into his first job in the oilfield. He has always been passionate and intrigued about energy and how it powers the world. Jack started in oil and gas recruiting which ended up being the perfect place to network and grow his career. He shares how he went from working for a recruiting firm to starting his own business. Jack's success came later in life, he didn't start Summit Engineering till he was 36. He shares how being alone in your 20’s and early 30’s can be miserable as an entrepreneur. Running your own businesses does not look like the highlight reels on social media.
Jack opens up about Energy Strong - what it means to him and how it's playing a huge role in changing the narrative around oil and gas.
In November of 2018, the State of Colorado was faced with a ballot measure that, if passed, would have essentially shut down the natural gas and oil industry in Colorado. As a result of this severe threat to the industry, it’s people, the citizens, and the economy of the State of Colorado; well over a million industry supporters came together, fought for, and defeated this egregious ballot initiative.
Shortly after the election, we saw a critical need to build from the unity needed to defeat this reckless attempt to end natural gas and oil development in Colorado. As a result, Energy Strong was born. Since then, this grass roots movement, has grown exponentially and continues to grow daily. Yet, the opposition continues to threaten and spread misinformation about an industry. This threat does not end in Colorado. Each Energy Strong State has its unique battles. As a country we are currently witnessing activists on a national stage threaten to shut down the industry.
If your interested in working with us, please contact : flippingthebarrel@gmail.com
To find out more about our sponsor TechnipFMC please visit: TechnipFMC
To find out more about our sponsor Varel Energy Solutions please visit: Varel Energy
“Breaking the Glass Ceiling” with Sunday Shepherd- General Manager, Corporate Strategy at Chevron.
Feb 07, 2022
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In this episode we have a trail blazing, dual career, mother of three role model - Sunday Shepherd, she is the General Manager of Corporate Strategy at Chevron. She has an undergrad in geology from Elizabeth City State University and a masters from UT. She never thought she’d be in Oil & Gas, let alone a geologist but you’ll find out how her stars aligned!
Sunday’s story starts out in a completely different direction than what you would imagine. Growing up with a single mother in west coast virgina, she learned how to be independent early on. Despite doing well in school she decided to not go back after one summer working at a restaurant on the beach. Her mother, not happy with the decision, sent Sunday off on her own at 20 years old. She spent two years trying to figure out what she wanted to do. Eventually deciding on a liberal arts school where she was the minority. Still struggling with her career choice, one of the professors took her under their wing. This changed her life and ultimately was the turning point for her.
Sunday shares with us her interview with Chevron and how she got the job in the first place and why she decided to take it. She explains how her success is a mix of luck, developing a good reputation and hard work. 18 months into her first role with Chevron she was asked to go work overseas and move to Venezuela. Her now husband was in Houston. They made the long distance work and explains how her dual career family handles the challenges we have today - Both parents working, with three kids, demanding jobs and balancing it all. She expresses her doubts as a working mom striving to continue to move up in her career. She tells how two kids seemed okay and three seemed impossible. Listen in to find out how she managed to not only make it work but get a promotion too.
If your interested in working with us, please contact : flippingthebarrel@gmail.com
To find out more about our sponsor TechnipFMC please visit: TechnipFMC
To find out more about our sponsor Varel Energy Solutions please visit: Varel Energy
“Moving from success to significance” with Clay Gaspar- Devon Energy COO.
Jan 31, 2022
Show notes
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Today we have on the podcast, Clay Gaspar who was recently appointed as executive vice president and COO of Devon in January 2021 following Devon’s merger with WPX Energy. Clay joined WPX in 2014 before the merger he was President and COO and on the board of directors of WPX energy , he worked for Newfield Exploration, Anadarko Petroleum and Mew-born Oil serving in a number of technical and leadership roles.
Clay talks about the pressure that happens in your 20’s, when you are “supposed” to know what you are going to do with the rest of your life. Clay had the opportunity to work one summer in the field and ended up building a strong relationship with his mentor, this experience changed his career trajectory. He shares the advice his mentors gave him and how having advocates within your organization is essential to your career growth. Clay left his dream company after 16 years. He describes the steps he took to ensure leaving was the right decision. This is a situation everyone in their career eventually faces at one point or another.
The biggest change in Clay’s life happened at his 40th birthday. Was it fate? Listen in to find out.
If your interested in working with us, please contact : flippingthebarrel@gmail.com
To find out more about our sponsor TechnipFMC please visit: TechnipFMC
To find out more about our sponsor Varel Energy Solutions please visit: Varel Energy Solutions
“Leading from the back” with Shad Frazier- VP of Production and Ops at Endeavour Energy Resources.
Jan 17, 2022
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On the episode today we have Shad Frazier, the VP of Operations at Endeavor
Shad’s story starts out with being the first engineer in his very large family. His mother comes from a family of 10 siblings. Before engineering was in the cards, Shad tried his hand at the Airforce. He talks about why he made the change and how he ended up with a full ride in Petroleum Engineering at Texas Tech, despite being on the football team.
He Graduated in DEC 96’ the lowest graduation rate for petroleum engineers in the United States. There were 3,000 jobs for 119 students. With every major operator at this fingertips Shad picked Anadarko, at this time Anadarko was small, it was not a large company. He talks about the field life and spearheading the transition from pumping slickwater to 40/70 proppant.
Throughout Shad's career he pioneered many projects which led to being away from home. The hardest time was when he was rotating in the Rockies. He tells us the impact this had on his family, specifically his son. A struggle many of us face today. Shad provides sound advice and how at the end of it his son thrived in the new environment.
We deep dive into leadership, skills, building your brand online and how to be an effective leader. Shad describes himself as a, “ Pro-Human Energy Developer” , we ask him to elaborate on what that means to him and his view on the future of our industry.
If your interested in working with us, please contact : flippingthebarrel@gmail.com
To find out more about our sponsor TechnipFMC please visit: TechnipFMC
To find out more about our sponsor Varel Energy Solutions please visit: Varel Energy Solutions
“Carving his Own Legacy” with Derek Nixon- Varel Energy Solutions CEO.
Jan 10, 2022
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Redefining the vision of Varel, changing the name and embarking on a complete rebrand during the most difficult time in history was the task of Derek Nixon. The newly appointed CEO to Varel Energy Solutions in 2020. Prior to taking on the role at VES, he served as the Vice President of Downhole Products (DHP), leading one of the leading global providers in primary cementing equipment. Derek started working in the oilfield 14 years ago with Varel Oil Gas Drill Bits in the Barnett Shale as a field sales professional while eventually working through various levels of commercial and global operational leadership responsibilities. Having Varel and DHP under the same ownership structure allowed Derek to transition effectively in leading multiple facets of product manufacturing businesses.
The Nixon name is not new to Varel. His father, Jim Nixon,acquired Varel International in the1980’s as a $30 million dollar business and successfully sold the business for over$700 million. The story is a unique one, Varel has been purchased and sold numerous times, all with a healthy financial return. Derek's father was a key component to the success of Varel. As you can imagine being the CEO’s son wasn’t the easiest situation for Derek. Nothing was going to be handed to him, he started at the ground level. He talks about what it was like being tagged as the “ son of the CEO”, the hurdles he had to overcome and his beliefs on how a business should be run to be successful - Derek's biggest strength is putting the right team together. He talks about how this can make or break the business.
He became CEO a few days after Covid hit. When he took over Varel International had 1200 employees. As a new CEO fresh in his role, he had to take on a gut wrenching task to reduce the size of the business by 400 employees in order to adjust to the impact of Covid. Derek talks about this period and how he brought the team together to take on the most difficult time in the company's history. In the middle of this Derek and his team decided to re-brand the company VarelEnergy Solutions, more accurate and reflective ‘who they are’. They recognized the need to develop a new brand, name and presence online, this was the perfect time to do it. He walks us through their vision and the steps they took to make the re-brand successful.
We ask Derek what ESG means to Varel. He outlines the ESG drivers and how each customer can make a difference through their Tree Planting program. He talks about the initiatives VES is driving to cultivate the right behavior and thought process around being environmentally conscious. He openly tells about the descepaciy between male and female ratio and how VES is working to close the gap.
If your interested in working with us, please contact : flippingthebarrel@gmail.com
To find out more about our sponsor TechnipFMC please visit: TechnipFMC
To find out more about our sponsor Varel Energy Solutions please visit: Varel Energy Solutions
“Fossil fuels are destroying the earth?” with Chris Wright- Liberty Oilfield Services CEO.
Dec 20, 2021
Show notes
The epic industry leader Chris Wright is on the podcast today. From creating a business around toilet seats in Ghana to CEO of Liberty Oilfield Services, “The Best Dam Frac Company”. Chris tells it all. We hear about his view on life, family, culture, people and climate change.
He started Pinnacle in 92 with just 100k, building a solid network along the way. Chris is an expert at explaining technologies, which turned into his networking strategy. After 10 years he sold Pinnacle to Carbo Ceramics. Then a few years later Carbo sold Pinnacle’s part of the business to HAL. Chris was never a big company guy and didn't like the idea of his baby ( Pinnacle) being taken over by HAL. He doesn’t ever want the culture and long term vision of a company changing once it's sold off, this is something that Chris never wanted to happen again.
Incredibly high turnover is the “norm” for oil and gas frac companies. Chris was told by a large frac company, “ We tell HR to always keep more in the Hopper”. By that they meant, more people as back up when others leave. After Chris was told this he decided it's time to start a frac company. Way before he even knew how to run one, he wanted to change the perception of frac companies and how they treated field personnel. He was driven to change the industry through culture, people and technology - Liberty was then born.
Chris talks about his ESG report, “ Bettering Human Lives”. Chris expresses his feelings on energy poverty and how the oil and gas industry is the only industry that can fix it. You cannot have a modern world without oil and gas.
If your interested in working with us, please contact : flippingthebarrel@gmail.com
To find out more about our sponsor TechnipFMC please visit www.technipfmc.com
“How becoming CEO can be lonely” with Denzil West, Admiral Permian Resources CEO.
Dec 06, 2021
Show notes
Today we are releasing one of our featured episodes from the DUG Permian Conference Denzil West, the CEO of Admiral Permian. If you did not get a chance to attend the conference this year we highly recommend coming to the next DUG Permian Conference, in May of 2022. It is one of the best events in the industry.
With over 35 years in the industry and growing up in the Permian, Denzil felt at home working in oil and gas. Growing up he didn’t think he would follow in his dad's footsteps. When he graduated college he was newly married and the energy industry was calling his name, it was a natural fit. He started his career at ARCO Oil and Gas, where he worked as a reservoir and production engineer for several years. He was instrumental and led the effort to grow and successfully monetize four other private companies, two of which were in the oil and gas business.
In 2006 he went to work for Reliance energy after working for himself for 10 years. Denzil talks about the difference between being your own boss or working for someone else. We discuss failure and the impact it has on your success. Denzil talks about his strategies to get past the hard times, especially during the pandemic.
Denzil discusses his strategies on ESG and how Admiral is ahead of the game. They culturally are an E - S - G stewart. He brings up an interesting perspective on how it could even be considered “insulting'' to assume companies like Admiral haven’t focused on their environmental impact, when they have all along.
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