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.
“Starting over at 40… It’s never too late”- with Rani Puranik, CFO of Worldwide Oilfield Machine (WOM).
May 03, 2021
Show notes
Thank you to Energy Workforce & Technology Council for being a proud sponsor of our Podcast.
In this episode we sit down with Rani Puranik the CFO of WOM- Worldwide oilfield machine in houston texas. She directs financial controllership, strategy, investments and enterprise growth for WOM, a privately held, family-owned oil and gas equipment manufacturing firm with more than 3,000 employees operating in 11 locations around the world.
Over the course of 15 years, she has developed and implemented the framework for communication, standardization, operations and business development at WOM. Puranik along with her father, have led WOM to grow to more than $350 million in annual revenues Website.
As a leader RANI has found the strength to reinvent herself in order to overcome challenges in her personal life and in her family’s business. Rani talks on the podcast about the life changing moment she had when turning 40. Rani went from running one of the first Dance Studios in India to coming to the USA to help grow her fathers business.
Rani has always been a leader and never turned away from taking a risk. She talks on the podcast about the culture bias she had to overcome in India for starting her own business. Her idea of one studio to build girls confidence transpired into a 19 year thriving career. She brought the same passion she had for the studios into her fathers oil and gas manufacturing business.
Rani proves that age is just a number and it’s never too late to make a career change or blaze a new trail.
Puranik received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Pune in India and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Rice University. As a seasoned motivational speaker and certified Master Coach in Leadership Development, Puranik is passionate about mentoring the next generation of leaders. In 2016, Puranik was named one of the Top Leading Women in Energy by the Houston Business Journal and Business Woman of the Year by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston. The Houston Chronicle’s Top Workplaces Program recognized WOM as a Houston metro area Top Workplace of 2020. The Texas Women’s Foundation recently recognized Puranik as a recipient of the Maura “Women Helping Women” Award. Outside of her work environment, Puranik is an Indian classical trained vocalist and dancer, and a certified yoga instructor.
As a leader, innovator and creative, Puranik has found the strength to reinvent herself in order to overcome challenges in her personal life and in her family’s business. Puranik’s debut book titled “Seven Letters To My Daughters” is slated to launch in 2021.
The businesswoman on a mission wears many hats on any given day but is most proud to be a mother of two grown daughters and two rescued dogs. Puranik enjoys scuba diving, traveling and spending time with family.
“Stick with it… A career is a lifetime” with Liz Schwarze-VP of Global Exploration at Chevron.
Apr 19, 2021
Show notes
Liz Schwarze is the Vice President of Global Exploration for Chevron Upstream; she is responsible for Chevron’s worldwide exploration program. She chairs the company’s Global Exploration Leadership Team and is a member of Chevron’s Upstream Leadership Team and Global Leadership Forum. As a single mom she learned how to excel in her career while raising her daughter.
Schwarze holds a bachelor’s degree in Geology from Duke University, a master’s degree in Geology from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s in Business Administration from Tulane University.
Liz moved around a lot as a child due to her dad’s job. She was used to having to adapt to different environments and cope with change. This exposure made it easier for Liz to say “yes” when she was asked to move around the world for Chevron.
Liz ultimately decided on Geology as her major in College. She was persuaded by her sorority sister and had never really thought about it as a career before she took her first class. She talks about her path to Chevron and the cross functional skills you perform in oil and gas that can take you into your next role. She breaks this down into 5 groups of skills we all have working in Energy, that give us advantages relative to other careers.
With 30 years working for Chevron, Liz has a wealth of knowledge and advice around- focusing on your job today, how to delegate tasks, role models, how she did it as a single mom and what made her stay with Chevron her entire career.
If your interested in working with us, please contact : flippingthebarrel@gmail.com
“Breaking into Oil & Gas” with Shobhana Mani-Strategic Business Director at Halliburton.
Apr 14, 2021
Show notes
Shobhana Mani is a strong, proven leader with a track record of successfully delivering product development to maximize returns. She brings over 20 years of experience in diverse industries including energy, aviation, healthcare & oil field services. She is currently the Strategic Business Director- Perforating at Halliburton. Her story reflects on how the underlying methodologies between industries is very similar, whether be it medical, aviation or oil and gas.
The oil and gas industry intrigued Shobhana because of the extensive evaluation and complex challenges that take place when looking to extract oil from the ground - the challenges we face on a daily basis. Shobhana started working for Halliburton as an Engineering Manager for Sperry Drilling after leaving GE. She was able to leverage the same basic engineering principles that are successfully used in other industries.
When discussing diversity and inclusion, Shobhana shared her experiences and the steps companies can take to become more inclusive. “Inclusion is what creates employee engagement,” she said, “Studies show that when people feel a sense of belonging, they tend to work harder and are happier in their job.” For example, she explains how parental leave – leave for both parents after the birth or adoption of a child – has been welcomed at Halliburton and should become more common with companies going forward. She says we need to eliminate the idea of having a child as a “disruption” in your career.
Shobhana explains how you should leverage your network in order to build your career. She describes her strengths and how they were essential in her career development and landing the position she is in today. She also provides advice on how you can transfer skills into your next management position.
If your interested in working with us, please contact : flippingthebarrel@gmail.com
“He started from the bottom, Now, He’s here” with Aron Marquez, CEO of WildCat Oil Tools.
Mar 26, 2021
Show notes
In this episode we sit down with Aron Marquez , a multi-industry entrepreneur, who came to the US with his family at age 12. His parents left everything behind to move their family, they knew no English at the time and were hoping for a brighter future. Aron felt the struggle his family endured as immigrants, this put a lot of pressure on Aron. He wanted nothing more than to pay his family back for the sacrifices they made for him.
Aron talks about the hardships his father had and how his upbringing pushed him to become his own boss. Aron began his career working for Nabors Industries, he went on to leave Nabors to start St Andrews Royalties and WildCat Oil Tools. Aron is not only in the oil and gas business. Aron is also CEO of Flecha Azul Tequila LLC and Black Quail Apparel LLC. Flecha Azul is an ultra-premium tequila company. Black Quail Apparel manufactures and sells premium golfing and leisure apparel.
Aron took a different approach with WildCat Oil Tools then many CEOs in our industry do. He used social media to build his brand and has a huge presence on all platforms. Outside of social media marketing Aron is one of the first service companies to sponsor a player on the PGA tour. Aron talks about his thoughts on social media and how it opened up doors for WildCat to work internationally.
Aron shares the story behind WildCat and the many chapters it took to get to where he is today. You can find out more about Aron’s story in his recent book, “Never Settle: Leading with a Daring Vision, Plan and Winning Mindset”.
If your interested in working with us, please contact : flippingthebarrel@gmail.com
“Backed by the Oil & Gas Industry, Sky High for Kids Is on a Mission to End Childhood Cancer“ with Brittany Hebert Franklin CEO of Sky High Kids.
Mar 11, 2021
Show notes
On the podcast today we have the pleasure of speaking with Brittany Hebert Franklin the Co-Founder and CEO of Sky High for Kids. With oil and gas donations as their backbone, Sky High pledged a 10 million dollar commitment for the first immunotherapy dedicated solely to pediatric cancer at Texas Children’s Hospital. You can learn more about their commitment here https://skyhighforkids.org/our-impact/who-we-support/ and donate to the cause here https://skyhighforkids.org/donate/. Brittany was recently named as one “Houston’s 20 Most Influential Houstonians” by Modern Luxury.
Helping her family on their crawfish farm in Abbeville, LA and participating in local beauty pageants is where you would find Brittany at age 13. Little did she know the pageants would be the groundwork to something much bigger than she could have imagined. The first fundraising event she was a part of was “ Beanies for St. Jude”, as part of her duties as Miss Acadiana. Brittany talks about the progression from Beanies for St. Jude to her own sporting clay tournament fundraiser when she was 21 for the very hospital that inspired her years prior. Listen in to find out how she not only met the initial 10k goal but surpassed it, not to mention she left the tournament with multiple job offers without still in college.
Brittany founded Sky High in 2007. During this time, she met a young boy who was battling cancer, Bryce Norwood, at St. Jude. Bryce would ultimately become the drive behind Sky High.
“When Bryce passed away on his 6th birthday (Valentines Day), God spoke to me. Ok, not literally, but this was his final sign that he put me on earth to do something bigger than myself and this time I would listen! Our Co-Founder, Christl and I sprang into action! Christly hired a lawyer & CPA and before I blinked, we were signing the Articles of Incorporation on October 5, 2007 (my birthday). We would be called “Sky High for St. Jude” (now Sky High for Kids) and our Founding Board of Directors would consist of six young women ready to fundraise by hosting sporting clay tournaments”
Brittany shares her struggles growing up and how she spent her 20’s building Sky High for Kids, which left little time for her to focus on her life outside of work and Sky High. She shares on the podcast the impact this had on her life and how she became CEO of Sky High in 2018.
If your interested in working with us, please contact : flippingthebarrel@gmail.com
“OilMan”-The LinkedIn Legend with Alahdal A. Hussein.
Mar 01, 2021
Show notes
Today we sit down with Alahdal A. Hussein. His name might not ring a bell right away, but we bet you follow him on Linkedin or have come across one of his viral posts, regarding the Oil and Gas Industry. Many of you know him as the Oilman. He is the Founder of “Oil Industry Insight'', an analytical and business intelligence platform offering insights and analyses on oil and gas market outlook.
He is the Oil and Gas industry expert, recognized and featured on LinkedIn with more than 350,000 followers. He is passionate about sharing knowledge, turning information, data and intelligence into insights and analyses. All creating value to investors, traders, decision makers and O&G professionals.
You're probably wondering how someone like Alahdal became an Oil and Gas sensation. Not to mention he only worked in the industry for one year before Schlumberger moved out of his country and everyone was laid off at the time. He didn’t let this set him back, he was determined to stay in O & G. He took it upon himself to begin researching, reading and connecting with O&G professionals to eventually become who he is today. His story is not just inspiring but a testament to hard work, persistence and not letting your setbacks define your future.
If your interested in working with us, please contact : flippingthebarrel@gmail.com
“Turning Down my Dream Job“ with Stephanie Cox, CEO Americas at Wood.
Jan 06, 2021
Show notes
Stephanie Cox spent over 25 years at Schlumberger, leading and managing functions and businesses globally. In October 2019, Stephanie was named Americas CEO for Wood, a global leader in engineering and consultancy across energy and the built environment. This is a milestone for all of us as only 7% of CEO positions are filled by females in the US Energy sector.
Stephanie’s work ethic started at a young age. Her parents taught her, “if you really want something you have to work for it and earn it”. The same went for College , Stephanie worked her way through college and graduated from Michigan State University with a Supply Chain Management degree. She talks about how this shaped her into who she is today.
Stephanie is known in the industry for her management style. She has one of the highest reputations in oil and gas. She developed these skills and appreciation for employees back in her college years. She had a summer job at a manufacturing company working a plastic injection molding machine and the management team would stroll through the assembly line during peak hours, not saying a word to anyone. Noticing this was a pivotal moment for Stephanie. The internship is an important time in her story and a lesson we could all learn from.
Stephanie aggressively pursued her dream job at Compaq Computer right out of college. She wrote letters, flew to Houston on her own dime, all hoping to land an interview. She eventually received an offer letter from Compaq, yet the timing wasn’t right. She learned a very important life lesson on commitment and staying true to her word, during this chapter in her life. She talks in depth about the consequences she faced when she had to go back on a previous commitment and followed through accepting a job with Schlumberger.
Stephanie tells it all and covers her time at Schlumberger and the pivotal HR role she accepted that changed her career path. She faced many challenges during her career, including the time she took on a new role running a manufacturing wireline facility for Schlumberger at three months pregnant, with their first child at age 29. Her husband, the backbone in her decisions, sacrificed his own career as the stay at home dad of their 2 children. Married for over 25 years, she explains how the key to their relationship is communication and keeping each other in check.
The time Stephanie spends with her family is extremely valuable. She explains that work can be overwhelming and talks to the fact that it takes sacrifice and of course, hard work. Stephanie has realistic expectations of herself and how she manages her work-life-balance as an executive leader.
Stephanie’s story is truly life changing. Her insight, experiences and the advice she provides will leave you feeling inspired.
If your interested in working with us, please contact : flippingthebarrel@gmail.com
my WHY behind Solar? with Steph Speirs, CEO of Solstice.
Dec 29, 2020
Show notes
Steph Speirs is co-founder and CEO at Solstice. She is a social entrepreneur and community builder with operational experience in the U.S., Middle East, and South Asia. All to say she is incredible, all these achievements at such a young age is inspiring not to mention spearheading a huge operation to help communities with Solar.
Steph grew up watching her single mom struggle as a first generation American Citizen, with 2 siblings. Her father was an entrepreneur and ended up losing everything after years of hard work. With her mother working multiple jobs and seeing her father fail, Steph immersed herself in school and had no intentions of following in her fathers footsteps as a business owner.
Steph graduated with a B.A. from Yale, a Master in public affairs with distinction from Princeton, and an MBA from MIT. Steph’s dream job was working for the National security Council, eventually becoming a “Secretary of State”.
She wanted to be a medium for better diplomacy in the world. She had the opportunity out of college to work for the Obama Administration. She started taking on additional tasks supporting Middle East Policy for the Administration. She was promoted to the Director of Yemen at age 25. Steph’s talks about her time working for the Administration. Her insight is very different then anything we have heard on the podcast, her perspective is refreshing and shows a different view of the White House, Policies and Leadership.
While working in Yemen and the Middle East, countries rich in Oil, Steph started noticing a huge disconnect. The policies OPEC put in place have a negative effect not just on the US but locally as well. Due to terrorism and political instability people struggled to access gasoline and fuel to provide for the family. Steph talks about the corruption and the turning point for her, when she decided there had to be a better way.. The Middle East not only has an abundance or oil but sunlight too.
Steph began her solar journey in the middle east & India, investing in renewable sources. Many families had no Access to the “grid” and needed a clean energy resource. She started noticing the positive impact solar had on people’s lives and wanted to do the same thing back at home in the US.
With a battle ahead of her, Steph decided to take it head on and Co-Founded Solstice. A community solar concept to share energy sources and provide credits back to the household. She talks about her experiences and how she is working towards providing solar to every American.
About Solstice: Solstice is dedicated to bringing affordable solar power to the 80% of Americans who cannot install a rooftop system. Community solar offers a solution, enabling residents to support local clean energy at no upfront cost and save money on their electric bill every year. Solstice enrolls households and community organizations in shared solar farms, creates financing innovations that expand access to underserved Americans (the EnergyScore), and provides frictionless subscriber management software for community solar projects. Solstice has partnered with Techstars Ventures, Obvious Ventures, the Dept. of Energy, and Echoing Green, and has been featured by TEDWomen, the Sierra Club, the White House, Forbes, Fast Company, Marie Claire, Elle, and Greentech Media.
If your interested in working with us, please contact : flippingthebarrel@gmail.com
“Our Greatest Asset? Our People” with Ron Gusek, President of Liberty Oilfield Services.
Dec 14, 2020
Show notes
Ron grew up with a love for all things Mechanical. His father was a huge influence in his life, growing up outside of Edmonton, Canada spending most of his time either - on the farm or working with his dad, in their shop. In the early 80’s Ron experienced the impacts of a downturn had on his community. People losing their job, mortgage rates at an all time high, interest rates were through the roof and Alberta was not in a good place. Ron was not much of a risk taker and seeing the impacts of the oil industry deterred him from wanting to pursue a career in an unstable environment . His first job out of college was working in the HVAC industry as an Engineer.
It didn’t take long for Ron to have a change of heart and find himself accepting a job in the oil industry. With a 50% increase in pay, he couldn’t say no. He started his career in fracking. When he started in the late 1990's fracking looked very different. Imagine this... Being home before dark, putting away one stage a day and calling that a success.
Through Ron’s career he helped develop and grow the technology space in Fracking. In June 2003 he started his job at Pinnacle. He was working as a sales person, naturally introverted, this was an uncomfortable role for him. Ron talks about his experience working for Pinnacle and the lessons he learned when Halliburton bought them in 2008, this was a life changing moment for Ron. He talks about his regrets during this time.
After leaving Pinnacle due to the buyout, he began embarking on new roles. Ron moved through companies during the next 8 years, trying to find the small company feel we had at Pinnacle. Each company he worked for was a learning experience that built him into the leader he is today. He talks about each of these experiences and what it taught him.
In 2011 his world turned. The exact company he had been searching for appeared, Liberty. He found himself back at home with the same guys he started with at Pinnacle. Ron used his experiences from each company he worked for to build the culture of Liberty with Chris Wright. There were a few key differences they wanted for Liberty and their employees. Ron talks about how they built the reputation and culture they have today. This is one of the most important parts of Ron's story.
Have you seen Liberty’s marketing? With 20,000 followers on LinkedIn and Tech Tuesday videos, Liberty is doing something right. Ron talks about the people behind their Marketing efforts and how it’s not to only promote Liberty, it's to show what the oil industry does for each one of us every day to change the way society perceives the industry.
If your interested in working with us, please contact : flippingthebarrel@gmail.com
*Special Edition* Oilwoman Magazine Q&A with Your Host- Jamie Elrod & Massiel Diez
Nov 30, 2020
Show notes
Text below taken from the Oilwoman magazine blog- Link
Having celebrated the one-year anniversary of their podcast, Flipping the Barrel, co-hosts Massiel Diez Melo, business development manager at Extreme/SLB, and Jamie Elrod, senior account manager NexTier Oilfield Solutions, interview each other and talk about their experiences as women in the field, the impressions their guests have made on them, and the meaning behind the name of their podcast, which they say, “Signifies us talking about the industry from a woman’s perspective. It’s our turn to talk – flipping to the other side of the story.”
What interview from our podcast made the biggest impression on you and why?
Massiel Diez Melo: Aron Marquez, CEO of Wildcat Oil Tools. He has an amazing and inspiring story. He is the perfect example that you can truly become anyone you want to be in life and that your background/childhood does not ever limit your potential; if anything, it makes you stronger and a fighter. Aron spoke to us about immigrating from Mexico to Odessa, Texas, at a very young age with his parents to work on an onion farm. He knew even back then that he would be a millionaire one day. It truly is all mindset, goals and hard work.
Jamie Elrod: Celine Gerson, president of Schlumberger Canada. Celine is a woman that never lets anything get in her way. No matter the circumstance or position she has to tackle, she is always taking risks on herself. She was the first woman to run a global profit and loss (P&L) for Cameron and she brought really great insight on work/life balance. What I loved most was the emphasis she put on her personal brand. She talks about building your “brand” and the importance of knowing who you are and how you want to be perceived. She always takes calculated risks that showcase her strengths. Her brand is built around the ability to break down barriers and bring silos together. The truth is, the minute you are comfortable, you are not showcasing what you are good at.
What is a quote from one of our interviews that has stayed with you and why?
MDM: Ashley Zumwalt-Forbes, co-founder and president of Black Mountain Metals. “Luck looks like a lot of hard work.” So many people look into people’s lives who are successful and just assume they got lucky, when in reality they worked extremely hard for everything they have and have had their own share of challenging times.
JE: Ashley Zumwalt-Forbes, “If you can’t bet on yourself, I don’t know what you can bet on.” We all have great ideas, but we tend to sit back and let our dreams pass us by. In reality you can become whoever you want to be in this life; take a bet on yourself for once. I think about this quote all the time. We get comfortable in our day jobs and the unknown scares us. When really, the one thing you can trust in this world is you. Why not invest in yourself and spend your life doing what you want to do?
Who would it be a dream come true to have on the podcast and why?
MDM: Andrew Gould, former CEO Schlumberger, whom I really look up to. He led an incredible organization when he ran Schlumberger and is still until this day loved in the industry. I’d love to pick his brain and get to really know who he is deep in his core. I would love to ask him about his past, how he navigated his career, and what he thinks about the future of the industry. Also, Stephanie Cox, CEO – Americas at Wood, is a dream interview for me because she has always been inspiring and a leader for women in oil and gas.
JE: Vicki Hollub, CEO of Occidental Petroleum (Oxy), hands down, would be an amazing person to learn from. She is such an incredibly powerful woman. She worked for Oxy over 30 years, climbing the ranks all the way to CEO. She was able to buy Anadarko in a price war with Chevron. Now Oxy is the largest player in the Permian Basin and she is steering the ship. I would love to know what a “Day in the Life” looks like for Vicki or what her process was when she decided she wanted to buy Anadarko, what strategies took place, and how she navigates her team. It would be interesting to know how she feels about the future of our industry.
We get feedback from listeners that makes us know doing the podcast is a worthwhile endeavor and really is making a difference to people, particularly other young women. Do you remember a specific comment that made a lasting impression on you?
MDM: The most memorable ones are from a few young field engineers who tell us they love listening to our podcast when they feel alone or exhausted from being in the field and by tuning in they felt like there was hope for them to keep pushing and that they, too, would eventually have their turn to move up in the company and have a great career.
JE: Every time I read comments, it reminds me why we started this, especially when it makes younger women want to join oil and gas. We have had many write us and ask for advice on how to enter the industry. We have inspired them to get into oil and gas which, if you see the stats, oil has a low rate of incoming new talent. The more people we can inspire to join us makes every episode worthwhile. We want to change the perception of the industry and I feel we are doing just that.
Just during our time in the industry (the last six to eight years), how have you seen attitudes toward women change?
MDM: Since the beginning of my career, I have always felt like I belonged or was “wanted” on the team and felt like the oil and gas industry was very welcoming. From a very early start in my journey, I had male colleagues who became mentors, who always had my back, were supportive and helped me progress in my field career. I also did find that as the years went by, a bigger, louder movement rose toward including women in oil and gas. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the forefront of all conversations in 2020. I must say, things have progressed for the better since I joined.
JE: When I started in the field selling drill bits, I was one of two women. The men I worked with in the field and office were very protective and supportive. I honestly can say, I never had an issue. I received more respect from company men than my male counterparts. When I started in city sales, I was once again one of the only women on the team and have been ever since I started. Like Massiel, I have always had male mentors who helped guide me through my career.
Within the last two years, I have seen a huge shift to inclusion and diversity being a prime topic of discussion outside of major operators and service companies. This is where I think the biggest change has occurred. Even the private sector is wanting to bring on more diversity, which leads to more women working in the industry. Overall, my experience has always been positive. With that said, I do see a lot more women now at events then I would have in the past, which shows things are changing.
At 15 percent, women (as well as other minorities) are still underrepresented in industry. Based on our own experiences, here is what we think companies need to do to attract more women and minorities.
MDM: Overall, companies are doing a great job at recruiting talented young women straight out of college by promoting “women in the field, women in oil and gas,” recruiting campaigns (trust me those do work; that’s how I ended up in oil and gas). I think continuous displays of women in the industry at career fairs, online, on social media, etc. really do help younger women feel like they belong and that they have a place in the industry. Companies need to continue to include both pictures of females and males in their covers, ads, posts, etc. I also think it starts a lot of earlier than college years. Companies need to start in high school and promote the industry as well as what a career in oil and gas in their company would look like. My best advice would be to start young!
JE: Companies are trying hard to give women more opportunities. The issue is not on companies recruiting, the issue is retainment and turn over. Women seem to begin to feel undervalued or looked over as their career progresses. They feel left out as most things still revolve around activities perceived to be what men enjoy – hunting, fishing, clay shoots and golfing. I love to participate in these activities, but not everyone does. If team building is centered around getting out of the office and doing things that aren’t inclusive, then it makes it hard for women to connect. They feel left out, which leads to self-doubt. Outside of team building and functions many of the C-suites look very similar – all men. How can women or minorities feel like they can progress, if upper level management doesn’t reflect a diverse group? The focus needs to be how are we going to keep women once we have hired them.
Tune into Flipping the Barrel podcast to hear the continuation of this conversation between co-hosts Maissel Diez Melo and Jamie Elrod.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
Stay Connected
