SC2: Applying the Explorer’s Mindset in the Energy Industry 

Short Course Leaders: 

Dr. Jon Rotzien Basin Dynamics; U. of Texas at Austin; U. of Houston

Cindy Yeilding BP (retired), The Center for Houston's Future

Rich Sears Shell (retired), Gamechanger

Conventional wisdom dictates that leaders are born. Let’s say that’s true. What makes them effective leaders in applied geoscience and the broader energy industry?

To better understand what differentiates effective leaders in the geosciences and broader energy industry, this study interviewed over 30 people over five years from a diverse range of energy expertise and experience. Through presentations and active audience participation, this 2.5-hour-long workshop discusses conclusions from the study: 1) themes that define excellence in explorers; 2) traits of exploration leaders; 3) the essential elements of The Explorer’s Mindset, the central theme in the study and book, and 4) how these leadership skills can be effectively extended into other disciplines and professions.

The leader(s) of this workshop will lead the discussion and provide their unique insights into the following areas with the objective of empowering attendees with what they have learned collectively in the energy business.

The leader(s) of this workshop will lead the discussion and provide their unique insights into the following areas with the objective of empowering attendees with what they have learned collectively in the energy business:

1. There are broad themes demonstrated by the successful explorer, including a pioneering spirit, an exploration mindset, excellence in defining the challenge, power in building teams, entrepreneurship and business talent.

2. These themes can be subdivided into traits that specifically address success in the exploration and production business. From a sound understanding of geologic principles and fundamentals, to the ability ask the right question, to the exercising of discipline and patience, there are nearly two dozen traits that successful exploration leaders utilize to create value through exploration. While explorers are often remembered for excellence in one area – the “difference maker” task – the task that set them above and beyond average explorers, these explorers are also masters at many other parts of the exploration process.

3. These tasks originate in the broad spectrum of activities required for successful exploration and involve clear and intuitive definition of the problem, an ability to bring teams together to action, storytelling and marketing, business acumen and tenacity and grit, with these five traits being distilled into one of the key themes – and eventual title – of the book, The Explorer’s Mindset, originally defined by Cindy A. Yeilding in an AAPG Distinguished Lecture Tour. If leaders are only born, this study is not very useful. But if exploration leadership traits can be defined, studied, nurtured and interrogated, anyone with ambition, work ethic and technical and business savvy can improve their own exploration leadership, and in turn, over the long run their exploration success.

4. What makes exploration, and hence exploration leadership, different from other segments of an integrated oil and gas business and for that matter, business in general? Do exploration leadership traits differ from those required for other types of leadership? By understanding the uniqueness of exploration and exploration leadership, we can see how effective exploration leaders can evolve into broader leadership roles in oil and gas and new energies.

One of the key strengths of this book is that it goes directly to the source – the energy industry and its people – with a focus on oil and gas exploration and production. This work highlights the most important resource in this industry: its people. These leaders originate new play types, design engineering patents, negotiate lucrative contracts, and break down dogma that acts as a ceiling to growth and prosperity, among other critical achievements. While this only includes 30+ personal testimonies, it encourages us to continue to seek wisdom from those who are innovating and creating value. The world is full of these individuals, yet they are relatively rare.

Format of this Short Course:

• Objectives and findings of this study

• Discussions on learning from history and experience with examples and discussion

• Dialog: question and answer session with participants

Date: Sunday, April 6

Time: 1 pm - 4 pm

Includes a copy of “The Explorer’s Mindset: Lessons in Leadership in Applied Geoscience and the Energy Industry” by Jon Rotzien

Location: Cole STEM Building, SFASU Campus

Fee: $50

Lunch provided beforehand, courtesy of GeoMark Research