Entrepeneurship in the Transitioning Oilfield: Starting and Building a Great Company during Tumultuous Times
By Distringuished Lecturer Omar Abou-Sayed
Abstract:Building an entrepreneurial venture is a challenge underestimated by most founders.
During periods of stability within a given industry, founders face the normal stresses
that come from building a startup: a lack of resources, having to serve in multiple
functional roles, powerful customers, unclear business model, loneliness, stress to
personal finances, and more. During periods of substantial upheaval, as the oil and
gas industry is facing today, the challenges – and the rewards – can be even greater.
This lecture will equip attendees with a thorough understanding of how to build a
successful entrepreneurial venture during this time of energy transition. Core
universal concepts applicable to creating a successful startup will be presented,
while industry-specific trends will be explored to highlight areas that are ripe for
innovation. At the end of the lecture, attendees should have a grounding in how to
approach building a successful startup during this period of intense transition in the
oilfield.
Biography:
Omar Abou-Sayed's experience spans the global energy, chemicals, oilfield services, and clean tech industries. He has worked in a variety of engineering, business, and leadership roles within SuperMajors, management consulting firms, private equity funds, and venture-backed startups. He currently serves as CEO of Advantek Waste Management Services, a private equity-backed industrial waste management company. He advises or has invested in nearly a dozen early-stage companies and venture funds. Omar holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.