Day Four of ADIPEC 2022 Inspiring Tomorrow's Energy Leaders

His Excellency Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure for the United Arab Emirates, and His Excellency Haitham al-Ghais, Secretary General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), participated in an informative Leaders Q&A session to kick off the Future Leaders Programme. Both were enlightening in their descriptions of where they began, the obstacles they overcame, and the lessons they gained on the route to the top, as well as the counsel they gave to the leaders of tomorrow.

H.E. Al Mazrouei said, “It is great to talk to the young people, it gives me real excitement to see their passion. My father once told me: ‘Don't ever think that you are better than anyone else.’ Humbleness is a value, a value that you will prosper with. But he also said: ‘don't think that anyone is better than you.’ So, humbleness is important, but so is hard work and passion.” At the fundamental level, “the ingredients of success are values”, he said. “Values create professionalism and ultimately great nations. Everyone will have different opportunities depending on how much they believe in these values.”

 Touching on the importance of collaboration, he comented, “You don’t have to solve these challenges by yourself, look for teamwork. In the UAE, we are working towards a common goal, to make this country the best in the world. But to do this you cannot just think about this country or this region, but the entire world.” “We are fortunate to have the whole world convening here at ADIPEC to discuss innovative solutions. The youth have technology at their fingertips and can access unlimited knowledge. Learning stops only when your mind stops” he concluded.

H.E. al-Ghais, Secretary General of OPEC echoed the importance of continuous learning, "Learning should never stop, and young people should say yes to any challenges. They need to think positively about all challenges and make the most of them. Being open-minded, accepting challenges… as well as learning from other people is key to succeeding." He continued: "It is very important that you learn from everybody in the company, no matter their level. Myself, for example, I have learned so much from my young staff because they see the world differently, it’s a new perspective." Ending on a positive note, he said, “the challenges you face today may be more complex, but we believe that you have more capabilities to deal with these challenges than we used to.”

The participants also heard from industry decision-makers about the challenges and obstacles faced by young talent entering the workforce, the role they can play in the transformation of the industry, and the essential skills, experience, and knowledge the next generation of energy professionals will need to navigate the energy transition and meet the global demand for energy.