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Welcome to Taproom Talks, the podcast diving deep into the energy sector's entrepreneurial and leaders minds. Join us for candid conversations with leaders, exploring their journeys, leadership, product creation, investment strategies, and business sales. We uncover their challenges, failures, and triumphs, from career beginnings to private equity insights. Get inspired by the real stories shaping the future of energy. Tune in to uncork powerful narratives!
31 Episodes
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Send a text In this episode Kenny Dooley is joined by Kevin Coll of Solab IT Services and Onboard Tracker where they cover his entrepreneurial journey from working in his family's bakery to launching two successful Aberdeen-based companies. Kevin discusses the strong work ethic inherited from his father, the early financial and personal challenges of starting Solab in 1991, and the inspiration behind Onboard Tracker, a crew management software now used globally. He shares how co-parenting s...
Send a text In this episode Kenny is joined by a returning guest as we dive into part 2 of Steve Rae's career journey. If you missed part 1 Steve spoke about his experience before, during and after the 1988 Piper Alpha Disaster but this time we are focussing on Fortitude: Action beyond Compliance and his journey from the tools to VP and eventually CEO/Executive Director of Step Change in Safety. Steve shares how he drove safety culture in diverse global operations, tackling challe...
Send a text In this episode of taproom talks Kenny is joined by Mary McIntyre of Merrimac International, an executive search firm specialising in the global energy space, to discuss her extraordinary career journey. Mary shares how she navigated the challenging decision to buy out her company's Houston business during the tumultuous start of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, driven by a commitment to her team and clients. She elaborates on the foundation of Merrimac International's success: build...
Send a text In this episode Kenny is joined by Martin Copeland of Serica Energy, the company's CFO, for a deep-dive conversation covering his 30-year career transition from a banking background in leveraged and M&A finance to his current role in the energy sector. The discussion focuses on Serica Energy's strategy for growth through M&A, including the merger with Tailwind and opportunistic acquisitions in the North Sea. Martin Copeland also shares his perspective on the significant ...
Send a text In this episode Kenny is Joined by Steve Rae of Fortitude - Action Beyond Compliance to discuss his oil and gas career and the life-altering experience of the Piper Alpha disaster. Steve recounts his journey from the Aberdeen oil boom to working offshore. The core of the episode is his minute-by-minute account of the July 6, 1988 disaster, including his narrow escape from falling debris, the 70ft jump into the North Sea, and his subsequent rescue. He explains how this event fund...
Send a text In this episode Kenny is joined by Neil Carr of AMS Global Group, where he discusses his journey of co-founding the company. Neil, the Managing Director, shares how AMS Global was initially shelved in 2012 before relaunching in 2016/2017 amidst a volatile oil and gas market looking for efficiency. He details the company's growth from two co-founders to approximately 50 staff with global operations in the Caspian, Africa, and Spain. The conversation covers the expansion of their se...
Send a text In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny is joined by Bob Morgan of Baker Hughes, a Services and Projects Delivery Director in the Middle East, who discusses his two-decade career journey from a mechanical fitter in Aberdeen to a global leader. Bob shares his experiences working offshore in places like the North Sea, Angola, and Houston, emphasizing that success in the Middle East is built on long-term relationships and cultural immersion, which helped his flexible pipe business ...
Send a text In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny Dooley is joined by Zara Higgins of ATPI as she discusses her remarkable 22-year journey in commercial roles, beginning with cold-calling sales at a newspaper in Forfar at just 16. Zara shares her career progression, including a move into hospitality and her experience with the volatile energy and shipping sectors at ATPI. She delves into the challenges and lessons learned from leaving and returning to ATPI, emphasizing the crucial role of b...
Send a text In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny Dooley is joined by Dave Acton of Motive Offshore Group to trace his journey from a fisherman in Macduff and an ROV pilot working offshore in West Africa to becoming CEO of a global energy company. Dave discusses co-founding Motive with former TT guest James Gregg in 2010, the challenges of rapid growth and overcoming the 2014 industry downturn, and the role of private equity in fuelling their global expansion and M&A activities. &n...
Send a text In this episode Kenny is joined by Steve Swindell former CEO of Xodus where they discuss the truth behind building and scaling a 20-year energy consultancy. Steve reveals his unexpected career launch, from chemical engineering in apartheid South Africa to a "sliding door" moment that led him to Aberdeen. He pulls back the curtain on the hardest lessons, including the cash flow blunder that almost sank the company, the harsh reality of private equity's "loan notes," and the persona...
Send a text In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny is joined by Conrad Ritchie formally of Score Group and current chairman of multiple charities. Conrad dives into his nearly four-decade career in the oil and gas industry, starting as an apprentice the week of the Piper Alpha disaster and later serving as Managing Director. He shares the immense pride and financial investment behind Score Group's renowned apprenticeship program, which at one point took on 100 youngsters a year.Conrad reflect...
Send a text In this episode of Taproom Talks, Kenny is joined by Aberdeen legend George Yule, whose career spans from a British Rail apprenticeship and early North Sea oil days to the boardroom. George shares the profound lessons learned as a young manager dealing with the devastating aftermath of the Chinook helicopter disaster. He recounts his entrepreneurial journey, from the challenges of his first startup, Clean Ocean, during the $9 oil crash, to the explosive success of Dominion G...
Send a text In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny is joined by Stuart Broadley of EIC to discuss his remarkable 35-year career journey, spanning from a young leader steering a challenging Rolls-Royce legacy business to transforming the Energy Industries Council (EIC) into a global force. Stuart shares his experience running a factory at age 27, his time in the oil and gas sector with Wood Group, and his pivot to renewables with a wind turbine company. He then details the five key strat...
Send a text In this episode Kenny is joined by Chris Bird of Riskwell, who is also the Chief Development Officer for Meridian Resources and the disciplined head of risk for Fiteq. Chris details his unique journey from an engineering apprenticeship to a distinguished career in oil and gas, with a focus on risk management and innovation.He shares how a mindset of inquisitiveness and courage led to remarkable project successes, including drastically reducing the cost of the Kingfisher project an...
Send a text In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny Dooley is joined by commercial diver and supervisor Chris Lemons to discuss his incredible journey in the deep-sea diving industry. Chris recounts his path from a "lost" young man to a saturation diver, detailing the challenging, high-pressure reality of the job, including the mental toll of living in a confined chamber for 28 days. The conversation also explores the catastrophic 2012 incident where a computer failure left him stranded on the...
Send a text In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny Dooley is joined by Zoe Ogilvie of Big Partnership. Zoe, who recently semi-retired, shares her journey in marketing and communications, from her early days in Paris, to establishing the Aberdeen office of Big Partnership. She discusses the challenges and triumphs of growing a successful agency, the importance of company culture, leadership through communication, and the evolution of the PR and marketing industry. Zoe also touches on her...
Send a text In this episode of Taproom Talks, Kenny is joined by Ian Ord of Fifth Ring, an Aberdeen-founded marketing communications business that has grown to serve clients globally. Ian shares his journey from aspiring accountant to advertising professional and the founding of Fifth Ring in 1993. He discusses the evolution of the agency from a generalist to a B2B specialist in the energy industry, its international expansion to Singapore and Houston, and the significant impact of the digita...
Send a text In this episode of Taproom Talks, Kenny Dooley is joined by Phil Mote, CEO and co-founder of Well-safe Solutions. Phil shares his incredible journey from an apprentice at Halliburton to leading a company that's revolutionising the decommissioning sector in the oil and gas industry. Discover the challenges of starting a business from scratch, navigating market downturns like Covid and the EPL levy, expanding globally to Australia and Southeast Asia, and the importance of ta...
Send a text In this episode of taproom talks Kenny is joined by Beena Sharma from CCU International. Beena shares her fascinating journey, from starting with a law degree to transitioning into the energy industry, and eventually co-founding CCU International. She discusses the challenges of commercialising carbon capture technology, the importance of carbon utilisation, and the misconceptions surrounding carbon capture and storage. Beena also talks about her work with Women in New Energ...
Send a text In this episode of Taproom Talks, Kenny Dooley is joined by Colin Manson from Xergy Group, who shares his journey from chemical engineering to building successful businesses in the oil and gas industry. He recounts his early career at Enterprise Oil and Genesis, leading to the founding of Exodus in 2005, which rapidly grew to 750 people. Manson discusses the sale of Exodus to a Japanese company in 2013, reflecting on the challenges and lessons learned. He then details the creatio...
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