Colin Davies-1

Colin Davies

Strategy and Business Development

Upstream, Clean Tech
 
United States, Europe

1. What is your profession? Or if you are retired, what was your profession?

Chemical Engineer by training although it ended up being three "careers" - corporate strategy leader, Wall Street equity analyst and a management consultant.

2. What are your areas of expertise?

Upstream: Asset Management, Technology, General Management, Corporate Development, Executive, Commercial, I.T./Digital

Upstream Areas: Offshore, Onshore

Clean Tech: Technology, Commercial, Corporate Development, Executive, I.T/Digital

Types of Clean Tech: Hydrogen, CO2 capture, Solar, Wind, Batteries

3. Current employer:

Top secret information

4. Previous employers:

BP, Bernstein Research, Hess Corporation, Schlumberger, Charles River Associates/Arthur D. Little

5. How did you end up in the Energy Industry?

Shell very kindly sponsored my way through college and provided excellent internships. I was hooked on the industry and its culture. Eventually landed at a management consultancy and was very fortunate to work in many of the global hotspots of the energy sector early on in my career.  

6. Why do you like working with Start-Ups?

Start up "just get it done" culture is devoid of the more frustrating and sometimes limiting dynamics of the large oil companies and service companies. Refreshing and challenging at the same time.

Okay, now for some fun things about Colin…

7. What are three of your interests outside of work?

  • Trying in vain to improve my tennis game.

  • Playing piano to remind myself why I went to engineering school instead of music school.

  • Cycling across the not so challenging hills of Houston.

8.  What are your top 3 accomplishments (personal or professional)?  Don’t be shy!  Give ‘em to us.

  • Raising my incredible son

  • Playing a piano concerto with an amateur orchestra and not messing up too much.

  • Supporting Hess' management team through major portfolio change during a challenging period for the industry.

9.  If I were a superhero, my superpower would be               .

An outrageous power to solve the worlds problems from poverty and disease through to solving world peace.

10. When I was 5, I was pretty sure I'd be a                 when I grew up.

I really didn't have a career plan at that age and just enjoyed every wonderful day as it happened.

11. If I weren't so damn good at what I do now, I'd probably be                 .

A music teacher.

12.  My favorite song is               by            .

I don't have one as my music choice just fits the time, place and mood. Perhaps some Debussy, Chopin or Beethoven, add in the piano men of Billy or Elton with a sprinkling of 70s rock.

13.  If I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd          .

My own investment office.

14.  The best piece of advice I've ever been given is                              .

Just get started, don't wait.