In this episode of Oil & Gas: Breaking Bias, Anand Jha speaks with Simon Ross, Senior Vice President of Global Supply at SLB, about leadership, curiosity, and long-term growth in the energy industry. Simon reflects on career evolution, industry bias, diversity, and why humility, self-awareness, and enjoying the work you do are essential for sustainable leadership.

Key Takeaways

• Curiosity and humility are core leadership traits

• Enjoying your work is critical for long-term success

• Diversity leads to better decisions and innovation

• Growth often comes from stepping outside comfort zones

• Mentorship plays a key role in career development

• The energy industry is evolving toward sustainability and technology

• Self-awareness helps leaders recognize and overcome bias

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Simon Ross and His Journey

02:20 Early Life and Education

08:53 Career Path and Key Experiences

15:59 Self-Bias and Career Progression

18:30 The Future of the Energy Industry

22:09 Diversity and Opportunities in Oil and Gas

23:58 Reflections on Career and Personal Growth

25:44 The Importance of Mentorship and Guidance

27:10 Exciting Experiences in Global Energy Hubs

28:06 Transformative Technologies in Supply Chain Management

30:30 Fueling Creativity: Coffee and Leadership Insights

31:01 Books That Shape Leadership Perspectives

32:27 Curiosity and Humility in Leadership

34:28 Key Takeaways for Success

35:10 Challenging Industry Biases and Sustainability

Keywords

leadership, energy industry, supply chain, diversity, personal growth, career development, oil and gas, transformation, mentorship, innovation

In this episode of Oil & Gas: Breaking Bias, Anand Jha speaks with Lance Medlin, CEO of Red Post Energy, about leadership beyond titles, entrepreneurship, and the evolving energy landscape. They discuss speed vs. structure, bias in hiring, mentorship, and how AI-driven power demand is reshaping the future of energy.

Key Takeaways

• Adaptability is essential for growth and leadership

• Speed and decision-making drive entrepreneurial success

• Bias in hiring limits access to capable talent

• Collaboration is critical in today’s energy challenges

• AI is accelerating and reshaping power demand

• Mentorship plays a key role in leadership development

• Merit and capability matter more than titles

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Lance Medlin and His Journey

06:45 Transitioning from Employee to Entrepreneur

11:35 The Unique Energy Market Landscape

18:37 Innovative Commercial Models in Energy Production

23:01 Reflections on a Career in Energy

24:11 The Importance of Mentorship

25:15 Rapid Fire Insights

27:12 Leadership Lessons from Unlikely Sources

31:23 The Future of Energy

34:48 Key Takeaways and Industry Insights

39:56 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Keywords

Lance Medlin, Red Post Energy, energy industry, entrepreneurship, mentorship, leadership, oil and gas, AI, power generation, industry biases

Leadership is shaped by perspective, not titles.

In this episode, Anand Jha and Heather Cykoski, CCO Knauf, discuss leadership beyond bias, from embracing difference as an advantage to building teams, culture, and adaptability in a changing world.

Key Takeaways

• Being different can become a leadership advantage

• Diverse teams consistently outperform homogeneous ones

• Strong leaders balance soft skills with execution

• Continuous learning keeps leaders relevant

• Self-reflection helps uncover and overcome bias

• Skills transfer across roles and industries

• Growth happens outside comfort zones

• Mentorship accelerates leadership development

• Representation inspires the next

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Heather Cykoski's Journey

03:03 Overcoming Biases in the Energy Industry

05:32 The Evolution of the Energy Sector

06:54 The Role of Female Leaders in Energy

07:41 Learning from Diverse Experiences

09:03 Transferable Skills in the Energy Sector

10:50 The Importance of Continuous Learning

13:42 Opportunities and Challenges in the Energy Industry

15:37 Investing in Self-Development

16:49 Reflecting on Career Choices

20:08 Rapid Fire Round with Heather

24:49 Key Takeaways for Aspiring Leaders

26:29 Addressing Biases in Leadership

Keywords

energy industry, female leadership, overcoming bias, transferable skills, continuous learning, AI in energy, diversity in teams, personal growth, professional development, mentorship