Eleven years ago, I graduated as the gold medalist in petroleum engineering, a field that was not popular among females at the time in India. My friends would mock me, [saying] that after college, I would end up working at a gas station. Ignoring all the teasing, my passion for rocks and my adventurous spirit gave me the confidence to continue my journey in petroleum engineering. This backstory may seem unrelated, but every success story has its origins.
After graduating, I began my journey on oil rigs. Despite winning the gold medal, I started from the basics, operating heavy machines, learning basics about formations, designing perforations, and fracturing rocks to extract oil. The job took me to the most remote locations across India, revealing diverse cultures and workplace environments.
During my time in the field, I discovered my affinity for technology and people. I realized that I enjoyed not just the technological aspects of the industry, but also finding the best technology solutions for clients. This realization propelled me into technical sales, where I thrived on solving problems for my customers. My desire to explore different geographies further led me to Oman and then to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where I engaged with multicultural clients and led teams for high-profile projects in challenging environments. I delivered projects in extreme environments, pressures and temperatures. I successfully deployed and tested many of the newest and finest pieces of the technology during my time in the Middle East.
My passion for discovering new territories expanded my reach to more Middle Eastern countries. However, I noticed a pattern where sales strategies were falling short, leading to financial losses. In an era dominated by data and statistics, I questioned why the oil and gas industry was not utilizing these resources effectively. This prompted me to explore ways to build models that could enhance sales strategies. This pursuit led me to my current role, where I am developing a data-driven product for pricing agreement management. This platform will not only optimize sales portfolios but also provide valuable insights into performance and areas for improvement.
Navigating this role has been both rewarding and challenging. I’ve had to shift mindsets within my industry, a domain accustomed to traditional methods. The digital transformation I advocate has sparked concerns about job redundancy, but my interpersonal skills have helped me alleviate such fears. By showcasing the potential of technology to enhance productivity and create new opportunities, I’ve managed to foster trust and drive positive change across all management levels.
In addition to my primary role, I am also immersing myself in understanding data models and educating software engineers about the intricacies of the oil and gas sector. The scientific nature of this industry has shaped me into a skilled engineer, and I find joy in mentoring young professionals in my organization. I encourage them to look beyond their immediate roles and embrace continuous learning.
I have recently pursued my executive education from Rice University in its global energy leadership program which opened doors to endless possibilities in the energy domain. During my time with a diverse cohort at the university, I learned the best change management strategies, AI usage and models, which can be implemented in energy industries and best cases of business strategies. I also interacted with several startup founders in the energy industry and understood their value proposition and uniqueness. I apply this knowledge in my role every day. This program truly gave me the opportunity to rediscover my passion and look forward to creating the best solutions.
In essence, my journey from being a female, blue-collar engineer in a male-dominated field to leading and developing cutting-edge digital solutions for the oil and gas corporate industry has been marked by challenges and triumphs. Each day brings new insights and learnings that contribute to meaningful progress, which has confirmed my belief in the transformative power of small steps toward substantial achievements.
Headline photo: ALLY Energy 2023 GRIT Awards finalist. Photos courtesy of Prajakta Kulkarni.
Prajakta Kulkarni began her career as a petroleum engineer, working in India and throughout the Middle East. She is now the OFSE Commercial Digital Operations Leader (Regions: NAM-L and Offshore, LATAM, APAC, MENATI, KSA, SSA and ENSC) for Baker Hughes.
Kulkarni holds a Bachelor of Engineering – Petroleum Engineering – Gold Medalist (University 1st Rank Holder) from the Maharashtra Institute of Technology in Pune, India, and graduated from the Global Energy Leadership Program at Rice University in Houston, Texas.
Kulkarni was an ALLY Energy 2023 GRIT Awards finalist for a professional making a change in the energy industry.
Oil and gas operations are commonly found in remote locations far from company headquarters. Now, it's possible to monitor pump operations, collate and analyze seismic data, and track employees around the world from almost anywhere. Whether employees are in the office or in the field, the internet and related applications enable a greater multidirectional flow of information – and control – than ever before.