OUTSIDE PETROLEUM

Please check out this podcast series for interviews of other pivoters.

AMY NOACK - SALES ENGINEER / FITNESS BUSINESS OWNER

PRE-PIVOT EDUCATION

BS, Geology

MS, Geology

PETROLEUM CAREER

Oil Company Geologist

Last Role was Senior Geologist

THE PIVOT

Amy took a multi-prong approach after being laid off, starting a specialized stratigraphic consulting service, AKN Stratigraphic, and becoming involved in the fitness industry (she is passionate about natural bodybuilding), first with a gym and then transitioning to client experience.

In 2018, an oil and gas vendor she was utilizing, Chemostrat, recognized her abilities to grow and market companies and asked her to come on board to focus on business development and client relations.

She is currently the Co-Owner of an online fitness training, coaching and nutrition company, Boss Girls Brand, and is a Sales Engineer for Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, a provider of analytical measurement and testing instrumentation. Amy identified her current role by looking at opportunities that involved scientific instruments and for locations where she wanted to live (no reason to be confined to Houston). She also wanted to be challenged and expand her knowledge and network outside of oil and gas. Shimadzu provided diversity of market, high level of expertise of its professionals, and a positive culture, all in a dream location – San Francisco. Though Amy started her new position in the height of the COVID-19 Shelter in Place Orders and has not been able to see customers or colleagues in person, she has had a good experience. She thanks Shimadzu for the opportunity to grow into a new career and seeing her potential.

SUGGESTED RESOURCES & READING

Podcasts from entrepreneurs. Company pages on LinkedIn of interest. Sermons.

When starting my gym business, I invested in several online coaching programs – some good – some bad…they all helped.

Started LLCs and DBAs online.

INSIGHT

The common thread running through conversations with Amy is passion – she says to “recognize what you are passionate about; the things that get you excited to wake up every day.” For her it is science, performing arts, and fitness. These manifest in wanting to help people “be better versions of themselves and help them do their jobs better by providing tools that have a proven positive track record.”

“Why put yourself in a box because of a degree?

Your job title or degree doesn’t define you. Take into consideration the skills you use on a daily basis; the skills you enjoy. Envision being happy and what that picture looks like….location, job environment, interactions, schedule, and anything else. Manifest your vision and speak it into existence every day. If you believe in yourself….really truly believe in yourself, you can make anything happen.”

MATT FRANCSIS - DATA SCIENTIST

PRE-PIVOT EDUCATION

BA, Geology & Geophysics

MS, Geology

PETROLEUM CAREER

6 years with a major

Last role was Senior Geologist

THE PIVOT

Online data science bootcamp through Thinkful focusing on: Python, data analysis, machine learning, natural language processing, and deep learning. Now a Data Scientist for an international data science consulting company.

SUGGESTED RESOURCES & READING

An article on Matt's transition can be found: here.

Matt's episode on the ExOilfield Resource Podcast can be found: here.

From other geologists:

Geoscience to Data Science Starter Pack: here

INSIGHT

"Everyone's transition out of the oil and gas industry is different. I certainly never expected to move into a new career after being laid off in 2018. However, over the course of several months of failure on the Geologist job hunt and increased enthusiasm about data science, my views changed and I opened my mind to new possibilities. This naturally led me down the data science path.

The main technical skills required of a data scientist are programming in Python or R, data analysis, and machine learning. Many "technical soft skills" are also necessary, like: critical thinking, project management, and technical communication -- all of which petrotechnical professionals should already possess.

There are three main paths to learn machine learning and data science: self-directed study, a bootcamp, or a traditional degree program. The right choice is different for everyone and I'm happy to help provide some initial guidance. Please reach out on LinkedIn"

Click for podcast interview.

SARAH STACY FITZ-GERALD - CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER

PRE-PIVOT EDUCATION

BS, Geology and Economics

MS, Geological Sciences

PETROLEUM CAREER

5 years with large independent

Last role was Geologist in New Business Development

THE PIVOT

A fourth generation Wyomingite, Sarah has always been passionate about making her state a place where anyone can chart their own path and fulfill any ambition. Despite enjoying the fast-paced world of oil and gas M&A at a large independent E&P company in Houston, she decided to make the leap to come home to serve her fellow Wyomingites in 2017. She combines her background in business development, along with her science and economics education, to develop and execute strategies for economic diversification in Wyoming. She is grateful to be able to fill her evenings and weekends with mountain biking, skiing, and hanging with her family in the beautiful landscape out her backdoor.

SUGGESTED RESOURCES & READING

Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. This book was written by two product design professors at Stanford and encapsulates a course that students there take. It shows how design thinking can help you create a life that is both meaningful and fulfilling. It’s a great read for times of transition.

INSIGHT

Recognize that being a geoscientist means a lot more than knowing industry jargon and best practices.

It means you know how to think. You know how to come up with an idea, test it, see what happens and try again. You know how to solve problems. You know how make a decision with millions and millions of dollars on the line. You know how to communicate why it’s a good decision. And you know how to do that with a diverse team. You know math. And you can probably start a fire, pitch a tent, and write in the rain.

You’re valuable and you’ve got this, fellow pivoter.

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