If you are building a career in energy — whether you’re a graduate, mid career professional, or senior leader — this conversation matters.

The sector is evolving fast. Expectations around safety, sustainability, leadership and reputation have shifted dramatically. The pace of change is increasing. And for many of you listening, the question is no longer just “How do I succeed?” but “How do I build something meaningful and transferable?”

In this episode, I speak with Jamie Young, former Risk Director at BP, who shares reflections from a 40 year career across oil & gas and mining.

Jamie started as an apprentice in the North Sea and went on to lead global risk methodologies supporting executive leadership. Along the way, he experienced near fatal incidents, witnessed major industry disasters, and helped shape strategic responses to events that changed the sector permanently.

We talk about what has genuinely improved in energy — particularly around safety culture and systems thinking — but also about the new challenges facing the industry: instability, cyclical restructures, technology disruption, and the importance of personal reputation.

This is a grounded discussion about purpose, risk, leadership and how to show up well in a high stakes sector.

💡 Three Key Takeaways

🔹 Purpose isn’t abstract — it’s built from what you care about

Jamie’s sense of purpose didn’t appear overnight. It emerged from lived experience — from seeing what goes wrong and deciding to contribute to preventing it. Purpose is often found at the intersection of what affects you deeply and where you can add distinctive value.

🔹 The industry is safer — but less stable

Oil and gas has made major strides in process safety, systems thinking, and operating discipline. However, career stability is no longer guaranteed. Reorganisations, volatility and existential pressures mean professionals must think long term and transferable.

🔹 Reputation now matters more than ever

Doing good work is essential — but it must also be visible. In a cyclical industry, how you are perceived, how you collaborate, and what you are known for can influence opportunities and resilience.

🎯 Three Actionable Takeaways

📝 Define what you want to be known for

Write down three words that describe the professional you want to be. Align your behaviour and decisions to those words. Review them annually.

🗣 Practise a 90 second professional summary

Be able to clearly and succinctly explain who you are, what you stand for, and the value you bring. This is essential for interviews, networking, and internal visibility.

🌍 Build a network before you need one

Attend events, connect on LinkedIn, follow up with short conversations. Relationships built early provide optionality later — especially in a cyclical sector.