In this episode of The Energy Executive 360 Podcast, Sarim Sheikh breaks down the three forces that are fundamentally reshaping global energy markets in 2025: politics, artificial intelligence, and the collapse in battery storage costs.

Sarim explains why the political consensus around the “energy transition” has fractured, why oil’s resurgence surprised even seasoned analysts, and why coal — still responsible for the largest share of global emissions — remains the real problem the world must confront first.We explore why energy is a game of cents, not dollars — and how that reality is forcing governments and investors to rethink ideology in favour of economics.From Trump’s executive orders and their global signalling effect, to AI’s unprecedented speed of demand growth, to the grid failures that exposed transmission vulnerabilities — this conversation strips away slogans and looks at how energy systems actually work.But this episode isn’t just about markets.Sarim reflects on leaving Shell at a pivotal moment in his career, becoming one of the youngest country CEOs in the company’s history, and the three principles that have guided him ever since: people, impact, and learning.He shares his advice for young professionals on mastering the “drudgery” phase of growth, why staying close to your 12-year-old self matters, and why the most important leadership trait in crisis is being dispassionate.What you'll learn:⬛ Why 2025 disrupted the global energy narrative⬛ Why coal — not oil — is the biggest emissions challenge⬛ How Trump’s executive orders reshaped energy signalling globally⬛ Why AI demand is forcing unprecedented speed in energy investment⬛ The risk that AI could drive higher consumer energy bills⬛ How falling battery storage prices are changing baseload economics⬛ Why hydrogen and SAF must now prove themselves economically⬛ Why blackouts are transmission problems — not generation failures⬛ Why grid upgrades may become one of the biggest infrastructure opportunities of the decade⬛ The mindset shift required to make major career decisions⬛ Why being “dispassionate” is critical in moments of crisis⬛ Why mastery requires going through the mudFollow Sarim SheikhLinkedIn: / sarimsheikh The Energy Report Newsletter: / theenergy-report-7314011410521358336 The Energy Executive 360 with Emilio FaulmataFollow Emilio on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/EmilioFaulmataTEE360 Studio: https://www.emiliofaulmata.com► Conversations with the leaders shaping the real future of energy — beyond headlines, politics, and PR.#energymarkets #ai #energytransition #energysecurity #grid #batteries #coal #oilandgas #energyleadership #energypolicy #infrastructure #globalsouth