New Challenges

This month marks the beginning of a new chapter for me as I start working with customers across the oil, gas, and energy industries. After spending much of my career helping organizations use technology to modernize the way they operate, I’m excited to bring that experience into a space that is new to me.

And honestly, that’s part of what makes the opportunity so interesting. I have a lot to learn about the industry, the people who keep it moving, and the challenges they face every day. I’ve always believed that some of the best opportunities for growth happen when you step into unfamiliar territory with curiosity, listen to the people who know the business, and then figure out where technology can actually make a difference.

What excites me most is exploring what AI can mean in the real world. We spend a lot of time talking about models, agents, copilots, and the latest technology, but the technology itself isn’t the destination. The real question is what it enables people to do differently. How can AI help someone find the information they need faster? How can it reduce repetitive work, improve the way people interact with complex systems, or help an organization rethink a process that has worked the same way for years?

Those are the conversations I enjoy most. My goal isn’t simply to introduce customers to Microsoft AI. It’s to work alongside them to understand their challenges, identify where AI can create meaningful value, and turn promising ideas into solutions that actually work.

There’s also something energizing about being a student again. Oil, gas, and energy represent a world with its own language, technologies, processes and priorities, and I know I have plenty to learn. But after more than 25 years in technology, I’ve learned that you never really reach a point where the learning stops. The technologies change. Industries evolve. And every so often, you get the opportunity to step into a new arena and see what you can contribute.

That’s where I find myself today: bringing what I know about AI, cloud modernization, and technology strategy, while being humble enough to learn what I don’t know yet. I’m looking forward to seeing where this journey takes me and, more importantly, what we can build along the way.