It's done.
Where to from here?
Wednesday 20 April 2011
Wednesday 13 April 2011
Timing
I went to meet my new boss today. I came back (still) really excited about my new job. A lot has changed even within Vopak in the 3 months, yet, I could feel my goosebumps.
I come back to my desk at Shell. A Certificate of Service. An email announcement of my move, citing "pursuit of opportunities outside".
21 July 2003 - 30 April 2011. It has been perfect while it has lasted. Thank you Mama Shell.
I come back to my desk at Shell. A Certificate of Service. An email announcement of my move, citing "pursuit of opportunities outside".
21 July 2003 - 30 April 2011. It has been perfect while it has lasted. Thank you Mama Shell.
Pace
I am guilty of having disappeared from here. Here is why (this is the update that I sent to my career coach):
"
1. Within Shell, my focus really has been on ensuring a professional closeout. I have done my best to make sure my work is neatly handed over to my successor. Now, I am tying up all loose ends. Senior leaders made a couple of attempts to offer me roles within Shell, to see if I would change my mind and stay on. Unfortunately, the roles were not very attractive anyway, so we have agreed to let things be. It is also an indication of the current environment within the company that good jobs are just not there. At least, that lets me leave on the note that my departure would be a loss. I hope to leave on very good terms, as one never knows what the future brings. Yet, to put it simply, I am reasonably confident that if sometime in the future, I wanted to return to Shell, the doors would remain open.
2. The most exciting bit has been my work in the renewable energy area:
· The fund manager has voluntarily transformed himself into my mentor figure.
· He insists that we need to create a personality for me as an expert in the field (e.g., if people google my name, I should turn up as a renewable energy expert).
· Upon his urging, I have spoken in a couple of conferences in KL and Shanghai as a renewable energy expert, in his place. I am also co-authoring an article or two. I am also considering volunteering to be on the advisory board of some clean energy NGOs.
· I have worked deals on his behalf, in Bangkok and Chennai, as a representative. Meeting potential investors (some, politically very well-connected) was a great experience for me, especially finding out that I could deal with them convincingly and confidently. Also, I realized I know a lot more subject matter than I thought.
· During a chat about what my career vision really was (about the time that Shell was trying to retain me), he challenged me to go back to Shell with an offer, saying, make me a senior vice president for the renewable energy work that Shell is doing, and I will take full responsibility to deliver. Well, somehow, I never found the courage to do that, even though he repeatedly urged me to.
· He is a degree-maniac, and has accumulated any number of credentials in economics, theology, sustainable development, etc., say one every five years, part-time. He also believes in actively participating in alumni networks to maintain his networks and to give back. He introduced me to some interesting further education opportunities – very different from the glamour MBAs that I was considering not too long ago. I also realized I have remained very quiet in my alumni networks for the last 12 years. The only time I got in touch with one, I ended up with this renewable energy opportunity – I wonder what else lies out there if I choose to harness the full potential of my existing contacts, given that I went to pretty decent schools. Also, I think I would be keen to give back to the schools that made me. I have listed this out as one of my mid-term projects. I might also pick a distance learning course on sustainable development (not now), to get some insights into the field and also to round out my qualifications in engineering and business.
· He has also asked me to help with another fund that he is managing, in the area of my expertise (petrochemicals). It is exciting work, combining my knowledge in petrochemicals and finance to make a $2 bln project happen, challenging senior management about their business model, etc.
· He has also let me know that he will eventually return to the US in government service. He would like me to pick up half the stakes in his company (more a brokerage/fund management company, so no assets, and hence very low costs to me) and then use the brand name to build my own business, while paying him a share for any business I might bring in. Also, I can help oversee some of the stuff he might leave behind. Some say it sounds too good to be true. It will be on top of my full-time role (he insists I look at it as a sapling venture I can nurture while doing a day job) – so I am trying to do my homework first to see if it will work. For all we know, I might be a clean energy entrepreneur-on-the-side, soon.
· In line with creating an online persona for myself, I intend to set up a climate change blog + editorial. I even thought of calling it “The Bridge”. I have not started on it yet, as I have just not had the time.
3. During those days contemplating MBAs and high-paying Investment Banking / Consulting careers, I had sent in a casual application to McKinsey (a leader in management consulting). Out of the blue, I was called for a telephone interview yesterday. It went unexpectedly well, as I was generally feeling relaxed. Also, I had a wonderful time telling them really honest stories about my pro-bono work, my intended career transition from conventional to renewable energy, my entrepreneurial and leadership ideas/ambitions. It seems I might have struck the right cord, thinking aloud in this manner. Let us see if something brews. Just keeping my mind open to possibility.
4. Photography:
· I spent a Saturday trying to learn how to use the editing software that my wife bought for me in January. To my pleasant surprise, I found out it was just what I was looking for, to help me build my photography portfolio.
· I also went on my 4-day photography workshop with a well-known travel photographer in Vietnam (a gift from Julie as well). It was perfect, and the highlight was a full morning that we spent walking the streets, just me and the photographer, me trying to pick up the tricks of his trade. It was a relaxed trip as well, a letup from all the rush. I am excited about processing my photographs from that trip.
5. My wife, brother and I also discovered a volunteer organization run by young visionaries to help domestic helpers in Singapore pick up life skills and come out of the vicious cycle. Julie and my brother have already started committing their time to it, but I look at it as another volunteering opportunity for the future.
6. Overall, things have been moving at speed, and have been very colorful. I have burnt some midnight oil, and more or less woken up every morning not knowing what to expect from the day. Sometimes, I also worry that this pace is not sustainable. My reliable indicator – the number of unread issues of The Economist (now 2.5) – does not look good. I have not exercised (my fitness is heading in the wrong direction). I have not read a single book. My blog lies dormant. I have to consider slowing down at some point. In a couple of weeks, Julie and I have a 11-day holiday in magical Bhutan, where we intend to slow down, put our feet up, and take stock (and photos, of course).
7. Yet, I have still found time to do some of the things I (and we) really love. I supported India’s successful cricket world cup campaign every step of the way, even flying down to India to watch a couple of games in person. Seeing Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni finally triumph reinforced my belief in the virtues of professionalism and balance. We watched the Lion King musical, yet, in line with the general theme, we almost did not make it to the show on time. We thoroughly enjoyed another Korean-pop musical with very close friends and enjoyed a couple of great meals during Singapore Restaurant Week. We visited my parents and ailing grandparents in India. Life seems more or less normal.
8. Of course, on top of this, I have my new job to start on 1 May, right after we return from Bhutan. The only preparations I am making for that change are those in my mind (and buying a new suit). I am excited.
"
"
1. Within Shell, my focus really has been on ensuring a professional closeout. I have done my best to make sure my work is neatly handed over to my successor. Now, I am tying up all loose ends. Senior leaders made a couple of attempts to offer me roles within Shell, to see if I would change my mind and stay on. Unfortunately, the roles were not very attractive anyway, so we have agreed to let things be. It is also an indication of the current environment within the company that good jobs are just not there. At least, that lets me leave on the note that my departure would be a loss. I hope to leave on very good terms, as one never knows what the future brings. Yet, to put it simply, I am reasonably confident that if sometime in the future, I wanted to return to Shell, the doors would remain open.
2. The most exciting bit has been my work in the renewable energy area:
· The fund manager has voluntarily transformed himself into my mentor figure.
· He insists that we need to create a personality for me as an expert in the field (e.g., if people google my name, I should turn up as a renewable energy expert).
· Upon his urging, I have spoken in a couple of conferences in KL and Shanghai as a renewable energy expert, in his place. I am also co-authoring an article or two. I am also considering volunteering to be on the advisory board of some clean energy NGOs.
· I have worked deals on his behalf, in Bangkok and Chennai, as a representative. Meeting potential investors (some, politically very well-connected) was a great experience for me, especially finding out that I could deal with them convincingly and confidently. Also, I realized I know a lot more subject matter than I thought.
· During a chat about what my career vision really was (about the time that Shell was trying to retain me), he challenged me to go back to Shell with an offer, saying, make me a senior vice president for the renewable energy work that Shell is doing, and I will take full responsibility to deliver. Well, somehow, I never found the courage to do that, even though he repeatedly urged me to.
· He is a degree-maniac, and has accumulated any number of credentials in economics, theology, sustainable development, etc., say one every five years, part-time. He also believes in actively participating in alumni networks to maintain his networks and to give back. He introduced me to some interesting further education opportunities – very different from the glamour MBAs that I was considering not too long ago. I also realized I have remained very quiet in my alumni networks for the last 12 years. The only time I got in touch with one, I ended up with this renewable energy opportunity – I wonder what else lies out there if I choose to harness the full potential of my existing contacts, given that I went to pretty decent schools. Also, I think I would be keen to give back to the schools that made me. I have listed this out as one of my mid-term projects. I might also pick a distance learning course on sustainable development (not now), to get some insights into the field and also to round out my qualifications in engineering and business.
· He has also asked me to help with another fund that he is managing, in the area of my expertise (petrochemicals). It is exciting work, combining my knowledge in petrochemicals and finance to make a $2 bln project happen, challenging senior management about their business model, etc.
· He has also let me know that he will eventually return to the US in government service. He would like me to pick up half the stakes in his company (more a brokerage/fund management company, so no assets, and hence very low costs to me) and then use the brand name to build my own business, while paying him a share for any business I might bring in. Also, I can help oversee some of the stuff he might leave behind. Some say it sounds too good to be true. It will be on top of my full-time role (he insists I look at it as a sapling venture I can nurture while doing a day job) – so I am trying to do my homework first to see if it will work. For all we know, I might be a clean energy entrepreneur-on-the-side, soon.
· In line with creating an online persona for myself, I intend to set up a climate change blog + editorial. I even thought of calling it “The Bridge”. I have not started on it yet, as I have just not had the time.
3. During those days contemplating MBAs and high-paying Investment Banking / Consulting careers, I had sent in a casual application to McKinsey (a leader in management consulting). Out of the blue, I was called for a telephone interview yesterday. It went unexpectedly well, as I was generally feeling relaxed. Also, I had a wonderful time telling them really honest stories about my pro-bono work, my intended career transition from conventional to renewable energy, my entrepreneurial and leadership ideas/ambitions. It seems I might have struck the right cord, thinking aloud in this manner. Let us see if something brews. Just keeping my mind open to possibility.
4. Photography:
· I spent a Saturday trying to learn how to use the editing software that my wife bought for me in January. To my pleasant surprise, I found out it was just what I was looking for, to help me build my photography portfolio.
· I also went on my 4-day photography workshop with a well-known travel photographer in Vietnam (a gift from Julie as well). It was perfect, and the highlight was a full morning that we spent walking the streets, just me and the photographer, me trying to pick up the tricks of his trade. It was a relaxed trip as well, a letup from all the rush. I am excited about processing my photographs from that trip.
5. My wife, brother and I also discovered a volunteer organization run by young visionaries to help domestic helpers in Singapore pick up life skills and come out of the vicious cycle. Julie and my brother have already started committing their time to it, but I look at it as another volunteering opportunity for the future.
6. Overall, things have been moving at speed, and have been very colorful. I have burnt some midnight oil, and more or less woken up every morning not knowing what to expect from the day. Sometimes, I also worry that this pace is not sustainable. My reliable indicator – the number of unread issues of The Economist (now 2.5) – does not look good. I have not exercised (my fitness is heading in the wrong direction). I have not read a single book. My blog lies dormant. I have to consider slowing down at some point. In a couple of weeks, Julie and I have a 11-day holiday in magical Bhutan, where we intend to slow down, put our feet up, and take stock (and photos, of course).
7. Yet, I have still found time to do some of the things I (and we) really love. I supported India’s successful cricket world cup campaign every step of the way, even flying down to India to watch a couple of games in person. Seeing Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni finally triumph reinforced my belief in the virtues of professionalism and balance. We watched the Lion King musical, yet, in line with the general theme, we almost did not make it to the show on time. We thoroughly enjoyed another Korean-pop musical with very close friends and enjoyed a couple of great meals during Singapore Restaurant Week. We visited my parents and ailing grandparents in India. Life seems more or less normal.
8. Of course, on top of this, I have my new job to start on 1 May, right after we return from Bhutan. The only preparations I am making for that change are those in my mind (and buying a new suit). I am excited.
"
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