In April, the SPE German Section Young Professionals (YPs) Lunch’n’Learn took place for the third time during the DGMK (German Society for Petroleum and Coal Science and Technology) Spring Conference in Celle, Germany. DGMK and the Austrian counterpart ÖGEW worked closely with the SPE German Section so that this YP event serves both groups' interests. The conference is well accepted among professionals and students as it offers a platform to educate on the current and future technologies of the fossil fuel industry and increasingly also the geothermal industry. The Lunch’n’Learn offered a great opportunity for YPs to learn more about the German Section of SPE and discuss various topics with regards to career development.
The event was fully booked with more than 30 YPs, including PhD students, attending. I welcomed the attendees and our guest speaker Thomas Rappuhn, DGMK chairman and former CEO of DEA Deutsche Erdoel AG.
Rappuhn gave us an inspiring presentation titled "From Petroleum Engineer to CEO: Options of a Professional Career." He took the audience through the different stations of his career while sharing important advices on the side. He considers building strong technical skills during the first years of one’s professional career to be highly significant for succeeding later on. Rappuhn advised that YPs should spend the time to learn as much as they can and take advantage of every possible opportunity to develop.
For those of us who aspire for a managerial career, in his opinion, it is necessary to know yourself, your personal weaknesses and strengths, and develop strong people skills such as understanding people and asking good questions. As a CEO, one should learn to work hand-in-hand with the work council and trust oneself and the employee, said Rappuhn.
During the question and answer session, YPs asked questions on mentorship, leadership, and how to successfully combine private and professional life.
In the second part of the event, I introduced the SPE organization to the attendees, highlighting the upcoming activities of the German Section, including dedicated events for YPs such as the 4th SPE German Section Young Professional Workshop. The workshop will take place during 19-20 September in Bremen, Germany and is a unique opportunity for YPs to meet with their peers, exchange knowledge, share experience, and build their professional network.
For more information on the activities of the German Section, visit https://connect.spe.org/germany/ or follow us on facebook @SPEgermany.
[The article was sourced from the author by TWA Editor Bruno Rivas.]