Taproom Talks
Welcome to Taproom Talks, the podcast diving deep into the energy sector's entrepreneurial and leaders minds. Join us for candid conversations with leaders, exploring their journeys, leadership, product creation, investment strategies, and business sales. We uncover their challenges, failures, and triumphs, from career beginnings to private equity insights. Get inspired by the real stories shaping the future of energy. Tune in to uncork powerful narratives!
Episodes
36 episodes
The UK Operator Stamp: How John Anderson is Using North Sea Credibility to Win Big in Namibia and West Africa
In this episode Kenny Dooley is joined by John Anderson of Exceed, a Kent Company, and we learn that even the best-laid career plans can go wonderfully off track. How do you go from a trainee drilling engineer, getting hands-on, roughneck-level...
Digital Fatigue Is Real: Jason Brown on Why Operators Are Wasting Millions on Failed Tech—and How to Stop.
In this episode Kenny Dooley is joined by Jason Brown of Elementz. Did you know the energy sector is currently suffering from "fatigue" over failed digital transformation and AI projects? Jason, the CEO of Elementz—an industrial softw...
Ditching the 'Black Book': The Data-Driven Sales Pivot That Secured £2.5 Million - Colin Manson Pt.II
In this episode Kenny Dooley is joined by Colin Manson of Xergy/ Proteus (formerly Xodus) for round two, diving deep into the realities of scaling a tech business. Ever wondered what the biggest mistake a founder can make when building a brand ...
$15Bn and Counting: Sam Long on the UK's Decommissioning and the Risk of Losing the Supply Chain
In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny is joined by Sam Long of Decom Mission, the specialist trade association for decommissioning across the oil, gas, nuclear, and renewables sectors. Sam, the Chief Executive Officer, shares his unique...
**AMPLFY - BONUS EPISODE ** - 48 Hours to Execution: GDI Unlocks Shocking Speed in Offshore Repair and Fabrication
Taproom Talks is taking an early 'Spring Break' but why not try out our newest addition to the Global Energy Network Podcast Family: 'AMPLFY - The Energy Supply Chain'This show is a spotlight for Members...
Fortitude: From the Tools to CEO – Steve Rae on Global Leadership and Safety Culture
In this episode Kenny is joined by a returning guest as we dive into part 2 of Steve Rae's career journey. If you missed part 1 Steve spoke about his experience before, during and after the 1988 Piper Alpha Disaster but this time we ...
From Furniture Sales to Global Executive Search: Mary McIntyre's 12-Week Formula for CEO Recruitment
In this episode of taproom talks Kenny is joined by Mary McIntyre of Merrimac International, an executive search firm specialising in the global energy space, to discuss her extraordinary career journey. Mary shares how she navigated the...
630 Days and Counting: Martin Copeland on the Political Gridlock Threatening the Future of North Sea
In this episode Kenny is joined by Martin Copeland of Serica Energy, the company's CFO, for a deep-dive conversation covering his 30-year career transition from a banking background in leveraged and M&A finance to his current role in th...
Action Beyond Compliance: Steve Rae's Piper Alpha Experience and Its Impact on Industry Safety
In this episode Kenny is Joined by Steve Rae of Fortitude - Action Beyond Compliance to discuss his oil and gas career and the life-altering experience of the Piper Alpha disaster. Steve recounts his journey from the Aberdeen oil boom to...
Neil Carr Reveals How to Thrive in Oil & Gas by Doubling Down on Safety
In this episode Kenny is joined by Neil Carr of AMS Global Group, where he discusses his journey of co-founding the company.Neil, the Managing Director, shares how AMS Global was initially shelved in 2012 before relaunching in 2016/2017 ...
The $200 Million Lesson: How Bob Morgan Cracked the Code for Exponential Growth in the Middle East
In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny is joined by Bob Morgan of Baker Hughes, a Services and Projects Delivery Director in the Middle East, who discusses his two-decade career journey from a mechanical fitter in Aberdeen to a global leader. <...
Unfinished Business: Why ATPI's Zara Higgins Returned to Lead the Energy Division
In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny Dooley is joined by Zara Higgins of ATPI as she discusses her remarkable 22-year journey in commercial roles, beginning with cold-calling sales at a newspaper in Forfar at just 16. Zara shares her c...
Firefighting to Foresight: Dave Acton on Learning from the 2014 Industry Crash
In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny Dooley is joined by Dave Acton of Motive Offshore Group to trace his journey from a fisherman in Macduff and an ROV pilot working offshore in West Africa to becoming CEO of a global energy company. ...
How to Scale to 8,000 Sites Worldwide with Zero Working Capital - The Kevin Coll Story
In this episode Kenny Dooley is joined by Kevin Coll of Solab IT Services and Onboard Tracker where they cover his entrepreneurial journey from working in his family's bakery to launching two successful Aberdeen-based companies. Kevi...
The Hidden Cost of Growth: Why Xodus's CEO Felt "Naive" After Their First Sale w/Steve Swindell
In this episode Kenny is joined by Steve Swindell former CEO of Xodus where they discuss the truth behind building and scaling a 20-year energy consultancy. Steve reveals his unexpected career launch, from chemical engineering in apartheid Sout...
"The UK Government Is HELL-BENT on Killing the Oil Industry" - Conrad Ritchie
In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny is joined by Conrad Ritchie formally of Score Group and current chairman of multiple charities. Conrad dives into his nearly four-decade career in the oil and gas industry, starting as an apprentice the we...
Lessons from the North Sea, Aberdeen FC, and Life's Toughest Battles - The Career of George Yule
In this episode of Taproom Talks, Kenny is joined by Aberdeen legend George Yule, whose career spans from a British Rail apprenticeship and early North Sea oil days to the boardroom. George shares the profound lessons learned as a young ...
Stuart Broadley: The Full Story He's NEVER Shared Before
In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny is joined by Stuart Broadley of EIC to discuss his remarkable 35-year career journey, spanning from a young leader steering a challenging Rolls-Royce legacy business to transforming the Energy Industries C...
The Inquisitive Engineer: Chris Bird's Secrets to Outperforming Major Operators
In this episode Kenny is joined by Chris Bird of Riskwell, who is also the Chief Development Officer for Meridian Resources and the disciplined head of risk for Fiteq. Chris details his unique journey from an engineering apprenticeship to a dis...
The Real Story Behind The Last Breath with Deep-Sea Survivor Chris Lemons
In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny Dooley is joined by commercial diver and supervisor Chris Lemons to discuss his incredible journey in the deep-sea diving industry. Chris recounts his path from a "lost" young man to a saturation...
Big Partnership's Zoe Ogilvie: Unpacking a Career in Communications
In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny Dooley is joined by Zoe Ogilvie of Big Partnership. Zoe, who recently semi-retired, shares her journey in marketing and communications, from her early days in Paris, to establishing the Aberdeen office of ...
Navigating Change: Ian Ord's Insights on Digital Transformation and Business Culture
In this episode of Taproom Talks, Kenny is joined by Ian Ord of Fifth Ring, an Aberdeen-founded marketing communications business that has grown to serve clients globally. Ian shares his journey from aspiring accountant to advertising professio...
Phil Milton’s Playbook: Scaling a Startup in a Volatile Industry
In this episode of Taproom Talks, Kenny Dooley is joined by Phil Mote, CEO and co-founder of Well-safe Solutions. Phil shares his incredible journey from an apprentice at Halliburton to leading a company that's revolutioni...
Beyond Net Zero: The Future of Carbon Utilisation with Beena Sharma
In this episode of taproom talks Kenny is joined by Beena Sharma from CCU International. Beena shares her fascinating journey, from starting with a law degree to transitioning into the energy industry, and eventually co-foundi...
Building Empires with Colin Manson
In this episode of Taproom Talks, Kenny Dooley is joined by Colin Manson from Xergy Group, who shares his journey from chemical engineering to building successful businesses in the oil and gas industry. He recounts his early career at En...
