A Glimpse into Mastery: Unveiling Personal Branding in Engineering

It is interview time! Today I speak with Yogashri Pradhan, MBA, P.E. an Operations Performance Analyst at Chevron. Let's hear from someone who's navigated the ups and downs of the industry, from the early bumps and layoffs to making strategic leaps across the vast terrains of Midland and Delaware basins, and finally landing a role that feels just right at Chevron. But that's not all – she's also taken a dive into the digital world, creating a YouTube channel about breaking down the oil and gas industry for those who are keen but might not have someone to turn to. From tackling the tricky imposter syndrome to highlighting the real deal about mentorships and the power of a personal brand in today's social-media-driven age, this chat's got some real talk from someone who's lived it and is here to share it. So, for all you engineers out there looking for a relatable and real story, this one's for you.

Me: Was petroleum engineering a field you always wanted to pursue, or did your surroundings and environment influence this choice?

Yogashri: Yeah, it was influenced by my surroundings. I remember being at this all-girls engineering camp, and they had this day where different people from various engineering sectors came to talk to us. The folks from the petroleum industry were there, and something about what they shared just clicked with me.

Me: Can you recall any specific insights or moments from the industry professionals that particularly resonated with you?

Yogashri: Usually you don't remember what people say, you remember how they make you feel. They <petroleum engineers> were really nice and talked about their work in a way that just made it sound fascinating. Plus, I had this material about petroleum engineering, about producing oil and gas, and how it changes people's lives. It just sounded so cool to me.

Me: You mentioned earlier that your initial career steps were brief before transitioning. Could you walk us through how these transitions led you to your current role?

Yogashri: Sure, it's been quite a journey. I got laid off from my first job, and then again from my second job a couple of years later. When oil prices started picking up again, I knew I wanted to go back to Midland. I ended up working there for about four years. Then, after gaining all that experience in the Midland basin, I felt like I needed to learn about the Delaware basin too, so I made a switch. Eventually, I was looking for more growth and development opportunities, which led me to Chevron.

Me: What types of operational experiences have you been exposed to in your current role?

Yogashri: Right now, it's a lot about figuring out how to get more out of our operations, like finding ways to optimize production, cut down on downtime, and get better at using artificial lifts. I'm not out in the field as much yet, but I'm starting to get more involved and working with all this real-time data.

Me: Looking ahead, do you have specific goals or milestones you're aiming for in your career? How do you approach planning for the future – is it a series of strategic steps, or do you adapt to opportunities as they arise?

Yogashri: I've got some goals, sure. But I've learned that in this industry, you've got to be open to what comes your way. Sometimes, the opportunities that pop up aren't what you expected, but they still push you closer to where you want to be.

Me: You mentioned your involvement with SPE and a YouTube channel. Can you share more about the channel's focus and the types of content you produce?

Yogashri: I always thought about doing YouTube but wasn't sure what to focus on. I just didn't know what it would be about, but I realized, I'm passionate about the oil and gas industry. I like technical contributions. Why don't I talk about technical things, let's see who can relate. I started thinking about students or young professionals who might not have someone in the industry to talk to but can find YouTube. That's how my channel started, focusing on oil and gas and and professional development topics.

Me: Starting your YouTube channel and building your personal brand must have been a significant step. Did you ever encounter imposter syndrome, especially when comparing yourself to industry veterans, and how did you navigate these feelings?

Yogashri: I used to have an imposter syndrome with respect to my own knowledge, but one thing I've learned is that not everyone knows everything, and what also helps is the fact that shale, like the shale revolution, for example, there's some people that started their careers during the shale revolution, like myself, in unconventionals. But that also means that there's people with 30 years of oil and gas experience that's also learning unconventionals at the same time. So I realized we were all trying to figure out uncharted territory.

Me: Moving to SPE, I understand they have a mentorship program. Have you participated, and if so, what has been your experience?

Yogashri: The Young Professionals program in the Gulf Coast section is really helpful. There's so much going on in the Gulf Coast section. There's so many events, there's community service, there's a study for everything, like reservoir, completion and production, drilling, business development, R&D, etc. I found that face-to-face mentorships really work best for me, but SPE's e-mentoring is pretty cool too because it lets you reach out and connect with people you might not otherwise meet.

Me: Study groups and support networks often seem tailored for those in the early stages of their career. How do you believe such resources can benefit professionals with 15 to 20 years of experience?

Yogashri: Well, even if you've been in the game for a long time, getting involved in these groups can give you a chance to share your knowledge and maybe even learn something new. You can be a speaker at those events and provide knowledge. You can organize events and apply your leadership skills into organizing those events, because, yes, a lot of young professionals do take up those study group positions and learn how to influence without a paycheck, but I think a lot of it is paying it forward, putting your name out there. It's a great way to give back, and who knows, you might make some valuable connections that can help you too.

Me: It's often said that having guidance in the early stages of a career can be invaluable, as well as during transitions. From your perspective, why is mentorship crucial, even when one might navigate their career independently?

Yogashri: I'm passionate about mentoring, and interesting thing is that when you mentor or when you teach, you retain a lot of the knowledge too. It's a great way to solidify what you know, and it's amazing how the people you help might end up helping you down the line. It's all about paying it forward and building up your network.

Me: For someone just starting out in their career, what advice would you offer on building a personal brand from the outset, and why do you consider it important?

Yogashri: I'd say focus on making real connections with people. It's not just about networking for the sake of it, but really getting to know people and understanding their challenges and stories. That's how you build trust and a network that supports you. And hey, helping others along the way only makes your brand stronger.

Me: Your personal brand has certainly made an impact, leading me to you. In the field of engineering, where technical prowess is paramount, how do you envision the role of personal branding evolving, especially in an era dominated by social media influencers?

Yogashri: Personal branding is getting more important, for sure. Our generation and the ones after us are all over digital platforms: they're on TikTok, they're on Instagram, they're on YouTube, they're into all of those fun things. And I think it's going to be more and more important and it's going to be a part of our branding. So, being visible and sharing your expertise online is becoming a key part of making your mark in the industry.

Me: Thank you very much Yogashri. I've thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and appreciate your insights.

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