By Ash Patel, Marketing Specialist, The Open Group.
Recently we reached out to Patrick Kelly, Chevron, to discuss his role as the Newly Elected Chair of The Open Group OSDU® Forum. Upon talking to Patrick, we discussed his role, career journey, his business philosophy, and much more.
Patrick Kelly is a Product Line Manager Subsurface Data & Insights at Chevron. Patrick holds a BS in Economics from Penn State University and a MS in Technology Commercialization from The University of Texas at Austin – McCombs. Patrick joined Chevron in 2008 and has held various technical, project, and leadership roles prior to his current position. Prior to joining Chevron, he spent a decade working with enterprises consulting on global communications networks & internet infrastructure.
Please can you tell us about your occupation, and what made you get into your line of work?
I have always been interested in technology. I spent the early part of my career making technology work, and as my career progressed, I continued to be interested in not just how technology works, but why people want to use it. I think of myself as a builder, and I have most enjoyed roles where building products & teams come together. I am energized by fast paced change, learning by doing, and teaching others. I am currently in a product management role and have a focus on development and delivery of data, and AI platforms.
Please can you tell us about your journey in becoming the Elected Chair of The Open Group OSDU Forum?
I got involved in the OSDU Forum in early 2019, and I have been around since some of those early discussions. I was always excited to get involved in conversations in those early days with so many other people who shared similar challenges and wanted to work together to create better solutions. Once the community continued to grow, it was great to see opportunities to apply the same skills necessary to build digital products applied to industry-wide problems.
I always like to say that leadership is one of the most valuable contributions our members make to our community. That was really a recognition early on that to be successful it was going to take more of my time, and I needed to get on the same page with my organization.
I was fortunate to have my organization’s support to dedicate real time to this effort, which has been a major help to ensure that I can do the work that I pledged to do when I was elected to the position.
How important is collaboration to you?
Collaboration is particularly important to me. As I had mentioned one of the most exciting parts about the OSDU Forum was interacting with so many peers in our industry who share the same challenges and want to collaborate on solutions together.
One thing that I have always prized about working in any team is working with those who can teach you something. The opportunity to collaborate in the OSDU Forum with so many experts from across our industry is a huge draw. Collaboration can be hard, but the results are worth the extra effort.
What does the word ‘Community’ mean to you?
Community is another value that I hear often from our members. Coming together with a shared purpose, to work on shared problems, gives us the opportunity to collaborate. Working closely with those you admire and who can inspire you makes a community.
Not too long after the OSDU Forum was started, our world was turned upside down by a global pandemic. It was incredibly inspiring to me to see our community come together and through that hardship and still manage to accomplish incredible things. It was even greater still to see people come back together in person and see friendships forged over long calls and Slack messages get to ‘meet’ for the first time.
Are there any stories you would like to share that have shaped you professionally into the person you are today?
I cannot really think of a singular story that best explains what shaped me into the person I am today. I do believe that we are the product of our experiences, and I have been extremely fortunate to work with incredible people all over the world.
The opportunity to work with diverse teams across the world from the very beginning of my career had me hooked on technology as a career path. I am grateful for all the peers, leaders, and team members who have taught me lessons over the years and am looking forward to learning many more.
If you could develop a new type of technology, what would it be, and why?
This is a great question! Solving the world’s need for cleaner, affordable, and secure energy is at the top of my list. I really cannot imagine a better place to be working in technology these days than with Data and AI. Whether it is applying ML for faster and more effective characterization of potential CO2 storage sites, or the need for a smarter, more efficient electrical grid – data & AI will be a major force in helping us to transition our energy system to a sustainable one.
What is a business philosophy or principle that you follow?
Again, not sure there is a singular one here. I would say I always try to be curious, as I am always looking forward and thinking about ways to improve upon things. I will always spend time to review experiences for ways to improve, but I usually do not like to spend much time looking backwards. Along with curiosity, a top principle if you want to call it that is making the time and effort to listen. Listening carefully and with an open mind is one of the best ways to learn and improve.
Finally, what advice would you give to someone who is looking to work in your field?
Be curious and listen! If you are energized by constant learning and technology that moves incredibly fast, you are in the right place. The opportunity to work with an amazing and diverse group of people from every corner of the world is right in front of you. Hopefully, you are excited and energized about what is ahead; we need your help!
