The energy industry is having a moment. As assets become digitized, operations increasingly automated, molecules displaced for electrons, and capital more discerning, the biggest challenge is now people, instead of engineering. Specifically, where will the next generation of digitally fluent energy professionals come from?
At the same time, academic institutions, whose mission is to deliver qualified talent, are under grave financial pressure. International student revenue is collapsing, and many programs are out of step with the real-world digital needs of industry. Meanwhile, the workforce is retiring, and young professionals are turning away from careers in oil and gas.
In this episode,
Doug Cronk, an investment committee
advisor, and former
Academic Chair of Financial Services and Fintech at SAIT, sets out how the energy sector can
seize this moment. By repackaging existing academic offerings, combining them with data
analytics, AI, and energy domain knowledge, and co-creating programs that reflect the needs of a
digital energy economy, the energy sector can secure its future talent needs.
Doug argues that industry must lead, by articulating exactly what skills are needed, and why energy companies should present themselves as data-driven innovation platforms, not just extractive enterprises. This episode offers a clear-eyed assessment of the education-industry disconnect, the talent crisis looming over the sector, and the strategic opportunity to build the next generation of digital energy leaders.
👤 About the Guest
Doug Cronk is an experienced
board member, investment committee advisor, and former
Academic Chair of Financial Services and Fintech at SAIT. His career spans banking, pension fund management, and education, with a specialty in helping institutions adapt to technological and demographic disruption. Today, he sits on multiple boards where he evaluates long-term investment strategies and talent risk in capital-intensive sectors, including energy.
🛠️ Additional Tools & Resources
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⚠️ Disclaimer
The views expressed in this podcast are my own and do not constitute professional advice.
