Meet Komi

• Location: New Orleans, Lousiana
• University: University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE
• Studied: Chemical Engineering
• Joined Shell: August 2002

I wanted to be in the oil industry, and naturally I wanted to work for the top company. As a truly international corporation, Shell is able to offer what few companies can - endless opportunities to work in new environments with pioneering technology within a diverse global network of professionals and the privilege to be associated with one of the world leaders in the power industry.

I had offers from several different companies I had interned with during my college career, however Shell came up with the offer that fit my goals and needs - in the job and the responsibilities. Shell was willing to work with me to see what I was interested in, what my previous experience was, and where I'd be a valuable resource and get the most opportunity.

I knew several people who worked for Shell, and everyone that I met on my recruiting trips all said it's a great company to work for and that they enjoyed their jobs - which is really rare. The thing that really got me was that everyone involved in the recruitment process had my interests in mind - I didn't feel like I was just a name or number, but a real person.

I am a Production Engineer for Eugene Islands & Main Pass areas within the Mature Assets group in SEPCo where I am responsible for maximizing production at a minimized cost. Being new, there's a lot to learn before I can jump full into it, but I have been working on projects that help the team evaluate opportunities in the field.

With the mature assets, these are fields that have been working for 20-30 years. We really need to figure out how to milk the field for all it's worth. It goes into evaluating, planning and executing new opportunities and the possibilities for increased production within field, while maintaining low costs and always making safety our highest priority.

I like the flexibility within Shell and the encouragement for new ideas. There are certain expectations, but ultimately it's up to you to meet your goals and achieve success. They treat new hires as adults, and not just as new graduates who are still "wet behind the ears". Enthusiasm and creativity is not curbed, but is encouraged and seen as an asset.

I also like the diversity within the company and the opportunity for so many people from all different walks of life to come together and work as a team. Here, differences are seen as distinctiveness, tools that benefit team dynamics, and, ultimately, increase productivity and global awareness.

Really, though, it goes back to the fact that I'm getting to do what I want to do, where my interests lie. I am doing something I have been interested in for a long time and will continue to being interested in.

I get to learn a lot - there's a wide breadth of knowledge to acquire across the entire EP business and I'm really encouraged to learn everything. And should my interests shift several years down the line, I know there will always be an avenue for me to pursue them within Shell. It is the opportunity to discover one's self, capabilities and strengths that I appreciate.

I got the type of responsibility I was promised when I came in - there was a lot of confidence around what I could do and right when I came in, I got major projects to work on. I am a person who constantly needs to be moving and on the go, physically and mentally; my job and Shell, keep me challenged and stimulated to ensure my personal and professional growth and development.