Brendan MacDougall

About me

I was born/grew up in: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

I now live in: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

I completed my training/education at: I have a bachelors in chemical engineering from the University of Calgary.

What I do at work

I work in a fast paced environment where we are making lots of decisions every day that are worth hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars. It is a really exciting job for people who like to work in teams and get to see some of the newest and coolest technology in the industry. There is lots of science and math involved in my job. I use all of my STEM skills on a daily basis to do my job. Physics and chemistry are a big part of what I do when we're designing and engineering equipment, processes and projects.

We get to meet with people from many different companies and from all over the world to try and come up with solutions to all the problems that arise from the work that we do. You'll most likely start your career working hands on as this is the best way to learn. Most people find their way back to an office job eventually but ultimately the choice is up to you if you want to work in the office or on site.

My career path is

I did French immersion and the International Baccalaureate program in high school. After graduation, I went straight into Chemical Engineering at the University of Calgary. I worked during my summers off and did a 14 month internship program after my third year. This gave me some valuable work experience (and some money to fund a Europe trip). I've always enjoyed math and science and my parents helped guide me towards engineering even though they're both teachers.

I think it's important to understand that engineering isn't the only option for people who are strong in math and science. There are many other programs that will help you get a job in the energy industry. I would highly encourage students in high school to sit down with their parents and counselor to understand all of the different options!

I am motivated by

I get to work with some of the brightest and smartest people in the world. It's great to work in an environment that is fast paced but also fun. You can make a lot of money but you also get to make a lot of friends. There are all kinds of opportunities to work at different places around the world. For example, my company is operating in over 30 countries. If you like to travel, it is a great industry to work in! At the end of the day, one of the best things about the energy industry is that there is such a diversity in the jobs that you can do. It isn't limited to one area. You can move from one function to another to learn about all kinds of different things.

How I affect peoples’ lives

Energy is at the heart of everything we do. Look around and you will see that almost everything we have and use either came from oil and gas or was made by using oil and gas (or some form of energy). By working for an energy company, I am a part of the Albertan and Canadian economy. I also get to help tackle some of the environmental issues facing the oil and gas industry. I take a lot of pride in doing the best that I can to fuel the world's growth but also by doing it the right way. This means doing my job ethically and professionally while looking out for the best interests of the public and the environment.

Outside of work I

I'm big into sports. I also enjoy volunteering which is convenient because my company is heavily involved in the community so there are always lots of opportunities to volunteer (like this awesome program)!

My advice to others

Talk to younger people who've just graduated to get their opinion. Sit down with your parents and counselor to understand the programs that universities offer. Send me an email!