Alayna Steinman, Director, Strategic Sales, DistributionNOW
What influenced your decision to enter the oil and gas industry?
I was fortunate to meet an oilfield legend at a golf tournament in Southern Illinois, Larry Dougherty, who retired this year from DistributionNOW after 39 years of service. He convinced me that both the company and the industry were a perfect fit to utilize my area of focus in university: International Management. He was right! I’ve conducted business in more than 20 countries with DNOW and have lived in both Dubai and Brazil. Oil and gas has been a wonderful place to utilize the my skillsets, and I consider myself very lucky to have worked with such a diverse workforce.
What was your impression of the industry beforehand, and how has it evolved?
Entering the industry, I never had any preconceived notions. I was eager to learn and make an impact, helping our business and our customers’ businesses run efficiently. It’s amazing how oil and gas has been able to quickly adapt to remain successful in such a challenging environment. All facets of the industry are working together to establish a better way through technological advancements, total cost of ownership reduction, and close partnerships between end users, suppliers and manufacturers.
What have you found to be the most surprising about the industry?
Every day I am in awe of the profound volunteerism and charitable efforts that are made on behalf of the oil and gas industry. In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, our companies and our customers embraced the “Houston Strong” ideals to make a real impact in our communities. I encourage anyone reading this to get involved with your organization’s charitable and volunteer efforts, and to participate in any affinity organizations that may be available.
What do you find most challenging and most rewarding about the industry or your work?
The industry has made many technological advancements, getting to first oil faster and safer. On the supply chain management side, I still see a huge opportunity for improvement. We are working through these challenges to realize real change for our customers in the form of tailored supply chain solutions. My most rewarding experiences have been implementing solutions that solve an internal or external customer’s unique problem, driving efficiency and cost savings.
Where do you hope to see the industry develop over the next five years?
I hope to see the industry continue to focus on advancing in operational safety, quality products and innovative technology. I also want to continue recruiting and developing young minds to bring in fresh ideas and pass on expertise.
What role do you believe you will play in the industry’s future?
The “I exist” statement I developed during PESA’s Executive Leadership Program simply defines the role I would like to play in the industry’s future: “I exist to make the music good, so you dance.” This philosophy applies to all aspects of our business, from enabling our employees to reach their professional and personal goals, to removing their roadblocks to grow market share and deliver successful initiatives, to making sure my customers are always priority one!
How has your involvement in PESA supported your career goals?
PESA has given me the opportunity to better myself through a variety of programs, conferences and leadership series. I feel that the organization plays an essential role in our industry, bringing together suppliers and end users in a collaborative format. There have been so many great speakers throughout the years, and networking opportunities are best-in-class.
Tell us about some of the people you’ve met while working in the industry. How have they impacted your thinking?
From the warehouse floor to the drilling floor, I have had the opportunity to work with some of the finest people in oil and gas. These individuals have shaped my thinking and taught me that solutions need to have an inherent value for all sides of the partnership.
What are you most excited about for your career, your company and your industry?
I am very excited about the emphasis that DistributionNOW has put on digital marketing and technology-based solutions for our customers. We’re getting our products to the end user faster and safer through point-of-use solutions like vendor-managed inventory, industrial vending machines, RigPAC® consignment containers, onsite supermarkets, truck kits, barcoding and RFID technology.
Additionally, DistributionNOW has created an affinity organization, R.A.D. Women (Retain, Attract, Develop), open to all company employees regardless of gender, to provide multiple learning and on-the-job skillset enhancement trainings. Being a part of these solutions for our industry and making a positive impact for our employees and customers, regardless of the position I hold, is very exciting.
What would you tell someone who is thinking about entering the oil and gas industry?
Join us! If you continuously work on your personal development and deliver on your customers’ and organization’s expectations, you will have a long, happy career. There are also very few industries that reach so many people worldwide. It is unbelievable.
What do you wish other people knew about oil and gas?
I wish more people knew about the selfless volunteer work and the good done by industry companies and individuals in our communities. I also want more people to know about the employment opportunities the industry provides for individuals globally. When I was young, I didn’t understand that oil and gas was more than just the gasoline at the pump. At that age I could never have imagined all of the work and precision it takes to get it there, or the huge variety of petroleum-based products that we take for granted in modern life.
