Jose Sagaseta, Account Director, Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure, is a graduate of the Executive Leadership Program. He recently shared his insights on the energy services and technology sector.
ENERGY WORKFORCE: What is your role with the company? What does a typical day look like?
Jose Sagaseta: I lead and execute our sales plan for several of our accounts in the Gulf Coast region. I leverage my relationships with the outstanding products and services we provide to the industry, creating value for our customers in the sand storage process of a hydraulic fracturing job.
EW: Why did you join the energy industry? Was there an individual who influenced your decision? Was there an event or piece of technology that got you excited?
JS: When I moved back to Texas, my brother-in-law Mando Valdez suggested I pursue a career in oil and gas following his success in the industry and leveraging my engineering background. He was very candid and said, “You will have to earn your stripes and work hard, but I’m sure someone like you will make an impact and grow in this industry.” He was not wrong. I owe it to him that I have not only enjoyed but thrived in this industry.
EW: What individual has been most instrumental in helping with your career? What did their mentorship look like, and how did it guide your path?
JS: Throughout my career, I have had the fantastic opportunity to work with some of the brightest people in the industry and have had several mentors who always shared great advice with me. If I had to pick the one that most impacted my career, Jeff Stocker (RIP) always made sure I remembered that the value of my words is my most important asset.
EW: What was your impression of the industry beforehand and how has it evolved?
JS: The industry I joined seemed unorganized and ineffective, but I was wrong. I soon realized leadership here is more focused on efficiencies, data and technological advancements than most. Profitability and permanence depend on these critical factors.
EW: What has surprised you most about the industry?
JS: Its resilience and ability to adapt to the many changes and challenges it faces in its cyclical nature. This industry has focused on innovation and risk-taking; focused on the greater good regardless of its detractors.
EW: Where do you hope to see the industry develop over the next five years?
JS: I hope society better understands the benefits and progress the oil and gas industry has brought to the world. I know that energy transition is vital for future generations; however, we will never get there without the responsible and efficient use of oil and gas today.
EW: What role do you believe you will play in the industry’s future?
JS: I believe my generation will have a true and lasting impact on the industry. We are in the midst of a change in leadership styles, where data, the environment and society act as a catalyst for the future. I believe I will be part of this lasting change in an active role.
EW: How has your involvement in Energy Workforce supported your career goals?
JS: The training and networking I have had the opportunity to be a part of are invaluable. Not only have I met people in the industry with diverse perspectives, but the whole experience has also molded how I lead at work; most importantly, it has helped me revitalize my career goals.
EW: Who are one or two individuals you’ve met while working in the industry who have impacted your thinking?
JS: Sean Sweeney, my executive coach through Energy Workforce’s Leadership Program, has undoubtedly opened my mind to new ideas and possibilities, guided me, elevated my abilities and impacted the professional I am today. My current manager and CFO, Kyle Ramachandran, is outstanding and has allowed me to have an impact on our future by letting me stay curious and always providing me with an opportunity to learn something new.
EW: What’s a technology or innovation you’ve seen in the sector that impressed you?
Today, we can monitor and sometimes execute operations in real-time, even if these happen many miles away. The use of these smart technologies has not only boosted ESG performance and optimized efficiencies but also taken our industry to the next level by digitally connecting the wellsite and the office.
EW: What advice would you give someone just getting started in the oil and gas industry?
JS: Get involved, be a dynamic part of the industry in any way possible, join groups like the Energy Workforce & Technology Council, stay connected, network and ask as many questions as possible. There is always someone willing to share their years of knowledge or hours of experience.
EW: What do you wish other people knew about oil and gas?
JS: We are not villains. We care for our planet’s and society’s well-being more than other industries. Without fossil fuels, the world would not be what it is today; from the food on our tables to the heart valves placed on patients, they all have part of the fossil fuel chain in one way or another. We agree there are some greener substitutes for products made from oil derivatives today, but not all fall in that category.
EW: What do you do for fun?
JS: I love spending time with my family and enjoy supporting my kid’s after school sports and activities.
EW: What’s your idea of a perfect vacation?
JS: A lovely sunny beach with my wife and kids, and if we can include some fishing, that would be a total win for me.
EW: What’s a fun fact that people would never guess about you?
JS: I was a co-writer of several fire safety standards in Mexico.
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