Taproom Talks

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In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny Dooley is joined by commercial diver and supervisor Chris Lemons to discuss his incredible journey in the deep-sea diving industry. Chris recounts his path from a "lost" young man to a saturation diver, detailing the challenging, high-pressure reality of the job, including the mental toll of living in a confined chamber for 28 days. The conversation also explores the catastrophic 2012 incident where a computer failure left him stranded on the seabed, his miraculous survival attributed to a combination of cold and the effects of breathing a specific gas mixture at depth. Furthermore, he offers an honest critique of safety standards and the "tick-box" culture in the offshore sector, contrasting the North Sea's environment with standards in other regions, and shares the profound lessons in leadership, resilience, and absolute trust that define his career.

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In this episode of Taproom Talks Kenny Dooley is joined by Zoe Ogilvie of Big Partnership. Zoe, who recently semi-retired, shares her journey in marketing and communications, from her early days in Paris, to establishing the Aberdeen office of Big Partnership. 

She discusses the challenges and triumphs of growing a successful agency, the importance of company culture, leadership through communication, and the evolution of the PR and marketing industry. Zoe also touches on her passion for football and her role as a director for Aberdeen Football Club, as well as her love for water skiing. 

This episode offers valuable insights into building a career, fostering a strong team, and adapting to industry changes, all while maintaining a personal touch and a "be nice to know" philosophy.

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In this episode of Taproom Talks, Kenny is joined by Ian Ord of Fifth Ring, an Aberdeen-founded marketing communications business that has grown to serve clients globally. Ian shares his journey from aspiring accountant to advertising professional and the founding of Fifth Ring in 1993. He discusses the evolution of the agency from a generalist to a B2B specialist in the energy industry, its international expansion to Singapore and Houston, and the significant impact of the digital world on marketing and PR over the last 35 years. Ian also touches on the company's culture, its acquisition by DC Thomson, his current role as Global Director of Sunlight, and the importance of "owning your space" in business. He offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, reflecting on the stigma of failure in the UK compared to the US, and shares his personal experiences with cancer and his passion for cycling and charitable work. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the role of AI in marketing.

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In this episode of Taproom Talks, Kenny Dooley is joined by Phil Mote, CEO and co-founder of Well-safe Solutions. 

Phil shares his incredible journey from an apprentice at Halliburton to leading a company that's revolutionising the decommissioning sector in the oil and gas industry. Discover the challenges of starting a business from scratch, navigating market downturns like Covid and the EPL levy, expanding globally to Australia and Southeast Asia, and the importance of talent and investment in a complex and ever-evolving industry. Get insights into Well-safe's unique modular approach to well lifecycle services and their vision for the future of the North Sea and beyond.

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In this episode of taproom talks Kenny is joined by Beena Sharma from CCU International.

Beena shares her fascinating journey, from starting with a law degree to transitioning into the energy industry, and eventually co-founding CCU International. She discusses the challenges of commercialising carbon capture technology, the importance of carbon utilisation, and the misconceptions surrounding carbon capture and storage.

Beena also talks about her work with Women in New Energy and Internet Zero, highlighting the need for diversity and role models in the energy transition space. Finally, she offers valuable advice for entrepreneurs and startups in the clean tech industry.

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In this episode of Taproom Talks, Kenny Dooley is joined by Colin Manson from Xergy Group, who shares his journey from chemical engineering to building successful businesses in the oil and gas industry.

He recounts his early career at Enterprise Oil and Genesis, leading to the founding of Exodus in 2005, which rapidly grew to 750 people. Manson discusses the sale of Exodus to a Japanese company in 2013, reflecting on the challenges and lessons learned. He then details the creation of Xergy Group, a tech business focused on the Proteus project management system, which aims to integrate AI for proposal writing and project optimisation. Manson also touches on his leadership style, the importance of a strong management team, and offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

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In this episode of Taproom Talks, Kenny Dooley sits down with Mark Skinner of Scotsbridge. Mark shares his journey from an apprentice mechanic to managing director of John Bell Pipeline, detailing how he and Brian Thompson grew the company and navigated the cyclical oil and gas industry.

He also discusses the decision to sell John Bell Pipeline to Bianco Group and his subsequent role in internationalising their businesses, which ultimately led to the creation of Scotsbridge.

Mark provides insights into assisting UK businesses in developing within Southeast Asia, focusing on the ASEAN region, and offers advice on leadership, building niche businesses, and the future of the North East's energy sector. He emphasises the importance of mentorship and giving back, drawing from his own experiences.

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In this powerful episode of Taproom Talks, host Kenny Dooley sits down with Steve Beedie of Unspoken Wounds. Steve shares his incredibly raw and honest journey, from a challenging childhood in Banff and joining the Army at 16, to enduring harrowing tours in Kosovo and Iraq. He recounts the traumatic experiences that led to his struggles with PTSD, including a deeply affecting incident in Kosovo and the murder of six RMP in Basra.Steve opens up about his multiple suicide attempts, the immense personal toll of his mental health battles, and how finding Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" became a pivotal turning point. He discusses his transition from the military to the offshore oil and gas industry, and ultimately, his decision to leave a financially secure career to dedicate himself to Unspoken Wounds.Discover how Unspoken Wounds, initially a veterans' charity, evolved to support the loved ones of servicemen, and now helps energy companies foster open conversations about mental health. Steve passionately emphasizes the importance of asking for help, arguing that it's the bravest act and that a career is "just a fucking career" compared to one's life and family. This episode is a profound exploration of resilience, vulnerability, and the transformative power of addressing unspoken wounds

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This episode of Taproom Talks features Kenny Dooley in conversation with Davis Larrsen, the CEO of Proserv. Davis, with over 30 years in the energy industry, shares his journey from the North East of England to leading a global company headquartered in Aberdeen. He discusses his progression from a financial analyst at Schlumberger to CEO, crediting strong mentors and a willingness to embrace uncomfortable challenges. Davis also highlights Proserv's strategic pivot into renewables, focusing on control technologies for cable monitoring and wind turbine systems, and the challenges of transitioning from traditional oil and gas. He emphasizes the importance of a strong, globally consistent company culture built on honesty, respect, and "winning behaviors," and calls for a long-term, cross-party energy policy for the UK.

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In this episode of Taproom Talks features Kenny Dooley in conversation with Tristam Horn, an energy entrepreneur and former drilling engineer who founded Delta Tech in 2015. Tristam shares the challenging journey of building Delta Tech from the ground up, navigating early R&D, funding struggles during the 2015 oil price crash, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on his business and personal life. He discusses the critical role of organizations like the OGTC (now Net Zero Technology Centre) in fostering new technology adoption, the importance of intellectual property, and Delta Tech's eventual acquisition by Expro. Tristam, now a senior product line manager at Expro, also touches on the cultural shift from a nimble startup to a global company and his passion for developing new technologies in the energy sector.