Issue #1. Daring to lead and mastering change with Nada Ahmed
Exploring the skills of an Energy Transition and Transformation Leader.
Welcome to the first issue of the Explorationists. In our corner of the web, you will clearly read about Clean and ClimateTech news/trends and about the visionaries shaping them. But also, and given our own backgrounds, we will once in a while, feature a leader of an incumbent company that is reinventing itself to serve society in a new way: delivering value in the Energy Transition.
And that’s the case of our interview with Nada Ahmed, VP Transformation at Aker Solutions.
Aker Solutions is a Norwegian engineering firm with a strong footprint, background and expertise in the O&G sector. But in pace with society, regulation and investor sentiment, they are pivoting and doing it quickly. Now apart from their traditional services they are also offering a whole catalogue of low-carbon products and services that target offshore wind, digitalization, Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS), among others.
#Low carbon solutions/Giphy.com
In their website Aker Solutions describe themselves as “...changemakers and accelerators. We are resilient, and we know from experience, that we are able to solve hard problems, even when they seem impossible. And we believe sustainable energy production is possible.”
So with that context, we were very curious in following up with Nada after we recorded our episode in the ClimateTech Talks episode - Daring to lead and Mastering change. If you haven’t listened to it, please do so, because Nada has lots of wisdom on multiculturalism and her views on leadership are truly refreshing (and needed) in the energy industry.
We interviewed Nada at the end of 2020. Yes, the year when everything came to a standstill and we all got used to running from Zoom to Zoom. In the background of our conversation, you could hear one of her kids running around. Surely a familiar image for many of us that have had to home-school. So how does she do it? Manage, survive and thrive at a crucial leadership role for Aker Solutions in this current environment?
Let’s find out… (This interview has been edited for clarity)
Explorationists (Es): Nada, When did you realize you wanted to go down the path of leadership?
Nada Ahmed (NA): I remember, even as a kid, I liked to take charge. I liked being in the forefront. I would gather my friends and cousins and dictate the rules of the play, assign responsibilities and solve problems as they surfaced. Most of the time my friends went along with what I had to say and other times there was dissent and conflict. Over time I learnt to incorporate other people's views and opinions.
I enjoyed taking on the leader role, especially when it was missing. It gave me decision making power, influence but most importantly (allowed me to) make the best use of time, which seemed limitless as a kid, and make it valuable, fun and worthwhile.
At work I learned that there is so much more to the world than what I know to be true.
(Es) How do you think your leadership style has evolved over time?
(NA): That leader in me has evolved over time, as I got feedback, and learned what worked and what didn't work. Through trial and error, I learned what earned me followers and what turned people away. As a teenager, I wanted to be liked, so I couldn't be too brash in my leadership style. In college I learned to include different voices and make people feel included. At work I learned that there is so much more to the world than what I know to be true.
Through the past decade of working, this has been further reinforced in me: leadership is work in progress and you have to continuously learn and adapt, that's why I call it Agile Leadership.
(Es): Do you think one needs special traits to be a leader?
(NA): I believe everyone can be a leader, but they have to invest the time and energy, to learn about themselves, what drives them, and how they can serve others through their leadership. If I was to choose three traits- it would be self reflection/self awareness, empathy and courage.
#Norway #Reflection. Photo: Tobias Bjørkli
(Es) How Would you describe your leadership style?
My leadership style is to some extent the result of my life experiences. However, it's only more recently, in the past 5 years did I become more deliberate and conscious of my leadership style. My style is rooted in my purpose, on why I want to be a leader. As I assume more leadership roles and manage bigger teams, this purpose has become clearer and clearer. My purpose is to build future leaders who will drive impactful change wherever they are. In whatever roles I take on, I'm committed to achieving results, but through building my team, by coaching and guiding them. By giving them opportunities to step and rise to the challenge. By building their confidence and helping them find the leader in themselves.
This deep conviction in my purpose, dictates my leadership style. I avoid being prescriptive and directive -unless I feel that is what is needed at that time. I believe in being hands-on with the team, by which I mean to be in close contact with them, have open communication channels, know what they are working on, and what challenges they are facing. I however, don’t believe in making decisions for them. I want to develop them into critical thinkers, who can assess the facts and the information they know, to come to their own conclusions. I want to learn from my team and to do that, I have to listen to them and not be the only one talking.
(Es) How do you empower your team?
(NA): I always ask myself, how can I give my team more power? I ensure they have all the information I have, I don't hold anything back. Since my purpose is very clear to me, it makes it easier for me to push my team forward, to be in the limelight.
(Es) How has living in many different countries impacted your leadership style?
(NA): In every single way! It has taught me the importance of diversity and inclusiveness in a team and how having different types of people in the team can really take us to the next level and see things we wouldn’t have seen otherwise. I am passionate about making sure everyone can show up as they are, as the best version of themselves, not hold themselves back because they are different. I want to create a safe place for my team and I really want them to be happy at work. I don’t want them to conform, because in my mind that is taking energy away from them that they can bring to their work- and that greatly impacts productivity. So I spend a lot of time getting to know the team, checking in with them and working with them to remove barriers that reduce their productivity.
(Es) Can you tell us more about agile leadership?
(NA): I define agile leadership as following and I use it to guide my leadership style every day
Empower by pushing down decision making
Get clarity on objectives for the team
Build a learning culture by allowing room for failure
Focus on people over process, be human centered.
Leadership is work in progress
As I said earlier, leadership is work in progress, and I am still learning and growing through my own experience but also learning from others around me and those who share their stories.
(Es) Can you tell us a bit on what drains you?
Sitting in front of a computer screen all day and not having much human interaction.
When people don’t make decisions.
When people micromanage and try to control every single thing.
Perfectionism is draining.
(Es) and what about the things that energize you?
Working with people gives me energy. I get energy from all tasks that involve building my team, so that includes having difficult conversations with them, which can be painful in the moment but renews our energy when we are through, because we end up usually resolving an issue that’s draining us. I get energy from being creative. That’s why I make sure to include creativity in my work, either through presentations, running workshops and doing other creative exercises with the team. I believe work is where one should be allowed to be their most creative self. I get energy from working on important impactful projects especially when they are dealing with innovation. I get energy from getting feedback on what's working well and what's not working so well, as that’s how I learn and grow.
Thank you Nada, we definitely need more leaders like you in the Energy sector, to ensure that the new generations of leaders get the visibility, empowerment and trust that they need to create the change required in the Energy Transition.
We also recommend some interesting reading and material this week:
Great map of the ClimateTech ecosystem in Europe courtesy of our friends at Sifted. Germany dominating the market!
Super exciting development in the CCUS front, with the formation of the JV among Total, Equinor and Shell. Northern Lights apart from being a great CO2 subsurface CO2 storage project, now becomes a company itself targeting the construction of a CO2 transport and CO2 market in Europe. In the word of the managing director, Børre Jacobsen:
“Carbon capture and storage is an integral part of our owner companies’ strategies. We deliver on this strategy by offering CO2 transportation and storage as a service. We will work with customers across Europe and across sectors to help the transition to net zero emissions. We are the first, and we will help others to follow”, said Northern Lights Managing Director, Børre Jacobsen.
David’s 2nd Alma Mater has launched a very exciting MOOC focusing on the Energy Transition. Please check it out.
If you’re curious, Nada is a truly cosmopolitan citizen (which has made her a truly aware manager), having lived in Pakistan, Hong Kong, US, France and for the last 10 years in Norway. Below a piece of music from her own soundtrack while in France.
And some more from yours truly, the writers (David & Daniel). Not the best voice, but a great Caracas cameo! We miss you beautiful city!