NATE JOHNSON
Class of 2018
B.S. Petroleum Engineering – Summa Cum Laude
Energy MBA - University of Oklahoma
Operations Engineer, EQT Production
How did your education at the University of Oklahoma prepare you for a career?
One of the biggest impacts was my opportunity to get so involved with student organizations, like the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Taking leadership roles in these organizations helped me grow and learn as a communicator and worker. Balancing these organizations with school work was a great way to prepare for managing multiple projects at work now. I’m better at keeping organized and keeping projects with multiple, moving parts on schedule because of those experiences.
What inspires you most about your work?
I love being asked to take on challenging projects every week. I came into EQT at the change of an entire executive team. An entirely new organizational structure and business plan are being implemented. This situation has put me into a position to change how things are done in my department, because everything is under a microscope. I get more freedom to get creative than I would have if I was in an organization that has been relatively steady-state for a long time.
What advice do you have for our current students?
Keep working and never get too down on yourself. Everyone experiences tough times throughout studies and work, and your success and reputation will entirely depend on how you react in those tough times.
If there are one or two things that have made you successful in your career, what would they be?
The first thing would be that I always keep a positive attitude and a smile on my face. I believe that this practice helps keep my interactions with people positive, and I think that has a noticeable impact on making communication easier. The second thing would be that I try to treat everyone with respect and try to learn something from everyone that I meet. I think this also has a greatly positive impact on communication, and it builds stronger relationships with people that leave a lasting impression on both them and myself.
What are some words you live by?
If you work hard and stay focused, then people will notice, and good things will come with time.
