MGF 2019: How does the energy sector address youth?

“My advice is to embrace technology, rather than try to fight it.” It was a confident and optimistic Khaldoon Al Mubarak – the CEO of Mubadala, an Emirates industrial giant – who addressed the youth at this year’s first round table, entitled “The industry of tomorrow, the jobs of tomorrow”. Surrounded by Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of Total, and Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Energy, who has been involved in the sector for no less than 37 years.

“Building tomorrow together”

An optimistic message, therefore, to an audience that seemed very concerned about the various issues addressed, particularly on the theme of ecology. “Energy is essential at the societal level. We are engaged in a daily quest to find affordable, reliable, and clean energy. In this context, we are always keen to innovate and we are trying to get the students involved in this test, in order to build the energy system of tomorrow”. The future is built with youth or not built…

Ambient optimism

This will was intimately shared by Prince Abdulaziz, who, from the opening of the round table, insisted that all questions should come from the audience, not from the moderator. The Prince encourages this youth to be as open-minded and cross-functional as possible, recalling that “energy is a sector that involves a multitude of disciplines that must work together, each learning from the other”. Openness and diversity, which are ultimately very topical in a country that is now opening up to the world.

Without self-motivation, our skills, resources and talents won't count for much – H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud explains why we must all strive to motivate ourselves if we are to succeed! #MiskGlobalForum pic.twitter.com/euVQTcChlf

— Misk Global Forum (@MiskGlobalForum) November 12, 2019

The general feeling is undeniably optimistic, with the three men insisting on the important recruitments in force in all branches of their companies. And Patrick Pouyanné pointed out that the evolution of the professions, towards ever greater automation, towards the development of artificial intelligence and robotics, would not be a brake on employment, simply a transformation that promises fewer recurring tasks and more value-added tasks in the future. In short, a real humanization of work through technology. Isn’t it said that opposites attract each other?