Diversity and inclusion is ingrained in Shell’s culture

Shell - the right choice for my career

I’m a US Army Veteran and served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the First Gulf War with the Third Armored Division. I was an intelligence analyst with a top-secret security clearance.

I joined Shell because of its global reputation as a good employer offering a different range of development opportunities. I began my career in accounting, it was my foot in the door. In my first six months at Shell, I won an award for professional improvement. I’ve always looked for opportunities to grow professionally while learning on the job or via various training platforms. Every year I plan my individual development (Individual Development Plan) and I work with my line manager on the skills I want to work on the following year. Over the years I’ve realized how capable I am!

Pivoting to stay ahead of the field

My mantra is ‘pivot’. I selected this work because the world is always changing. I was pivoting every 2-4 years in financial accounting roles to learn new things and develop my skills and knowledge. Seven years ago, I decided to transition from payroll accounting to information technology.I was then able to find a Cost Analyst role in IT where I could use my finance skills while learning on technology.

Currently, I’m an IT project manager. I coordinate a range of skilled people and need to deliver big projects on time and within budget. It’s a multifaceted role and I love it.

The military taught me a lot of transferable skills

In my role, building trusting relationships with people is important – the army taught me how to do that - and these good relationships make getting things done much easier. Soft skills, like communication and collaboration, go a long way here.

I still have a very tight bond with my military ‘family’ . I look for opportunities to bring other military veterans onboard. There are transition resources available that help you move from a military to corporate mindset. Various skills from the military like respect, work ethic, attention to detail, discipline, and resilience work very well in the corporate environment, too.

I’m part of the Shell military veteran network called Milnet where I handle community affairs for my local chapter. There is such a sense of community and support – military veterans tend to gravitate towards each other. We all have stories we can identify with.

I feel supported and valued here

The support I feel goes beyond the military veteran network. The Shell global mental wellbeing program allows me to discuss my workload with my manager and ensure I take the time I need around the cycles of the job. I’ve had amazing managers and leadership in Shell, which allows me take ownership of my work life balance. Nobody wants to be all work and no play here. I always find time for travelling or gardening to feel good and energized.

I’m happy where I am now. I work with some of the most intelligent and innovative people. There are so many different things I still can learn in IT. I’m also proud of the way Shell includes people from different background, like military veterans and enables us to celebrate and learn from each other.