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    How CORe Helped Me Gain a Competitive Edge in the Oil and Gas Industry

    Isha Khambra at Work
    • 31 Jan 2019
    Isha Khambra Author Student Bloggers
    tag
    • CORe
    • Career Development
    • Leadership

    “We need an engineer with business acumen,” said my manager at our internal monthly meeting.

    The statement surprised me at first. But those words inspired me to become that engineer.

    Born in an Orthodox North Indian family, I was an exception. Women aren’t expected to work outside of their home, but I left my town to study petroleum engineering and later work for one of the world’s largest oil and gas service companies. When I reflect on all that I’ve achieved in the last six years, it seems surreal. While there is still a long way to go, I’ve led multiple million-dollar projects for major national and international oil and gas companies, and gained considerable global experience by working with culturally diverse populations.

    I was the only woman sitting at the table that day when my manager was looking for a candidate who could navigate the project with both engineering and business skills. He needed someone who could manage not only the technical aspects of the project, but various business segments, such as supply chain, finance, and contracts.

    Related: 7 Business Skills Every Engineer Needs

    There were two things that intimidated me that day: My background was in engineering and I didn’t have much business acumen. What made me more apprehensive, however, was being a woman in a male-dominated industry and wondering whether I could take on this challenging role.

    Being an Engineer Wasn’t Enough

    As an engineer, I lacked the business fluency to articulate technical topics and effectively communicate with a broader audience. I had helped solve organizational problems from a technical perspective, but wanted to know how my contributions impacted the business on a larger scale, as well as understand how creative business solutions and processes spark disruption. Seeing things solely through a technical lens wasn’t enough; I wanted to bridge the divide. I was certain Harvard Business School Online’s Credential of Readiness (CORe) program would help me fill these, and many more, gaps.

    A Guide to Advancing Your Career with Essentials Business Skills | Access Your Free E-Book | Download Now

    Gaining a Competitive Edge in a Male-Dominated Industry

    Being a woman in a male-dominated industry comes with its own challenges. There are myriad of times in my career when it was difficult to prove my technical credibility to my male peers. Women are often measured by a different yardstick and, if you don’t define yourself, it’s likely you’ll be quickly and inaccurately defined by others.

    Throughout my career, I’ve tried to avoid being passive. I’ve continued to learn, try new job roles, or take on additional responsibilities to make myself more visible. Very early in life, I realized that growing and evolving is not finite, it’s perpetual. One’s job doesn’t end after attaining that much-aspired position or job role. There’s always room to evolve and advance. Up until now, I was a technically proficient engineer with minimal business skills. I signed up for CORe with the goal of expanding my understanding of business fundamentals and becoming that well-rounded engineer my boss wanted.

    How CORe Helped Me

    CORe consists of three courses: Business Analytics, Financial Accounting, and Economics for Managers. All the concepts were taught using the case method, which puts you in the shoes of a protagonist, or business leader. The modules feature Cold Calls, in which participants are randomly selected and asked to provide their insight or solutions to a particular problem. These time-restrictive Cold Calls helped me learn how to make quick, prudent decisions—which is much-needed in the fast-paced oil and gas industry.

    Isha Khambra; width: 600px; align: left;

    The case method is not a spectator sport. It requires active engagement, and is an insightful way of understanding concepts. You’re presented with real-world problems and need to provide practical solutions.

    Business Analytics acquainted me with various data analysis and forecasting tools. I implemented these crucial skills to optimize our company’s resources and save time and money on my new project. It also helped me create significant value for a client by introducing a new business model that increased oil and gas production from brownfields at a reduced cost.

    Financial Accounting focused on understanding credits, debits, accruals, deferrals, and financial statements. Learning financial accounting helped me decipher the balance sheet and quarterly profit and loss statements of my assigned project and make more informed decisions that reduced its overall operational cost.

    In the oil industry, almost every decision is a multi-million dollar one, which directly or indirectly affects the world’s economy. Cost reduction is the most vital endeavor, especially in the current scenario of crude oil price dropping. Financial Accounting helped me find creative and effective ways to maximize the economic recovery of my project.

    Economics for Managers allowed me to better understand the contractual pricing of the project’s operational services and identify the key factors that can influence clients’ willingness to pay for a service—a factor I used to overlook. It also helped me fine-tune my understanding of the client perspective and enabled me to make better decisions while dealing daily with clients.

    Why You Should Take CORe

    CORe can truly transform the arch of your career. The program is a series of interrelated experiences that equipped me with business basics and helped me identify my strengths, weaknesses, and areas where I have to lean in on others. It’s encouraged me to collaborate with my peers and instilled the humility to learn from others’ perspectives. CORe has made a lasting impact and made me fluent in business. It's also given me the confidence to enroll in a full-time MBA program in the future, so that I can dive deeper into the business world.

    Now I have technical and business skills, which are crucial in furthering my career. I have gained a competitive edge as CORe equipped me with the necessary skills to successfully execute the aspired project. I’m now confident I can take on more challenging roles in the future.

    Are you interested in learning more about CORe? Visit the CORe page to explore how the program could advance your career.

    About the Author

    Isha Khambra is a petroleum engineer currently working for one of the world’s leading oil and gas service companies. She focuses on performing detailed technical analysis, and is responsible for evaluating oil and gas wells’ production performance. Passionate about social impact through education, she actively volunteers and is associated with a nonprofit organization focused on providing girls education. Khambra believes education is the best investment.
     
    All FAQs

    Top FAQs

    How are HBS Online courses delivered?

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    We offer self-paced programs (with weekly deadlines) on the HBS Online course platform.

    Our platform features short, highly produced videos of HBS faculty and guest business experts, interactive graphs and exercises, cold calls to keep you engaged, and opportunities to contribute to a vibrant online community.

    Are HBS Online programs available in languages other than English?

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    We expect to offer our courses in additional languages in the future but, at this time, HBS Online can only be provided in English.

    All course content is delivered in written English. Closed captioning in English is available for all videos. There are no live interactions during the course that requires the learner to speak English. Coursework must be completed in English.

    Do I need to come to campus to participate in HBS Online programs?

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    No, all of our programs are 100 percent online, and available to participants regardless of their location.

    How do I enroll in a course?

    +–

    Certificate Programs

    HBS Online welcomes committed learners wherever they are—in the world and their careers—irrespective of their professional experience or academic background. To extend the reach of HBS Online, we no longer require an application for our certificate programs. (Applications are still required for our credential programs: CORe and CLIMB.) You can now immediately enroll and start taking the next step in your career.

    All programs require the completion of a brief online enrollment form before payment. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before enrolling in the program of your choice.

    Our easy online enrollment form is free, and no special documentation is required. All participants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

    Updates to your enrollment status will be shown on your account page. HBS Online does not use race, gender, ethnicity, or any protected class as criteria for enrollment for any HBS Online program.

    Credential Programs

    HBS Online's CORe and CLIMB programs require the completion of a brief application. The applications vary slightly, but all ask for some personal background information. You can apply for and enroll in programs here. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before starting an application for the program of your choice.

    Our easy online application is free, and no special documentation is required. All participants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

    Updates to your application and enrollment status will be shown on your account page. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application for CORe and three weeks for CLIMB. HBS Online does not use race, gender, ethnicity, or any protected class as criteria for admissions for any HBS Online program.

    Does Harvard Business School Online offer an online MBA?

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    No, Harvard Business School Online offers business certificate programs.

    What are my payment options?

    +–

    HBS Online offers a variety of payment methods to provide flexibility, including:

    • Credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and AMEX)
    • PayPal
    • Wire transfers
    • Western Union
    • Bank loans (When available)

    You may split your payment across two credit card transactions or send a payment link to another individual to complete payment on your behalf. A minimum payment of $350 is required for the first transaction.

    Some learners may also qualify for scholarships or financial aid, which will be credited against the program fee once eligibility is determined. Please refer to the Payment & Financial Aid page for more information.

    What are the policies for refunds and deferrals?

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    After enrolling in a program, you may request a withdrawal with refund (minus a $100 nonrefundable enrollment fee) up until 24 hours after the start of your program. Please review the Program Policies page for more details on refunds and deferrals. If your employer has contracted with HBS Online for participation in a program, or if you elect to enroll in the undergraduate credit option of the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, note that policies for these options may differ.

     

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