Embracing Diversity in a
Global Workforce: How Do
We Respond to Global
Cultural Differences?
Emily Oatney
Chevron Corporation
AAPG
San Antonio
22 April 08
Outline
 Changing international petroleum workforce
demographics and the need for skilled labor
 Engaging and
developing a
globally diverse
work force
 Personal Lessons
Learned
AAPG San Antonio, April 2008
Thousands of Students
International Petrotechnical Student
Demographics
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
'00
'01
'02
'03 '04
Years
'05
'06
'07
'08
North American & European Students
Africa, Asia, South America, Russian and Caspian Students
Chart adapted from the Wall Street Journal
4 April 08; Data from Schlumberger
This chart does not include China
AAPG San Antonio, April 2008
Chevron Global Upstream & Gas
Petrotechnical Staff Demographics
Non-US
38%
US
62%
Non-US Petrotechs are largely from:
Indonesia
Australia
Kuwait
Nigeria
Canada
Colombia
Great Britain
Argentina
Bangladesh
Thailand
Venezuela
Brazil
Angola
Philippines
Vietnam
NonUS
US
<25
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
Age
AAPG San Antonio, April 2008
45-49
50-54
55-59
60+
Chevron Source, 12/31/07
Chevron’s Overall Workforce
1999
2007 YE
Non-US
57%
Non-US
29%
US
71%
AAPG San Antonio, April 2008
US
43%
Chevron Internationalization –
Percent of overall expatriate population not on
US, UK or Canadian payrolls
25%
19.9%
20%
17.0%
15.0%
15%
13.3%
12.5%
10%
5%
0%
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Chevron source YE 2007
AAPG San Antonio, April 2008
Engaging and developing a culturally
diverse work force
Invest in People
 Attract high performing and
diverse talent
 Provide an inclusive place
to work
 Respect and understand
the unique talents and
characteristics of each
individual, and leverage
skills, ideas, and
experiences
 Develop and manage this
talent
AAPG San Antonio, April 2008
Diversity as a core value & business strategy
at Chevron
 Diversity Networks
•
5 out of 10 Chevron
diversity networks are
ethnicity–focused
 Diversity is an integral part of
performance planning process
 International University
Partnerships with 16+ targeted
universities
 Recently opened technology
centers in Asia and Europe
 Global Mobile Workforce
Development
AAPG San Antonio, April 2008
Global Mobile – Personal Perspective
 The overseas student
experience as a
foundation – India
AAPG San Antonio, April 2008
India Highlights
 Life without phones
 Field work in small villages
 Making bagels and paratha
 Learning about different Indian religions
 Understanding arranged marriage
 Developing life-long friendships
AAPG San Antonio, April 2008
Firoze & Sucheta Dotiwala
Global Mobile – Personal Perspective
 International life – student vs. professional
 Vietnam - lessons in communication
 Lots of fun
AAPG San Antonio, April 2008
Highlight – Vietnamese Game Show
AAPG San Antonio, April 2008
Highlight – Vietnamese Game Show
They guessed the right song!!!!!
AAPG San Antonio, April 2008
Global Cultural Diversity – Lessons Learned
 Explore the unknown, whether in your
backyard or across the globe
 Learn another language in your
community, even if you only pick up the
basics
 Get outside of your comfort zone and
take advantage of all that a new place
and community has to offer
 Adapt to local norms but maintain your
core values
 Listening skills are gold, we can never
work on this enough
 Laugh at yourself and embrace all that
diversity has to offer
AAPG San Antonio, April 2008
The Onward Journey
 The oil industry is becoming
more culturally diverse
 Student and early career
opportunities to go overseas
foster broad awareness and
understanding of global
diversity
 Understanding, respecting,
and adapting to local norms
helps develop harmony in
the workplace and leads to
an inclusive work
environment
AAPG San Antonio, April 2008