Not only is this a different role, but also a different part of the energy industry. “Taking the University of Tulsa’s online Master of Energy Business (MEB) helped give me the professional confidence to take this leap into a different kind of field of work,” says Mr. Tatlow. “It not only gave me confidence but also, I feel having the MEB on my resume also helped me get in for the initial interview.”
The University of Tulsa’s Master of Energy Business is designed for working professionals and is delivered completely online. The goal of the program is to rapidly advance the students’ career trajectory within the energy industry, and to position individuals with backgrounds in engineering, geosciences, law and business disciplines for managerial and leadership oriented jobs.
For Dr. Tim Coburn, Program Director for the Master of Energy Business, Ben Tatlow’s story is exactly the kind of story that exemplifies the value that the degree provides students. “The MEB program has a strong interdisciplinary curriculum that reflects the most recent industry recommendations about professional competencies for the future,” says Dr. Coburn.
Having worked primarily in the upstream side of the oil and gas business, the program gave Mr. Tatlow “a cursory understanding of the mid and downstream sectors, but also the connection the oil and gas industry has to the alternative and renewable energy industry as well.” Mr. Tatlow further credits the program for broadening his perspective and allowing him the opportunity to “look out of my negotiations world at a much broader point of view than I had before to the point where I now see a much greater area that my expertise can be used, not just in the oil and gas industry.”
The Master of Energy Business blends sound business principles and practices normally found in an MBA program with contemporary energy issues and perspectives to create a highly energy focused professional educational experience. The program is ranked No. 38 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report among online graduate business programs (excluding online MBA programs). Students are also required to take two weekend-long residency seminars, one at the program’s start and one at the end before graduation.
What’s more, in recognizing how the Canadian dollar has recently weakened to its American counterpart, the University of Tulsa has also recently made available to prospective Canadian students the ability to pay tuition for the MEB program as if the currencies were on par. “We are now able to offer Canadian residents a reduction in tuition equal to the US-Canadian dollar par value, which makes the program even more competitive and attractive in Canada,” says Dr. Coburn. Doing so illustrates just one more example of the University of Tulsa’s nimbleness and ability to respond to market forces outside of the post-secondary school’s control.
“The [final] residency, to me, was a capstone of what we were learning,” says Mr. Tatlow. “It was perfectly timed to test us on the capabilities that were taught to us during the program, and how they were applicable across the energy industry. It also gave us some different perspectives that I had not had before on developing people and negotiations, both of which will serve me in future industry roles, but especially, now help me at home with my family!”
Mr. Tatlow is also very grateful for the contacts that he has made. As it is an American program, completing the program and attending the two residencies offers Canadians an outstanding opportunity to network with like-minded professionals south of the border which will also help in his new role.
“Other than the contacts I’ve made, I think probably the best thing about this program was how far it stretched me; how it forced me to learn how to work more efficiently because of everything else on my plate. I’m still not yet done, done in August, but it’s showed me just how far I could go and still be successful, at work, home, in the community and in the program itself,” says Mr. Tatlow. Adding, “I would recommend it to anyone that wants to polish themselves, who wants to see the energy industry a bit more holistically, or who would like to break the mold of their current self.”
For more information, visit the Master of Energy Business website.