Tag Archives: Texas Business Honors Program

BP Offers Unique Opportunity Through Summer Program for Integrated Supply and Trading

Date
Posted by
Comments1
BP Offers Unique Opportunity Through Summer Program for Integrated Supply and Trading

Written by Austin Partridge

This past summer, I was fortunate enough to be one of 21 students invited from around the United States to take part in

BP’s Sophomore Experience, a program designed to introduce incoming and outgoing sophomores to BP and its Integrated Supply and Trading (IST) division. The IST division leverages BP’s petroleum infrastructure along with supply and demand information to supply products, trade, and manage risk for the company. After a quick flight to Chicago, we hit the ground running on day one, meeting some of the senior leadership at the company while learning as much about BP and IST as possible. One of the program’s aims was to educate us on how IST makes trades and explain their thought process for making them. We ended up learning about how the industry works and the basics of trading, all on the first day.

The chance to apply our newfound industry knowledge quickly presented itself. We soon found ourselves playing fast-paced supply chain games and working through challenging ethical case studies. Eventually, we sat down for our first trading simulation. In teams of two, we tried anticipating virtual commodities market movements by putting into practice everything we had learned so far, ranging from industry specifics to broad trading tactics. Ultimately, some profited and some lost, but I think everyone would have agreed that it was an incredibly fun learning experience.

While presentations and simulations taught us about IST, the lunches and dinners that we had were what really showed us what working at IST was like. BP wasted no opportunity to expose us to the company. Every meal, my peers and I were accompanied by different sets of people working for BP, including trading managers, current interns, traders, and analysts. I was exposed to about 20-percent of the IST’s team. While the focus was on the IST division, we also met people working in other areas of the company such as Marketing and Origination as well as Ethics and Compliance, giving us a comprehensive view of the company.

My experience introduced me to exciting career opportunities I otherwise wouldn’t have been exposed to. The trip allowed me to spend five days exploring Chicago, eating deep dish pizza, and socializing with students from across the country. On the final day, we even had the chance to meet with BP sponsored Paralympic Athlete Tucker Dupree. For five days, I developed an understanding of BP’s IST division while simultaneously having an amazing time. It was an experience I’d heavily recommend to anyone with even a faint interest in the petroleum industry, trading, or getting to meet great people.

Editor’s Note: BP is currently accepting applicants for their early experience programs offered to freshmen and sophomores, BP STEP, Integrated supply and trading Sophomore Experience and BP scholars program. Applications are being accepted through March 16, 2017.   The IST Sophomore Experience program will be held in Chicago from June 19-23, 2017. To learn more, please go to www.bp.com/us-studentopps.

Alumni Spotlight: Bhargav Srinivasan – Class of 2012

Date
Posted by
Comments2
Alumni Spotlight: Bhargav Srinivasan – Class of 2012

bhargavBhargav Srinivasan, BHP ’12, is in his second year of a four-year JD/MBA joint degree program at Harvard. This past summer, he worked at the White House as an intern in the National Economic Council (NEC), working on finance policy for the Obama Administration.

What did you work on in your internship?

I spent my time at the NEC working on policy across financial technology, financial regulation, and housing finance. We worked to inform the Administration’s perspective and also to “hardwire” our learnings so that the next administration can use what we’ve done to date.

I found particularly interesting the idea of fostering responsible innovation in financial technology. For example, blockchain applications, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, have the potential to change the way we store and transfer data and money. There is a lot of innovation in finance right now, so I think it’s more important now than ever before to develop smart regulation that simultaneously protects financial stability and shepherds consumers while fostering innovation.

How was the experience?

It was truly unforgettable. I gained amazing perspective on how government works which I had never had, but the real highlight of my summer were the people I met. First, the NEC staff shared with me their interesting perspectives from government, law, business, academia, and other industries. Next, I was blessed to have a group of interns who made my summer more enjoyable than I could have imagined. We came from all across the country to serve President Obama, and, in the process, became close friends. Finally, we met White House personnel through a speaker series. The speakers ranged the gamut from POTUS and VPOTUS to the directors of the NEC, DPC, and other White House offices. Meeting and having a personal conversation with FLOTUS is a memory I will never forget.

What were your main takeaways from the internship?

I learned about the White House’s power and its limits. The two sources of power are the bully pulpit and the staff’s ability to quarterback key issues. Though the bully pulpit is diminishing in a world of constant communication, the President still gets to shine a light on the issues he believes are most important.

On the other hand, the power to quarterback is executed by the staff who work with and on behalf of the President to get the right folks in the same room. Making policy requires coordination and stakeholder engagement. The Administration uses agencies to implement its vision, so it’s important to hear feedback and develop buy-in from the agencies and other key parties when forming policy. When key parties come together and feel invested, executing as a team behind a single policy vision becomes easier. To that end, the White House plays a crucial role.

Would you say Washington is more “West Wing” or “House of Cards” in your experience?

I actually love both shows! The fortunate reality is that Washington is more West Wing than House of Cards. Most people working in government are trying to do the right thing for the American people. It’s easy to be skeptical of centralized power and special interests, but I felt the White House staff were truly working as honest brokers. When it comes to technology, the staff stay abreast of activity in the market, weigh different regulatory approaches, and make an informed decision to proceed. I’m more optimistic about the future of government after having been in DC than before.

Any revelations from the experience?

I learned that driving big changes requires Congress, but the Executive branch can take smaller, wonkier actions to make people’s lives better. For example, agencies can make programs and policy enforcement more effective through rule-making and administrative discretion. I hope that more students interested in public policy consider a career in administration because it’s a good way to drive tangible change in discrete ways.

How is your joint degree program going at Harvard?

Great! I just finished year one of law school and started year one of business school at Harvard Business School. The volume of work in during the first year of law school was pretty grueling, so my law school friends joke that I’m on vacation, but business school has been just as busy in a more balanced way.

Our JD/MBA program has roughly 10 students per year, who form a strong community of 40 overall. It’s a diverse group with varied aspirations, so the best part of being in the program is learning from my peers. There are also quite a few BHP alums at both schools, especially HBS. I still ask for perspective from one of my first BHP mentors, Eric Sung (BHP ‘10, HBS ‘16).

How will the JD/MBA benefit you in the future?

The program offers a lot of value. First, I’m simultaneously developing skills as a GM and a lawyer that will make me a strong decision-maker in an organizational setting. Next, the joint degree allows me to keep open diverse long-term career options. Finally, my peers are amazing and form the basis for a strong network to start my career. I recommend the program to anyone who genuinely finds both fields interesting.

BHP Alums Find Success as Plastic Surgeons

Date
Posted by
Comments0
BHP Alums Find Success as Plastic Surgeons

Each year, a few BHP grads go on to medical school, but it certainly isn’t the usual path for most BHP grads. Even fewer choose to go into plastic surgery like Sergio Alvarez, BHP ’03, and Sean Paul, BHP ’05. Alvarez owns a practice in Miami and is recognized as the top plastic surgeon in the area. Paul recently moved back to Austin to open a practice, which has  multiple offices across the city.

BHP: What led you to choose medicine and plastic surgery as your specialty?

Sergio Alvarez operates his own practice, Alvarez Plastic Surgery, in Miami.

Sergio Alvarez operates his own practice, Alvarez Plastic Surgery, in Miami.

Alvarez: After seeing my first open heart surgery at the age of 10, I knew then that there was nothing else I wanted to do than to be a surgeon.  Plastic surgery got my attention during medical school due to the fact that it was not only the most competitive specialty to get into and the surgeons training me were revered as “the best”, but it was the ability to work on every part of the body and really focus on the “art form” that captured me. It was the finesse that it required that captivated me.

Paul: My father was my inspiration. He was a family medicine physician in south Texas and had an amazing relationship with his patients. My love for surgery developed during my gross anatomy classes in medical school, but mostly from caring for wounded soldiers returning to Brooke Army Medical Center, for whom I assisted in caring for severe facial and ocular burns. Thus began my love for ophthalmology and facial plastic surgery, and a career in oculofacial plastic surgery began.

BHP: How has your background in business been helpful to you in your practice?

Alvarez: There is no question that the business education I received through the Business Honors Program has been invaluable. I think the biggest challenges physicians face today are the intricacies of opening up a practice. That was something that didn’t scare me at all. I came to Miami which is THE most competitive market for aesthetic plastic surgery with all the business tools I needed to succeed.  I plan to set up an office in Austin soon!

Sean Paul operates his own practice, Austin Oculofacial Plastics.

Sean Paul operates his own practice, Austin Oculofacial Plastics.

Paul: As a BHP alum, I completed internships and worked in operations in my family business prior to attending medical school. After ten years of medical school, a post-graduate residency, and a fellowship, I was faced with a life decision when choosing my career path after training. My background in business and my entrepreneurial spirit gave me a unique insight into the changing landscape of medicine and helped me choose to start my own practice. More specifically, my insight into the patient and business aspects of reconstructive and elective plastic surgery has helped me build a practice to help fill a need in the growing Central Texas and Austin communities. I now own and operate my own practice, Austin Oculofacial Plastics, based in Austin. I have offices in south Austin, north Austin, Westlake, Lakeway, New Braunfels, and Fredericksburg.

BHP: What is most challenging and most rewarding about your career as a plastic surgeon?

Alvarez: I think the most rewarding aspect of my career are the people I get to meet and treat from all over the world. Being in such an international city gives me the opportunity to learn about different cultures and different definitions of beauty. I think one of the biggest challenges we face are the misconceptions people see on TV and marketing gimmicks that are all over social media and the internet. A large portion of what we do as a collective group is educate our patients about how to go beyond the marketing and choose tried and true methods as well as choose qualified practitioners that are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Paul: The most challenging part of my career is continually striving to focus on excellent patient care. With the commercialization of plastic surgery, I strive to maintain a down-to-earth relationship with patients and make a point to call them at night after surgery. As I have gotten busier, I remain committed to that tenet of care for my patients.  I genuinely find it rewarding when patients simply say ‘thank you’.  As medicine and plastic surgery continues to change, you frequently hear stories of patients feeling like they are just a number on a spreadsheet. I personally have found complete comfort in feeling fully invested in my practice. My patients’ kind words and feedback are the best possible reward. I truly love what I do and it is my pleasure to care for each and every one of my patients.

BHP: What advice do you have for current BHP students who may be interested in pursuing an MD?

Alvarez: The best advice I can give BHP students interested in medicine is to stay dedicated to the long path it takes to become a physician because the rewards are well worth the wait. As they see their colleagues start entering the corporate world and get high salary positions, they should realize there is little to substitute the feeling one gets from changing peoples’ lives on a daily basis.

Paul: Explore the medical and surgical field early on and be certain that it is the career path you want more than anything else in the world. You will be faced with personal and professional decisions and be pulled in multiple directions in your career as a physician. No matter what else is going on in your day or in the world, when you are in the operating room with that patient, you owe them your 100% undivided attention.  Talk with physicians in your community about shadowing opportunities and be proactive in your career research. Study hard, enjoy your life as a BHP student, soak up the amazing city of Austin (so happy I am back), and understand that if you choose the field of medicine – you will be one of the few professionals given the privilege of caring for others for a living. I could not imagine doing anything else.

Student Spotlight: Catherine King – HBA President

Date
Posted by
Comments0
Student Spotlight: Catherine King – HBA President

Catherine King - BHP student

BHP Senior, Catherine King, is the current president of the Honors Business Association. Catherine is majoring in BHP and MIS. This past summer, she interned for Shell Oil Company and is excited to announce she has three full-time offers from prominent oil and gas firms in the field of Management Information Systems.

Why did you choose UT and specifically the BHP program?
I was applying to colleges all over the nation hoping to leave Texas to try something new. I found out about BHP, applied, and was accepted. After touring the BHP program office and sitting in a couple of classes, I felt that it was more of a community than any of the other campuses I had visited. I could just tell that students were in a very collaborative and positive environment rather than an environment where students pit themselves against each other.

I am from Austin and I thought it would be too much of the same. I was happy to see that the campus is a completely different environment than Austin itself. All of my childhood friends went to different universities so it was not like a repeat of high school. It was a completely new experience, and I found a great community in BHP, which is also why I joined HBA.

What advice would you give to any students interested in MIS?
I think people fear MIS because they think it is all programming, but it is not. We connect the end user and the programmer to ensure that functionality and end user goals are met. It is all about communication and knowing how the technical people do what they do. If you can communicate well and are interested in technology, MIS is for you.

What enticed you to become a member of the Honors Business Association?
I joined Delta Gamma sorority right before freshman year began. I realized that organizations make the campus smaller and with Delta Gamma I had the social side, but I wanted an academic organization as well.

Honors Business Association was able to fulfill my need to be part of an extended academic community. I attended the first meeting for the free food and heard the president and executive members give an overview of HBA. They all were so funny and light-hearted. I didn’t expect that from an organization in the UT business school. It had the perfect balance of professionalism and fun.

I quickly realized that HBA makes you a very well rounded student. We are not just academic, but we are also philanthropic. We have academic events with professors. You can visit their homes, dine at restaurants, or play golf with them to get to know them on a more personal level. We also have networking events, socials, and formals to enhance your academic pursuits. HBA gives you an overall experience in Austin and BHP.

As President, what do you plan to do differently with HBA?
What we have been doing the last couple of years works well, but my executive members have had some new initiatives that we are committed to starting. We created a buddy program that pairs a new freshman with a sophomore buddy. We started recycling at meetings. And that is only the beginning. Small, yet strategic, enhancements to our current activities and initiatives will make a big difference and will make our organization more effective.

What keeps a member actively involved in HBA?
People who get involved in the beginning find those 30 members you become really good friends with. They go to all the meetings and events. If you want that close set of friends, you can find them in HBA and continue with them throughout your career at UT. If you are looking for that sense of community and haven’t found it outside of the business school, HBA is always a home to the BHP students and I think everyone that is active or inactive feels that,they are always welcome.

BP Discovery Days Program Provides Students with Unique Experience

Date
Posted by
Comments0

Each year BP, a BHP corporate partner, holds a three-day program called BP Discovery Days for college students interested in learning more about the oil and gas industry. Last year, two BHP students participated in the program and greatly enjoyed the experience. BHP juniors Anne Theil and Varun Bhatnagar shared their experiences in the program with us below. The deadline to apply for this year’s program is March 1.

How would you describe the BP Discovery Day program?

Anne: The program is three days long over a weekend in the summer, with multiple program options to choose from. The program I participated in (Diversity Days) was held near downtown Houston. The first night we had discussions about diversity, leadership, and ways to network. The second day we heard from Aleida Rios, VP of Operations Gulf of Mexico Region. I enjoyed hearing her talk about how being a minority woman in the oil and gas industry impacted her career. In the evening we all went to Top Golf to relax and wind down. The final day we volunteered at the Boys and Girls club of Houston.

Varun: It was a great way to learn about important leadership principles with other students whose majors ranged from business to engineering. In addition to honing our leadership skills, we also networked with BP employees working in a wide variety of fields, heard from a former Paralympian, and participated in a community service project.

Why were you interested in the program?

Varun: I wanted to learn more about the energy industry. I believe in learning by doing, and by participating in a program by one of the major players in the industry, I knew I could get a better understanding of it. I was also interested in hearing new perspectives on leadership, both from BP employees and my fellow participants. The ability to understand and work with people coming from different backgrounds will be a very crucial skill in my future career, and this program was a great way for me to develop that skill.

Anne: I was interested in learning more about the oil and gas industry first and foremost, but this was also a really good networking opportunity, since there were around 30 other hard-working and motivated students with me. The program I completed also awarded a $1000 scholarship.

What did you learn from going through the program?

Anne: I think the program really opened my eyes to the fact that there are so many other high-performing, ambitious students out there that share an interest in working for oil and gas. It’s very possible that I’ll be working closely with some of the students I met during the program, so it was important to make the effort to get out of my comfort zone, network, and keep in touch with them afterwards!

Varun: The most important thing I learned from the program is the value of diversity. A major theme of the program was how diversity in thought and in background can be extremely important assets in a team, and I could definitely see how that was the case through the program. We learned about different leadership styles, and worked with students from all across the nation with a plethora of different majors – as a result, I gained many new perspectives on what it means to lead and work as a team.

Why would you recommend this program to other BHP students?

Varun: The BP Discovery Day program, along with other leadership development programs, are invaluable resources for BHP students, especially for underclassmen. It’s easy to think the only way to learn more about a company is through internships (which can be difficult to get in the first two years of college), but these programs (which are often geared towards freshmen and sophomores) help you to learn more about the company hosting the program, about how to become a better leader and team member, and about the perspectives of students coming from different walks of life than your own.

Anne: I think this is probably one of the best, well-balanced leadership programs I have attended. I learned a lot about BP and what it’s like to have a career there, and the program leaders are passionate about teaching you how to market yourself as a young professional. We also had a lot of time to have fun and make friends with the other students. My favorite thing about the experience was the volunteering project on the last day– we all went to The Boys and Girls Club and repainted their gym. It was a neat little snapshot of the kind of outreach that BP performs in the community.

Anything else you want to share with fellow students about it?

Anne: The application process is just a few essays on why you are interested in the program/the oil and gas industry, and then a video essay to describe yourself and (for my program) how you are diverse. I would highly recommend this program for anyone interested in oil and gas!

Varun: This was a very memorable experience that helped me improve my leadership skills and gave me an entirely new network of contacts. Yet if I had not stopped by the BP booth at the career fair and applied, I would have missed out. Take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way – you never know what good things might come from it.