Lauren Borden ’19 is one of several seniors graduating this December with a coveted bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M University. While she is proud of her accomplishment, she chose to expand her education by applying and being accepted into the Petroleum Ventures Certificate Program (PVP) during her junior year. This way she has a certificate to go with her degree, one that shows she augmented her engineering education with business and finance studies.
“When I learned PVP was a joint effort between the finance department (of Mays Business School) and this department (the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering), I knew this was an opportunity to integrate business courses into my degree,” said Borden.
Borden recognized the value of being a well-rounded student when she came to Texas A&M. She pursued leadership roles and social involvement with opportunities such as the Zachry Leadership Program. She also enhanced her engineering studies with programs like the Titans of Investing and the PVP.
The PVP stood out as an investment in her future for several reasons:
- Undergraduate petroleum engineering students work with business students on interdisciplinary projects that study real-world energy companies.
- The courses in the program allow students to understand better how engineering projects can impact a business commercially.
- Industry leaders are available for networking opportunities through events and professional development opportunities.
While her decision to participate in the interdisciplinary program meant she would graduate a little later in the year than most petroleum students, she felt the time investment was worth it.
“I have seen doors open for individuals since this program specifically has set them apart in a way that is uniquely important in our industry,” said Borden, who begins her promising career in January with ConocoPhillips.
Petroleum has a significant impact on the economy, making it a highly valued industry. The work of petroleum engineers is also diverse, meaning Borden might experience role and responsibility changes throughout her career.
She believes the PVP provided her with a solid foundation of business concepts she might not have learned otherwise. This foundation could help her move from a more traditional engineering role to a financial or managerial position in her future.
“This industry is a business, and it is extremely important to understand how our engineering projects will be of impact commercially,” said Borden. “My internship experiences and projects have challenged me in a positive way, and I have been motivated by learning how I can make a direct impact on the company and the team that I work with.”
As a freshman, Borden was looking for a major that positively impacted society. She felt that petroleum engineering provided the energy needed to empower future change. And though it is a global, diverse industry, it has had a close-knit feel that highly values relationships.
That sense of belonging is also a part of the PVP, which has been instrumental in helping her build connections with fellow students and mentors. These connections will serve her well after graduation, something she values as much as she does her degree.
“I genuinely enjoy the classes here at Texas A&M as well as the relationships I have built with my peers,” said Borden. “We are supported by industry leaders who have found the value in supporting student engineers. My favorite aspect, by far, has been the people.”