Mike Brown

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Mike Brown struggles with the idea of personal achievements in a team-oriented industry like oil and gas. Still, he admits that he has accomplished things that are worthy of pride. “One is being someone that has been able to step into any role that the company needs, from operations, to field and corporate planning, to asset valuations and leadership,” he says. “The second is directly impacting Chord’s inventory outlook, by the completions team figuring out ways to fully clean out 3-mile and now 4-mile laterals on a consistent and cost-effective basis.”

Which career milestone did you reach sooner than you had planned, and what helped you reach it earlier than expected?
When Oasis stepped into the Permian at the end of 2017, there was a need for someone who had a broad base to drive the development plan and act as a central hub to align each of the different disciplines. Having worked in drilling, completions and development at the time, I was well set up to take on the challenge. I was still in a staff role, but it was a significant step up in responsibility for me at the time, and gave me the early leadership experience that would set me up for success when I eventually moved into a formal leadership role.

What qualities do you think are necessary to be a good leader in the oil and gas industry?
I see good leadership as someone who can walk the fine line between confidence to set a direction for the team, while being humble enough to admit to being wrong. There is an immense wealth of knowledge throughout the people in our industry. Being able to listen to as many different perspectives as possible is critical to shaping our views and making better decisions.

Who are your mentors? What is the most valuable advice they have given you?
There are two people who really shaped who I am as a professional. First and foremost, my dad is someone who has already paved the path that I am on as a petroleum engineer, and is a wealth of knowledge and experience that I have often leaned on for advice. More than anything though, he set a standard of dedication and integrity that I strive for in everything I do.

The second person is my high school wrestling coach, John Banas. I only started wrestling my freshman year of high school, and I was not particularly good early on. He taught me what hard work was all about. He pushed me to work harder than I thought I ever could, allowing me to achieve things I never thought were possible, including being a scholarship wrestler through college. Beyond the lesson of hard work, he showed me the value in believing in people and helping show them what is possible.

What advice would you give other young professionals?
Be curious and challenge the status quo. There are countless examples of ideas or practices in our industry that were accepted as truths, and have since been disproven by people willing to challenge those ideas.

 Get to know the rest of the Forty Under 40 class of 2025.