Daniel is a 12-year Army Veteran whose passion in mental health awareness and suicide prevention has been a major part of his life. His experience in oil and gas spans several key roles, including Chief Strategy Officer and Director of Corporate Strategy. Currently Daniel is the COO for Xccelerated Construction Unlimited, a first call for pipeline and infrastructure projects. He is also on the board for Project214, a veteran non-profit, and the Damage Prevention Council.
We are delighted that Daniel will be speaking in Austin, Texas as part of our US summit. We caught up with him to see how he’s feeling in the runup to the event.
Hi Daniel, we are thrilled that you will be speaking at the Wellbeing at Work US Summit in March. Our first and most important question is, how are you doing today??
I’m fantastic! Thanks for asking. I’m looking forward to being a part of this great pannel and providing some valuable insites to our audience. Mental health has been a large focus of my life and I hope to share that passion with others.
As a leader based in the region, what are the main challenges you are facing when it comes to employee wellbeing and mental health?
In the oil and gas industry I can say that the struggles I’ve seen first hand compare to that of the military life. Employees being away from their families for weeks or months at a time, the get it done culture, the lack of nutritional options while out on hitch, and the consistant stressful environments that our employees are in all equate to mental health and personal struggles.
What strategies have you seen developing over the past 6 months, both internally and externally, that are moving the dial on wellbeing in the workplace?
I have to say that local non-profits and businesses are starting to get more involved in breaking down the stigma that revolves around mental health. It’s non-profits like Project214 that remind veterans that they have an outlet to lean into and a support group that will be there for them. Businesses like the one I work for are getting involved and taking it more serious. Organizations like Wellbeing at Work and the Damage Prevention Council are setting the standard when it comes to training and education in these areas as well. All of these are great ways to help our teams!
Why is employee wellbeing so important to you personally?
Personally I have lost over 15 Veteran brothers to suicide and that number grows more year by year. I can’t stress enough how important what we are doing here today is important for not only Veterans, but everyone we can touch. I’ve been a guest at multiple summits, monthly meetings, company discussions, and organizational efforts. Each one of them impacted at least one life if not hundreds. Spreading the word and educating employers is a must! One suicide is too many!
What impact is AI having in your organization and how are you managing that?
In my industry AI has many benefits when it comes to analytics, business development, and innovation. The problem is that there are a lot of people who feel it is the solution to everything and use it to eliminate the need for personal touch. Employees get used to using AI for the answers and don’t check the answers they are given. Without a careful watch this can have a major impact on the hiring process and many other areas in your business. At XCU we manage this by following up, asking that follow up question, focused education, and leading a culture where we value professional oversight.
Other than AI, are there any challenges that you are seeing for the first time and how are you addressing them?
In Oil and Gas we see a consistent turn in experience year by year. Technology and software can help businesses scale to no end but navigating the change can be a challenge. Let’s face it, not everyone wants change and getting the buy-in from your teams is not always the easiest task. I address this internally by breaking down the barriers and educating my team on not only the possibilities, but the benefits this will have on their careers over time. Every employee at my company can come talk to me and if they have a concern, I always listen. Improving communication between upper management and your departments creates a team that works as one.
What areas do you think employers should be focused on over the next 12 months?
Leadership training, show your team you value them, and pay attention to generational differences in your staff. It’s easy to leave a group behind but if you watch for trends and figure out how to grow your staff as a unified front, come out the other side with a team that is truly behind the company and your vision. Invest in your employees wellbeing and ask the hard question…. “How are you doing?”
Do you feel that investment in employee wellbeing in the region is increasing or decreasing and is that a direct reflection on HR leaders’ increasing ability to demonstrate effective returns of their strategies to leadership?
It’s without a doubt growing more and more each day. Unfortunately though, not at a rate that it should. My hope is that sharing knowledge and personal experiences to audiences like this will help spread this movement at a faster pace. Not only can you save someones life, the ROI in having a positive and unified team is one that many business leaders overlook. I hope that we can continue showing them the value in making mental health awareness a part of their day to day operations.
How has your organization been leading the way?
There is always room for improvement but between Xccelerated Construction Unlimited, Project214, and the Damage Prevention Council, we do all we can. Each of these organizations understands the value in spreading awareness, listening to those who need an ear, and striving for a culture where it’s ok to ask for help and talk through your struggles. It only takes one conversation to change a negative path into a positive one.
Daniel will be speaking in Austin, Texas at the Wellbeing at Work Summit US which takes place in New York, Austin Texas and virtually. Further details on the Summit can be found here.
