Get To Know Our People - Paul Smallacombe
Meet our people and learn more about the faces behind Viva Energy.
- I’ve worked at Viva Energy since inception in 2014, previously with Shell since 2005.
- My first job at Viva Energy was as a Senior Technical Specialist in fuels and lubricants
- My current role is the Team Lead for our Product Support Engineering team.
- I help people reach their destination by helping customers run their operations more reliably and efficiently and through delivering value by working to reduce customers overall costs of operation.
- The best part of my job is working with customers across a wide range of industries and seeing tangible evidence around how we deliver value to customers.
- The biggest misconception people have about my role is when people hear technical support they think I can help fix their IT issues!
- I was led to this career by having an interest in helping people with complex technical problems.
- I prefer to start the day by processing my emails and to-do list using a variation of the “Getting Things Done” method.
- I prefer to end the day by planning for the day ahead.
- I am energised by my colleagues and customers and the relationships you develop with them.
- The one behavior I attribute my success to is being curious.
- The one thing that surprises me about working at Viva Energy is the amazing amount and breadth of knowledge and talent.
- The worst job I ever had was a holiday job sweeping floors in a factory, I learnt that hard work has its rewards and bosses like to see hard work and a good attitude/approach to even the most basic tasks, as that is evidence you will do similar with more complex jobs.
- The greatest career advice I was given was everyone is a salesperson, so work on improving your selling skills.
- The most important skill every person should have is the ability to build relationships.
- The one topic I wish I knew more about is chemistry. I studied Mechanical Engineering at University which covered some chemistry but would love to learn more.
- How do you see this role evolving over the next 5 years? I see the role evolving further in the future to increasingly focus on new technologies and energy efficiency.
Interested in a career with Viva Energy.
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