“Change can't be stopped”

Exactly one year ago, Galp committed to changing a series of internal strategies and processes that will ensure the company's position at the forefront of the energy sector. Twelve months later, an initial assessment was conducted and short and medium-term solutions were proposed on the occasion of the Galp Energisers Summit. “Where others show fear, we need to be bold”, challenged Paula Amorim, the chairperson of the Galp board of directors, in her opening speech. The executive reminded the audience that, just a few days before, Galp had become the largest solar energy operator in the Iberian Peninsula, a goal that would not have been at the top of the oil company's agenda a few years ago and that is now part of the “change can't be stopped” concept.

The rate at which the changes witnessed by the world of energy on a daily basis occur, says Paula Amorim, forces the players in the sector to react, anticipating needs and trends. “The Galp of the past no longer exists, and will be very different from the Galp of the future”, she stresses. However, the truth is that energy needs are increasing, besides the fact the potential for growth is enormous. It should be pointed out that around 800 million people in the world still have no access to electricity, and that the Green Deal will boost investments to the potential amount of 100 billion. "This is one-way ticket that will turn Galp into a greener company, down a path paved with determination and means", she declared, concluding that "Transition represents a world of opportunities".

THE CHALLENGES OF A NEW ROAD

The alignment of the strategy and the teams was also one of the main goals of the Galp Energisers Summit, which was attended by both Portuguese and international speakers who took to the stage to share their experiences and propose new roads. David Roberts, a SingularityU consultant and a former US special counter-terrorism agent, was the keynote speaker, and brought to the debate topics including leadership, talent, corporate culture, elements he regards as essential for change. The speaker also addressed issues such as exponential technologies, which help speed up business transformation, innovation and disruption processes, among others that will have an impact in the future.

Jane Hoffer, the CEO of Flow, a company that regards mobility as an integrated service, and a new member of the Galp universe, was another of the speakers invited to address the challenges of mobility and connectivity between vehicles, and several lectures dealt with topics such as negotiation, positivity, human behaviour, leadership and technology over the course of the day.

Summing up, Joana Garoupa, director of communications and marketing at Galp, explained to Energiser that "we are here to align ourselves with what we are going to do with regard to energy transition and the other challenges we face on a daily basis". She also highlighted the importance of sharing the path to be taken, taking into account the mission undertaken by the oil company, both in relation to the challenges of energy transition and to the new businesses it has brought into its ecosystem. “The new business models may, in the future, be a major part of what we have to offer”, he reinforces. The director of communications uses Flow as an example: “Five years ago this type of business wasn't on our radar. We have to understand which businesses make sense in this new world”.