Vanakkam, I’m so glad that you are here!
Vanakkam is how we say hello in our language, Tamil.
I am Kapilan, a small-town kid from Tamil Nadu, India.
My Journey So Far:
I grew up in a family of seven with my two brothers, my parents, and my grandparents. I also grew up in a very conservative society with very strict rules and set ways in which things are supposed to be done. Questioning the Status Quo is just something you just don’t do, but it is highly discouraged. My family was not particularly wealthy, but we were not poor either. Ever since I can remember, we were always very frugal. One thing that my parents did not cut back on was education. No matter the cost, the education for the kids went on. And I’m very thankful for that.
Where I am now:
Education stayed on with me. I had some setbacks in high school, but with the help of friends and family, I overcame the difficulties. I came across an opportunity to go to the United States to complete my bachelor’s education. Although scary at that time, it was one of the best decisions that I took in my life. I was the first in my family to go abroad to study, and I was also the first in my family to complete college. I worked in the traditional energy sector for five years after graduating college. Having understood the urgency of immediate need to cut global emissions, I am now working to reduce global emissions by plugging orphaned (without a solvent operator or owners) oil and gas wells.
Where I am headed:
I have always been ambitious; I have always wanted to make the most impact in people’s lives. The recent world pandemic gave me, like countless others, a moment to self-reflect. During this time, I decided to use my existing skills and knowledge in the energy industry to pursue all the available avenues to make energy as a resource accessible and equitable to all and energy consumption sustainable for the future.