From Engineering to Leadership with an Executive MBA

With over 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, Surendarbabu Sivanandam, Specialist Process Engineer at ADNOC, has built his expertise across complex projects and international assignments spanning the UAE, India, Japan, Paris, and China. But his ambitions extend beyond engineering towards strategic leadership, project directorship, and shaping the future of sustainable energy.

Balancing an intensive 18-month Executive MBA with a newborn, global travel, and responsibilities as Class Representative, he proved that ambition and commitment can thrive even amid life’s most demanding moments without missing a single academic milestone.
Discover how Surendarbabu turned a demanding EMBA journey into an opportunity for growth, a broader global perspective, and a stronger vision for leadership. Read his story.

Why SP Jain Global? Motivation to pursue an Executive MBA

I have recognised that technical skills alone will no longer suffice in the oil & gas industry, which is undergoing rapid transformation driven by technology, AI, digital adoption, sustainability mandates, and geopolitical shifts.
My motivation for pursuing an EMBA was driven by a growing understanding that success in today’s workplace demands more than just technical proficiency. Leadership roles in the oil and gas industry require strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, effective communication, and the ability to link business decisions to long-term value creation. I wanted to position myself for the transition from technical to strategic leadership roles.
When it comes to the business schools for an EMBA in the UAE, SP Jain School of Global Management was a clear choice for many reasons. The EMBA program's structure, which merges strict academic frameworks with real-world, industry-specific utility, was exactly what I needed to bridge the divide between engineering and business leadership. The school's global reputation, the quality of its faculty, and the structured ECAP (Executive Career Acceleration Pathway) program, which concentrated on holistic leadership development, made it the obvious choice. The Engaged Learning Online (ELO) format also gave the flexibility needed for a working professional.

The SP Jain Global Executive MBA experience

My EMBA journey with SP Jain Global has been transformative; the EMBA program fundamentally reshaped the way I used to think, lead and manage. One of the biggest changes has been in my leadership style. I have become more thoughtful, more intentional, and more aware of the larger context. Instead of just technical execution. I have now adopted a more structured approach to challenges, with a strategic mindset.

One of the most meaningful reflections from this journey is that leadership is not just about authority or expertise. It’s also about self-awareness, resilience and agility. The EMBA helped me to build on all of these qualities.

The EMBA learnings helped me think strategically and solve problems not only from an engineering perspective, but also from business, economic, geopolitical, and sustainability perspectives.

The ECAP sessions on stress management, emotional intelligence, personal branding, and strategic planning have improved my leadership skills.

“I could surely differentiate myself at the workplace in terms of my skill sets, personal effectiveness, critical thinking, and efficient execution of work in a smarter way by applying the strategic frameworks and class learnings at work.”

The evident proof of the program’s impact is my promotion during the course itself from Senior Process Engineer to Specialist Process Engineer, which resulted from the enhanced capabilities I brought to the workplace from the learnings. I have started getting involved in strategic, organisation-level projects, which reflect how the program has elevated my professional standing.

The Engaged Learning Online (ELO) format

For me, the ELO format at SP Jain Global was a boon, helping me pursue a world-class EMBA while managing a highly demanding professional and personal life.

I have travelled frequently during the program, across different countries and time zones (Japan, Paris, China, and India), for over four months in the 18-month program. I could handle my schedule smoothly and without problems. Without the flexibility of the online format, it would have been much more difficult to pursue the EMBA.

I did not notice any difference between the physical and virtual classes. In my opinion, the Engaged Learning Online (ELO) format is more effective than the physical format for synchronous learning among professionals.

Major benefits gained:

More flexibility
Access to expert faculty and sessions without any geographical limitations
Ability to balance demanding work schedules, family commitments, and academics simultaneously
Interactive online sessions that maintained a high level of engagement and collaborative learning

Adapting to a changing oil & gas landscape

The oil and gas industry is changing fast amid a shifting global business landscape, geopolitical uncertainty, digital transformation, and sustainability pressures. In this environment, technical knowledge alone is no longer sufficient. Leaders need to understand markets, economics, policy trends, and long-term energy transitions.

I learned how macroeconomic factors and global events impact business decisions in the oil and gas industry through the EMBA program. I now look at projects, investments, and operational decisions through a wider lens, considering technical feasibility, risk, sustainability, and long-term business impact. This has made me more thoughtful and more strategic in my approach to my work.

As the energy industry evolves, professionals must be agile, creative, and collaborative in developing solutions that support both business performance and a responsible energy transition. The EMBA helped me link these ideas more clearly to my own career path.

“Geopolitical drivers influence production decisions, investment in major capital projects and project viability for ADNOC, the major oil and gas producer in the global energy market. I realise now that geopolitical implications have to be included in techno-economic models with appropriate sensitivity checks."

I have gained clarity on the transition to a multipolar world order, the strategic importance of the GCC and the UAE as a global logistics and energy hub, and the impact of regional alignments among the UAE, Asia, Europe, and Africa on the future of energy commerce.

Valuable aspect of SP Jain Global’s EMBA

SP Jain Global’s EMBA experience has been most valuable to me for its faculty guidance, networking, curriculum depth, flexibility, and exposure to a global perspective. Each of these elements has contributed to my journey, but together they made for a challenging yet rewarding learning experience.

The faculty brought wisdom, structure and practical insight. The curriculum exposed me to ideas I could immediately relate to my work and personal development. The networking opportunities allowed me to learn from peers, alumni and professionals with different backgrounds and perspectives. And the program's global nature helped me appreciate the interconnectedness of leadership and business challenges across regions and industries.

Message to oil & gas professionals considering an EMBA

The oil & gas industry is evolving at an unprecedented rate. Sustainability, Digitalisation, AI, and geopolitical realignments are transforming careers in the Oil & Gas industry today. An EMBA provides the structures to lead through the transformation.
To professionals in oil & gas considering an EMBA, I would say this: don’t wait until you feel ‘fully ready,’ because growth often starts when you step into challenge. This EMBA journey will test your time management, discipline and resilience but will also broaden your thinking and unlock capabilities you may not have fully recognised in yourself. For those who want to move into broader leadership roles, the EMBA can be a very powerful bridge between technical expertise and strategic leadership.
My advice is to take on this challenge with commitment, humility, and a long-term perspective. Be ready to unlearn, relearn and consistently apply ideas to your work and personal life. For me, the biggest return has been not just academic knowledge but also a clearer sense of purpose, leadership skills, and a more structured path towards future growth with a strategic goal.

Surendarbabu-Sivanandam-adnoc-engineer-online-emba-journey-at-SP-Jain

About the author

Surendarbabu Sivanandam holds an Executive MBA (2026) from SP Jain Global and has 20+ years of extensive experience in the Oil & Gas industry. Currently, he works as a Specialist Process Engineer with ADNOC in the UAE.