I Learned the Most at My Lowest feat. Brian Jackson ’21

Owl Have You Know

Brian Jackson is an expert when it comes to challenging himself in unchartered waters.

Brian is the manager of renewables origination at TransAlta Corporation, where he oversees the company's renewable energy power purchase agreement origination activities in the United States. Brian has a well-rounded roster of degrees from Texas institutions, beginning with a BS in political science from Texas A&M University, a JD from South Texas College of Law Houston, and an MBA from Rice University.

But before transitioning to the renewable energy industry, Brian worked in the oil and gas sector as both a landman and a lawyer. Additionally, he has taken on entrepreneurial roles in business investing and prospecting, utilizing his diverse skill set and experience to identify new opportunities in the market.

The new Rice Business alumni board president joins host Maya Pomroy ’22 to tell us about the importance of finding a job that fits your values, figuring out one’s identity, and how the adversity he has faced was a blessing in disguise, serving as a gateway for his personal and professional growth.

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Episode Guide:

00:05 Brian's Early Life and Career Journey

01:56 Experience in the Online MBA Program

03:09 Global Upbringing and Cultural Experiences

11:22 Brian's Transition from Law to Renewable Energy

13:42 Challenges and Growth in the Legal Profession

17:42 Brian's Reflections on Diversity and Inclusion

25:24 Role as President of the Rice Business Alumni Board

25:24 Future Goals and Aspirations

Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

What did Brian learn throughout his job-searching experience?

13:42: When you're searching for a job from a position of just necessity, it's so different. The questions you ask, the values you're looking for — kind of this idea of mentorship and growth — maybe are kind of all put on the back burner because you're just looking for a paycheck. And so that's where I ended up, kind of in a safe harbor. Maybe not the best fit, and having had that experience, now when I look at a role or, let's say, recently when joining TransAlta, it changed the questions I asked in the interview. It changed really what I was focusing on and the indications I was looking for because of that experience, right? But you don't know to look for those things or to ask those questions, I think, unless you've had that exposure.

Speaking from experience is bridge to understanding

19:30: The best thing I can do is be vocal and wear my heart on my sleeve and say, "Hey, this is what happened to me. I'm sitting at this table and here to work with you because I'm coming from this place of experience."

What drove Brian to be part of an online program even after post-MBA?

24:35: I think the online program, what's so cool about it, is that everyone's still typically working. So, they all come from this different background where you're hearing not only about what's going on personally but in their careers at the same time. Everyone's backgrounds were so diverse professionally. And now, seeing where they've all filtered off and where they've gone is just even more fun."

Show Links:

• Transcript
  
  

Guest Profile:

• Brian Jackson - Rice Business
• Rice Business Alumni Association Board
• Brian Jackson - LinkedIn
• TransAlta

Listen to Diana Handjelan episode on Navigating the Energy Transition here: https://business.rice.edu/owlhaveyouknow/season-4-episode-10