CERAWeek 2026 Attendee
Alan Ogakwu is a full-time MBA student at University of Chicago Booth School of Business with a background spanning process engineering and data-driven strategy. He began his career as a Process Engineer at ExxonMobil, supporting refinery optimization and operational strategy, before transitioning into analytics and business strategy roles at Capital One and The St James. This summer, he will join McKinsey & Company in Washington, DC as a Summer Associate, where he plans to focus on energy and sustainability-related work. Alan is passionate about advancing pragmatic, data-informed solutions at the intersection of energy transition, economic development, and global markets.
“CERAWeek 2026 was my first major energy conference, and it completely reshaped how I think about the intersection of energy and technology. The AI buildout sessions were particularly thought-provoking – the insight that social unrest, not capital or power, might be the ultimate bottleneck on AI infrastructure growth is one that has stuck with me. The geothermal panels opened my eyes to how much overlap exists between oil and gas expertise and emerging energy sources, a transition I hadn’t fully appreciated. And the lithium and critical mineral discussions brought home just how geopolitically charged the battery supply chain really is. I left Houston with more questions than answers – which feels like exactly the right outcome.”