Microsoft鈥檚 Darryl Willis has built an extraordinary career bringing together science,
energy, technology, passion and innovation.
He started as an exploration geophysicist at bp and rose through the ranks during
his 28-year-career at the oil and gas giant. Eventually, the tech industry came calling
in the form of Google, where he led efforts to discover new solutions for the marketplace.
Now the corporate vice president of energy and resources industry at Microsoft, Willis and his team are focused on bridging the gap between tech and industry, citing digitalization as one of the central pieces of the energy transition.
鈥淚 would say it has been interesting, fortuitous and challenging all at the same time.
I wish I could tell you I had a master plan, but it鈥檚 mostly been just me following
things that are interesting and impactful,鈥� Willis said.
As one of the members of the 海角社区鈥檚 Energy Transition Institute (ETI)
Advisory Board, the New Orleans native brings his extensive industry knowledge, perspective
on digitalization鈥檚 role in the energy transition and urgency to the table as the
institute readies to lead the future of energy.
Citing Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner鈥檚 aspirations for Houston to lead the energy
transition, as well as UH鈥檚 place as the intellectual engine of the Bayou City, it did not take long for Willis
to accept a spot on the team and the challenge that comes with it.
鈥淭hough I鈥檓 from New Orleans, Houston is my second home. Additionally, I鈥檝e been really
impressed with Mayor Turner and his ambition to help Houston go from being the Energy
Capital of the World to being the Energy Transition Capital of the World,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to take a lot to make that happen. I believe Houston can do it. I believe
that transformational development for energy and the energy transition will be facilitated
by the 海角社区鈥檚 involvement. I have a lot of hope and belief that UH will help accelerate anything we do in Houston around the energy transition.鈥�
Willis, supported by a highly diverse group of peers on the board, openly acknowledged
the challenging path ahead. This is because the plan involves attempting something
unprecedented. In his view, the energy sector tends to favor a more methodical problem-solving
approach, but industry needs to pick up the pace without forgetting the need for partnerships
and steady progress to achieve net zero by 2050.
鈥淭here鈥檚 an urgency around the energy transition that has to be appreciated and addressed.
This sector has to move at a faster velocity,鈥� Willis said. 鈥淏ecause I鈥檓 a scientist,
I think in terms of scientific measures. Velocity entails distance, speed and direction.
I think the direction is clear, but the speed is not where it needs to be, and we
must try and move faster.鈥�
He also stressed the need for partnerships and steady progress to achieve net zero
by 2050. 鈥淓very company has its own decarbonization ambitions but we all need to work
together to meet both individual company and collective societal goals or it won鈥檛
work. We won鈥檛 get there without partnership between all companies, whether that鈥檚
power, renewables, tech, startups or fossil fuels. And we must stay the course,鈥� Willis
added. 鈥淢any companies have set net zero targets and are challenging themselves on
how to get there, but it鈥檚 also important to set intermediate targets to assess progress
in reaching the end goal and adjust as needed.鈥�
Another important question that must be addressed is how can society achieve net zero.
While there is enough of a foundation to begin the work, Willis admits that part of
the solution requires innovative methods that haven鈥檛 been formulated yet. The other
side of the equation also involves adequate investment.
鈥淭he stuff we already know how to do will probably get us halfway there, but the things
that will get us from that point to net zero will have to be reimagined in some cases,鈥�
he said. 鈥淚 think partnerships with universities and industry along with investment
of money, resources and time will help drive the intellectual progress that鈥檚 required.
It鈥檚 going to take time and focus. Sometimes, you can be chasing too many things and
if you do that, you won鈥檛 get anything done.鈥�
With this in mind, Willis is ready to get to work on helping guide the ETI鈥檚 vision
for the Energy Capital of the World that is evolving to the Energy Transition Capital
of the World. That vision also involves the future workforce. To that end, Willis
offers a few pieces of his blueprint for making an impact within industry and beyond.
This three-pronged approach hinges on working for the greater good, following your
passions, and manifesting reality.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e doing something you love and are passionate about, the success and resources
will follow. Secondly, always think about how you can benefit someone other than yourself,
and that鈥檚 a big piece of what I do,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou need an operating rhythm and framework
for what you want for your career and frankly, your life. Anything you want personally
or professionally, create some sort of vision for it. There鈥檚 something powerful about
visualization and writing down what you want to do. Looking back on my career, every
time I鈥檝e written something down, 80 percent of the time it has become a reality.鈥�