Phillips 66 CEO and Texas A&M University former student Greg Garland ’80 returned to Aggieland on April 13 to speak about his journey from first-generation Aggie engineer to becoming the CEO of a multinational energy company.
Garland had the student audience chuckling multiple times during the evening remarks. He shared his struggles, triumphs and humorous situations. Each story ended with an impactful lesson that shaped his successful career.
“I think both of my parents instilled in me the requirement to go to college,” Garland said. “They’d say, ‘I can’t tell you what to do or who to be, but I can tell you it is really important that you go to a good school.’”
Garland was not sure what to major in or what he would be when he was older, but he decided to begin his college career as a zoology major. That was until he and his friend had a conversation in Texas A&M’s Aston Hall while studying for a test.
“He looked at me and said, ‘What are you going to do with that?’ I told him, ‘Just get a degree,’” said Garland. “The next morning, I went and changed my major to chemical engineering.”
This was only the beginning of his engineering career, and with very little knowledge of where he would end up, Garland only ever continued to work hard despite the adversities he faced and uncertainties he felt from the unexpected opportunities that came his way.
“One thing I encourage you to do when you move from Texas A&M is to look for things that will open your aperture because it will cause you to consider things that you may have not known existed,” said Garland.
Mid-career, he was offered the opportunity to go to Qatar to run a billion-dollar project. He said he never had the desire to live internationally, but after being told he would not have a job if he didn’t go, Garland and his wife made their way to Qatar.
“I got off the plane. It was 110 degrees and the culture hits you in the face,” says Garland. “It was an absolutely awesome and incredible experience because I worked with the energy minister, moved sand dunes, built a billion-dollar facility and borrowed all the money to do it, which had never been done before in the history of the chemicals business.”
Garland said it was an incredible opportunity and if he had not done it, he wouldn’t have been there that night talking to the students as the CEO of Phillips 66.
“One of the things I want you to understand is that there are going to be points and times in your career where people are going to ask you to do things that are outside of your comfort zone, but do them,” said Garland. “Because that’s where you learn. Most of the jobs I had, including this one, I was not prepared for, but I figured it out.”
The stories of the highs and lows throughout his career that Garland told the audience only proved that overcoming adversity makes one stronger in the long run.
“Opportunities are going to come your way and you are not always going to feel like you are totally prepared for them,” says Garland. “Take those opportunities and do the best that you can because I have got good news for you — you only fail if you quit.”
Garland will be stepping down during the summer after being the CEO of Phillips 66 for 10 years and will become executive chairman until his retirement in 2024.