When Natina Singh began her academic journey in chemistry, she never imagined she would one day be managing logistics and operations at ExxonMobil Guyana’s shore bases.
She told her story on the most recent episode of ExxonMobil’s Onshore Diaries. “There was no way logically that a chemistry student would have been running a shore base or managing logistics,” Singh recalled. “I always thought my place was secluded in the lab somewhere.”
Today, Singh holds the distinction of being the first Guyanese to serve as Operations and Logistics Superintendent at ExxonMobil Guyana. Within just five years, she climbed from Inbound Logistics Coordinator to Supervisor, then Local Content Supervisor, and now oversees a network of shore bases crucial to the nation’s oil and gas supply chain.
“All our shore bases that we either have contractors operating out of, or we do have our own operations, fall under my scope,” she explained. Her team manages a wide range of critical activities. “All of the operations that happen at the shore base, incoming material, storage, staging, preservation, washing, bundling, movement, and loadouts, fall under us,” she said. “From land to seaside is ours, and from quayside to sea is marine.”
Most of her team members are Guyanese, many of whom started as contractors before being hired as full-time employees. “Bright young people,” Singh added proudly.
Raised in La Bonne Intention (LBI) on the East Coast Demerara, Singh attended The Bishops’ High School, later studying at the University of Guyana, where she earned her degree in chemistry and later a Master’s in Business Administration. “Science has always been my number one love,” she said. “What I’ve learned is that science teaches you how to think, cause and effect, variables, and outcomes, and I’ve applied that formula to everything I’ve done since.”
She noted how times have changed for Guyanese youth pursuing STEM fields. “One of the things I envy the younger generation for is that now, with oil and gas, careers in science, engineering, and technology have grown so much. The opportunities are vast and wide,” she said. “If you wanted to study geography back then, there was nothing you could do except in mining. Now, you can be a geoscientist with a seismic company or with ExxonMobil.”
Coming from a family of teachers, Singh said the value of learning and sharing knowledge was deeply rooted in her upbringing. “My mother was a teacher, and my entire family on her side were teachers. The love of learning and teaching was instilled in me,” she said. She credits her success to supportive mentors who “saw something in you that you probably didn’t see in yourself”.
Her career philosophy is rooted in openness and courage. “The willingness to say yes, that’s what helped me on this path,” she said. “If somebody sees something in you and says, ‘Do you want to try this?’ don’t shy away. Say yes enthusiastically. You can worry about how later.” She encourages others to stay curious and view challenges as opportunities. “Science tells you that every failed experiment is just a way not to do it and to try differently.”
For women eyeing leadership roles in the oil and gas industry, her advice is direct. “Don’t ever box yourself off. I don’t think a role has to be male or female,” she said. “ExxonMobil has the standards and know-how, but we are operating in Guyana. It’s important for Guyanese employees to bring our perspective; this is how we can get it done in this country.”
Now a mother of two boys, aged 16 and 10, Singh leads by example. “They’ve seen me go back to school, wear the hard hat and safety boots, and also the heels and dresses,” she said. “I want them to recognize that there are no gender roles like in the past. Men and women can play equal roles.”
As for what comes next, Singh remains open to the future. “I can never answer what’s next or where I want to be in five years,” she said with a smile. “When the time comes, the page will turn, and I’ll see what that chapter is.”
