As we go forward, we're going to continue to use technology to make really big differences in how people live and work. And Satish Pai, Vice-president of Schlumberger Oilfield Technologies belongs to that rare genre of people who knows to use the technology in best possible way. It's no surprise that Pai is the man who is credited with digitalizing the oil industry in general and Schlumberger in particular and also played a key role in moving the oil giant into the electronic age. A bachelor in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Pai joined Schlumberger as a field engineer way back in 1985 and later served as a petro-physicist and was also responsible for recruiting and training development.

It was only in 2002 that he was elevated to his present position. Prior to becoming vice-president, Pai also served as president of IndigoPool, the premier e-marketplace for the energy industry, which was named by Forbes.com magazine as one of the leading B2B web sites in 2000. At IndigoPool, Pai was instrumental in providing world-class acquisition and divestiture (A&D) services to the oil and gas industry around the world - providing advisory services to promote accelerated deal flow, facilitating the due diligence process and ensuring the highest quality experience for both buyers and sellers.

A man with invaluable experience of decades, Pai also served as operations manager for Schlumberger GeoQuest, in Gatwick, United Kingdom, and CIS Region manager for GeoQuest in Moscow and at all positions came out with flying colours, in matters of performances. In fact, Pai is among few professional technocrats who know how to leverage technology to the oil industry's advantage. While speaking at a meeting once, he said that oil businesses were digitalizing, and boundaries and distinctions between geography and companies were fast disappearing.

To speed this process, what the companies need is to explore information technology access. He, however, was pragmatic. "But technology alone will not work, they will also need infrastructure and network to make it all come together." Pai believes that there is "real value" in collaboration, "knowledge capture and dissemination" is facilitated, and "connectivity" will make "real time" a reality. No doubt, with Pai manning the Schlumberger, there is no height, which his sight won't reach.