Wafik BEYDOUN
CV
Experiences
I worked in the O&G industry since 1988, beginning as a geophysicist with Atlantic Richfield
(ARCO) in Texas. I then held since various research, operations, and leadership roles in
TotalEnergies, including Area Exploration Manager for the “Golden Block” 17 in Angola, Global
Geophysical Operations & Technologies Manager, Senior Negotiator New Business / Affaires
Nouvelles, Business Development Manager for worldwide R&D, President & CEO Research &
Technology USA LLC in Houston, R&D Division Manager at ADNOC Abu Dhabi, General Manager
and Country Chair in Kuwait, and Director Americas at IOGP (International Association of O&G
Producers) in Houston, as a TotalEnergies secondee
Degrees
1985 Ph.D. Geophysics, from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Mass. USA
1982 M.Sc. Earth Sciences, from MIT, Mass. USA
1980 Maitrise de Sciences & Techniques, from Université P&M Curie (Paris 6), France
teaching
Universities & Institutes:
MIT, Stanford University, IPG Paris, UPMC (Paris 6), IFP ENSPM, UT Dallas
Domaines de connaissances:
Contrats pétroliers, Exploration, Géosciences, Lobbying/Advocacy, Négociations.
Activities
With over 35 years in the energy sector across 40+ countries spanning the Americas, Europe, Africa,
the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, I have gained firsthand experience in how cultural intelligence
shapes global business success. I have also lived in Angola, Nigeria, Sudan, Lebanon, UAE, Kuwait,
Cyprus, Denmark, France, UK, Brazil, and the USA, deepening my understanding of diverse cultural
and business environments. Throughout my career, I have negotiated and secured dozens of
strategic technical and business agreements/partnerships while navigating complex cross-cultural
dynamics in leadership, negotiation, and decision-making. Through my course, Navigating Cultural
Dynamics in a Multipolar Business World, I aim to equip engineering and MBA students with
practical skills to bridge cultural gaps, collaborate in diverse teams, and succeed in global markets.
