Fresh out of university, Marco Aurelio Hernández left Colombia to arrive in Argentina, launching a more than 20-year career fueled by an innate enthusiasm and a hands-on approach to life.

From an early age, Marco Aurelio Hernández was driven by curiosity and energy, always eager to explore new paths. Born in Cartagena, he made his first big move at just 17, leaving home to pursue his university studies in Bucaramanga. After graduating, his career at Tecpetrol took him even further afield, first to Buenos Aires, then to Comodoro Rivadavia, and eventually back to Bogotá. There, he took on the major challenge of supporting the launch and growth of operations in his home country, a role he now holds as Operations Senior Manager.

With more than two decades at the company, Marco Aurelio looks back with pride and a good dose of humor at the challenges, opportunities, and the people who have accompanied him along the way, through both the everyday moments and the extraordinary situations that are so much part of life in this industry.

How did you get to Tecpetrol?

In 2001, while I was studying at the University of Santander, I was offered a three-month summer internship at the El Tordillo field in Comodoro Rivadavia. It was a really excellent experience. After graduating, I returned to Bucaramanga and started working at another company, but in 2004 Tecpetrol called up to offer me an opportunity in the drilling area in Ecuador. I said yes. During the hiring process, another opportunity came up, this time in Tartagal, Argentina, and I said yes again. Then, when I arrived in Buenos Aires, they offered me a position there as well. And once again, I said yes… because the third time’s the charm (laughs). I worked in the drilling area for two years, traveling back and forth to Neuquén and sometimes to Ecuador, Mexico, and Tartagal. At the beginning of 2006, the chance to settle in Comodoro Rivadavia came up—and that time the answer was also yes.

How did you get started?

For four years, I worked in different roles within the drilling area. Then one day, my boss called me in and said, “Starting Monday, you’re sitting in that chair.” It turned out to be the head of the Workover department’s job! I honestly thought he was joking—but he wasn’t. That’s how unexpected that move was. Since it was a completely new area for me, they assigned José Luis Mellado, a long-standing Tecpetrol colleague, to support me. He came from Tartagal to Comodoro Rivadavia, and that very Monday we arrived at the site together at 6:30 a.m. At 7 sharp, the site manager walked into the office and greeted us politely. Riding on that cordial start, we explained that we had four fishing jobs underway, meaning recovering equipment that shouldn’t be in the well. His reaction? He exploded. He yelled at us nonstop for ten minutes and then stormed out. I turned to José Luis and asked, “What do we do now?” His answer was classic: “Let’s have some mate. We’re probably in trouble” (laughs). What happened next is one of the things I like most about Tecpetrol. A little while later, I happened to walk past the office of that same manager who ‘d been so made with us minutes earlier—and he invited me in for a couple of mates too! Like, at 7 a.m. he wanted to kill us, and soon after he was ready for a friendly chat. That says a lot about our culture. We’re very good at separating work tensions from personal relationships. This is a demanding industry: the technical challenges are complex, and on top of that we deal with political, union, community, and social factors. Every day brings new challenges, which is why building and maintaining good relationships is absolutely essential.

How important is teamwork for everything to go well?

More than important, I’d say it’s essential. You don’t have to be close friends with everyone, but you do need to work well together. That’s part of being a good professional. Some decisions are made within my team, while others involve different areas and many other colleagues. If we don’t build strong working relationships, projects suffer as a consequence. When problems come up, we have to focus on finding solutions, and that often means long brainstorming sessions in tense environments. In those moments of heated discussion, it’s crucial to remember that the issue is the work itself, not the people involved.

How was your return to Colombia?

Coming back to Colombia came with a brand-new professional challenge. Tecpetrol had opened its office in the country and, after completing seismic studies, was preparing to drill its first exploratory wells. I was offered the chance to return and be part of that process, so at the end of 2010 I moved permanently to Bogotá. Even though we were returning to our home country, my wife didn’t know the city and it felt like starting over. In many ways it was similar to when we first arrived in Comodoro Rivadavia. I was initially in charge of Drilling and Workover until 2015, when a widespread industry crisis led to a temporary halt in drilling activity. At that point, I took on responsibility for Operations, a role that was completely new to me. I’ve always enjoyed drilling, and I still do, but the change appealed to me for two main reasons. First, it meant learning about an area I didn’t know before. And second, Operations offers a much more comprehensive view of the business. The fact that this transition happened during a critical period of low activity gave me the chance to spend more time in the field and focus deeply on learning. In Campo Pendare, I was always going from one area to another with different colleagues, which is how I was able to gain a well-grounded understanding of the process from the inside out. By the time activity picked up again, I felt ready. Since then, my role has become more stable. I’ve also taken on the major challenge of supporting the growth of Tecpetrol’s business in Colombia, something that’s a real source of pride for me.

How important is it to keep learning new things at work?

At Tecpetrol, it’s essential. I’ve been with the same company for 21 years, but I’ve lived in three different cities, worked in several areas, and always taken on roles that motivated and challenged me. The oil and gas industry offers an incredibly wide range of activities, and the only real way to learn them is by being on the job. That’s what shapes us and helps us grow.

Tecpetrol has a very strong training culture, with specific programs designed to develop its people. But the experience you gain through projects and day-to-day roles is crucial. I’ve always seen change as a challenge. Training, learning, and discovering new topics keeps things exciting.

Is it hard to balance personal and professional life?

I remember a gathering in Comodoro Rivadavia with some colleagues and their partners. When a work-related topic came up in the conversation, it was my wife who ended up answering the question. We all looked at her in surprise as she’s a lawyer and doesn’t work in the industry, but she was very close to the solution an experienced oil professional would have given. Then she laughed and said, “How could I not know, if I’m always hearing my husband talk about these things on the phone at home?” (laughs). There are moments in the field when issues need immediate attention, and that does affect family life. You have to learn how to deal with the work situation and then disconnect, so you can enjoy your time off and reconnect with your partner and children. At the beginning, that balance was very difficult for me, but it’s something you learn over time.

What advice would you give to professionals just starting out at Tecpetrol?

Don’t be afraid of challenges. Don’t turn down an opportunity out of fear. It’s also very important to know how to ask for help: we all need it. We have to stay curious, restless, and eager to contribute to collective growth. I’ve been at Tecpetrol for many years, and I’m still facing new situations. That’s something I really value, and it’s why I keep choosing this company. New professionals will face their own challenges, like the energy transition, but they can be sure of one thing: they’ll have the support of both the company and their colleagues to overcome them.