As the president of Transversal Consulting, current projects include guiding businesses in various industries on the confluence of energy markets and geopolitics.  I write a weekly column on geopolitics and the energy markets at investing.com, which is translated into multiple languages. I have a weekly column at Forbes online addressing topics in energy for a broader audience and a new column at Arab News for business in the Gulf region. I am also a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center.

Recent Book on the History of Aramco and Saudi Arabia:

“Saudi, Inc.” presents the history of Saudi Arabia through the central figure of Aramco, the oil company that brought riches, success, and regional dominance to the ruling family, al Saud.  Now Saudi Aramco prepares to launch its much-anticipated IPO, expected to be the largest in history with a possible valuation of up to $2 trillion. The Kingdom is also embarking on a massive investment in its Vision2030 plan for economic diversification; the rebirth of an economic and diplomatic relationship with the U.S. worth hundreds of billions of dollars in investment in both directions; and preparation by the next generation to take leadership positions in the Kingdom – transforming society, business, and the state. Order here:   

Listen to a podcast about “Saudi, Inc.” from the Atlantic:

Bio:

I grew up just outside of Philadelphia.  I earned an A.B. magna cum laude in history from Princeton University with specialties in Near Eastern studies and creative writing.  As a graduate student at Boston University, I studied the American and Middle-Eastern energy industries with both an economist and a foreign relations specialist.  I have conducted significant research on geopolitics and energy markets at the American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming, the National Archives, the British Petroleum Archives, and the British National Archives.  My dissertation was entitled, “The United States, Great Britain and the Middle-Eastern Oil Industry, 1945-1960.”