Alumni spotlight
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Vineeta Maguire, MSc’95 (Chemical and Petroleum Engineering)
Reflecting on decades of problem solving
Schulich graduate applied chemical engineering to the integration of operations and supply chains.
Vineeta Maguire was already working in the oil patch when, in 1993, she decided to take a Master of Science in chemical engineering at the Schulich School of Engineering, focusing on process and environment. “As a chemical engineer, I knew I had options,” says Maguire. “I could work in petroleum production and products, pharmaceuticals or even pulp and paper.”
She ended up working in the energy industry, applying herself to new challenges over her 30 year career. “Curiosity drives continuous learning and ultimately the evolution of industries.”
After leading Canadian Operations at Ovintiv (formerly Encana), she moved into supply chain as the company consolidated Canadian and U.S. operations. For the last decade in the oil sector, she was Ovintiv’s Vice President, Supply Management Services, North America, integrating technical and commercial knowledge with “amazing teams” to learn and problem solve.
I think you can accelerate innovation in a business if you understand the operations along with the supply chain’s end-to-end value. You need to know what you're buying and what those products are best used for to drive progress.
Vineeta Maguire, MSc’95 (Chemical and Petroleum Engineering)
Now retired from Ovintiv, Maguire is turning her considerable talents to board work, taking the Institute of Corporate Directors Designation (ICD.D), most recently serving as Board of Director of Whitecap Resources and Chair of Alberta Easter Seals.
She is also an advisor of the Haskayne School of Business (Supply Chain and Logistics Advisory Board) and mentors students and young professionals. “I enjoy learning and working with employees of the future,” she says. “They challenge those of us who've been in the industry for decades to look at things from a new perspective.”
Over the years, she too has had to challenge people to see her—a visible minority and a woman—a different way. “My goal was to be seen not only as visibly diverse but to add value with diversity of thought to all opportunities,” she says.
Maguire shares lessons from her long, successful career with her young adult daughters, infusing them with the confidence and flexibility to speak their minds, and focus on solutions. “I tell them to strive to be a positive example and a unique voice. We can all learn from others and most people are eager to work together. Everyone has a story that you can learn from—and that’s empowering.”
She continues to embrace new viewpoints and different perspectives, a skill she honed at Schulich. “The professors and fellow students were amazing and inspiring,” says Maguire. “I loved learning from people all over the world, solving problems with them, because they would merge ideas with no fear.”
Schulich taught her to “believe in myself,” embrace obstacles and thrive as a lifelong learner with other students. “I went to school and worked with amazing people who challenged me to see how innovation is done as a team, and that together you build ideas that deliver even better results than you could have on your own.”