“Said will learn and teach.”

That’s what my grandfather, El Hadj Mohand Said, a wise man from the Algerian mountains, said about me while talking to his tribe when I was a child.

Although I did not understand his words then, they set the path for my life from my early childhood through MBA training. I often thought of them during my 12 years with the Algerian police, where I learned discipline, service, and empathy. They even ring in my ears on the handball court, where I better understand team spirit with every situation.

And they have been my guide at SLB, where empowered, committed teams can achieve remarkable things.

When I joined SLB in 2009, I met people who generously shared their knowledge and experience, inspired younger professionals to realize their full potential, and supported the growth and strength of their communities.

This “culture of sharing” is a key reason we can proudly look back on a century of success today.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to participate in initiatives focused on mentoring young engineers and supply chain professionals across the geographies where I worked. One experience holds a particularly special place in my heart.

Five years ago, with the support of SLB leadership and help from my colleagues in North Africa, we began working with the University of Ouargla to create new opportunities for students in Southern Algeria. What started with an apprenticeship master's program evolved into something much larger: the Ouargla Hub of Excellence, a collaborative space supporting innovation, entrepreneurship, and skills development.

The most rewarding part? The design and execution of the infrastructure itself. And to a larger extent, seeing the ambition in young people's eyes. Watching students, innovators, project owners, and entrepreneurs gather, share, and realize that they can build their future close to home and become actors in their region's development.

Such moments remind me that meaningful impact is not measured only by what we build, but by what we enable others to become. That impact is the legacy we at SLB always talk about.

Today, when I walk through the Hub and see ideas taking shape, collaborations emerging, and young talent finding its voice, I think of my grandfather's words.

A lifetime later, I realize that persistent learning and humble teaching are not separate journeys. They are one, and they are my purpose. My leitmotif.

As we celebrate our 100th anniversary, I am humbled by how my grandfather’s simple but prophetic words have become part of a much larger story than my own. And I’m grateful to all the people who share my vision and helped make it a reality.

I am thankful for SLB—not only for the many pathways that opened to me, but for our shared commitment to helping younger generations learn and teach others.