Adam Gobi

Founder and CEO, Beyond Consulting Inc.

Adam Gobi was born and raised in Newfoundland, venturing off the island to obtain Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering. With a strong inclination to return home, he took on an Ocean Engineering PhD at Memorial, focusing on underwater robotics and machine vision technology for ocean environmental monitoring applications. The work led him to Australia, where he ended up taking a hiatus from the doctorate to join a small team of engineers building the manned submersible that would become known as Deepsea Challenger. Adam took the lead on DSC’s cameras and imaging systems, enabling the vehicle to capture groundbreaking imagery of the deepest places on Earth.

After the DSC expedition, Adam made his way back home. He created a new company, Go Beyond Consulting Inc., and established an R&D facility that provides contracting services for the development of advanced subsea imaging solutions. The company also has its own active R&D program, to pursue a project that combines Adam’s PhD work with the work he did for Deepsea Challenger. The project is called iSEA (independent submersible environment analysis), which is an automated marine environmental monitoring system that incorporates advanced subsea vehicle, camera, and other sensor technology to assess and monitor marine ecosystems. It’s purpose is to help protect the world’s oceans.

We asked Adam:

The OGM: What does sustainability mean to you?

Adam: A habitable earth for my future grandchildren.

The OGM: Have you had a mentor?

Adam: I try to soak up as much knowledge as I can in the many disciplines I am interested in, and in that way, I’ve had many mentors.

The OGM: What does success mean to you?

Adam: Fulfillment in life.

The OGM: If you were to describe your career in three words, what would they be?

Adam: Only just beginning.

The OGM: What advice would you give to someone looking for a career in the Energy Industry?

Adam: If you’re starting a company, have clear goals and a whole lot of determination. You’ll be the smallest fish in a really large pond.

The OGM: Describe a milestone in your career?

Adam: Perhaps the most significant milestone was what I accomplished as one of the lead engineers on the DSC project. We built the world’s most advanced submarine, one that can go deeper than any other sub on the planet, and then took it to places no one has ever been before. We captured imagery that led to the discovery of 68 new species. Much of that footage will be in the upcoming 3D feature film, which is sure to inspire a whole new generation of ocean explorers, engineers, and scientists.

The OGM: Describe a challenge you faced in your career?

Adam: See 6. Not surprisingly, the most significant milestone in my career was also based around the most challenging project. The leader and visionary for the Deepsea Challenge project was James Cameron, an accomplished explorer who is known to drive his engineers to accomplish incredible feats on extremely compressed timelines. During a project like that, working endless 18-hour days, on land and at sea, to make it all work, you learn what you’re made of. If you manage to survive it, you know that you’re innately capable of taking on any challenge your career might throw at you.

The OGM: What impact does technology have on your career?

Adam: Technology is my career. It has always been based upon developing pioneering technology to achieve what was previously unachievable.

The OGM: What do the next five years look like in your career?

Adam: In five years, I hope to see a fleet of underwater vehicles outfitted with iSEA technology, dedicated to ocean exploration and protection.

The OGM: Were you always interested in a career in Energy?

Adam: Not specifically, but I’ve always been interested in an ocean-based career that contributes significantly to Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy.

The OGM: What interests you to sustain a career in the Energy Industry?

Adam: Not specifically, but I’ve always been interested in an ocean-based career that contributes significantly to Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy.

The OGM: Do you have a role model you look up to?

Adam: I live by the example of my parents, who have showed me the value of balance in hard work and a happy home.

The OGM: What does Energy mean to you?

Adam: Prosperity for Newfoundland and Labrador.

The OGM: What is your favorite APP on your phone?

Adam: The dial pad.

The OGM: What impact will the Millennial Generation have on the Energy Industry?

Adam: Hopefully, they’ll provide new ideas and a fresh outlook.

The OGM: What’s your take on Social Media and our ever changing digital world?

Adam: I suppose it is a natural evolution of a global society that through the Internet is better connected than ever before.

The OGM: What Social Medium do you use on a daily basis?

Adam: E-mail. I have LinkedIn and Facebook accounts, but I don’t use them daily.

The OGM: Do you use Social Media for work?

Adam: It’s not really applicable for my work, at least at this stage.

The OGM: What do you think of Social Recruiting?

Adam: Not something I’m currently using, but I can see the potential benefits.

The OGM: Why do you love what you do?

Adam: Because it gives me a sense of purpose and fulfillment.