In today’s complex world, the ability to think across disciplines has become a critical advantage, one that Rita Uganden-Teryila embodies.
With experience spanning offshore oilfield engineering, production optimisation, and AI governance, she represents a new generation of systems thinkers redefining how problems are solved.
Now a Graduate Fellow at MIT with a thesis on “Solar Hot Water Heating as an Energy Transition Instrument for Urban Households in Nigeria” and “ A Comparative Analysis Informing The Implementation Of Liquid Cooling In Hyperscale Data Centres”
A Judge and Co-Chair at the MIT Africa Business Challenge and the Africa Innovate Conference, respectively, Rita is shaping conversations on building resilient, scalable systems across energy and technology in Africa and beyond.
In this interview with Techeconomy, she shares insights on systems thinking, innovation, and navigating complexity at scale. Excerpts.
You’ve transitioned from offshore engineering to AI governance. What ties these worlds together?
Rita Uganden-Teryila: At first glance, offshore wells and AI systems appear to belong to different domains, but both are complex, interdependent systems. In offshore engineering, you manage subsurface uncertainty, mechanical constraints, and fluid dynamics. In AI governance, the variables shift to data pipelines, model behaviour, and organisational workflows.
The underlying challenge is the same: designing systems that are efficient, reliable, and scalable. Systems thinking provides that bridge. It allows you to map relationships, identify bottlenecks, and optimise performance holistically.
The key lesson is that while tools evolve, systems thinking is transferable. That’s what enables movement across industries without losing depth.
As a Judge at the MIT Africa Innovate Hackathon, what stood out in the winning solutions?
Rita Uganden-Teryila: Clarity of thought stood out most. The strongest teams understood the systems they were trying to change. They identified root causes, stakeholders, and constraints, not just surface problems.
The best solutions were grounded in reality. They accounted for infrastructure limitations, behavioural patterns, and scalability from the outset.
We also looked at sustainability, not just environmental, but operational. Could the solution scale beyond a pilot? Could it integrate without friction?
Ultimately, we rewarded systemic thinking, the ability to design solutions that work in real-world conditions.
What separates a good technical solution from a truly impactful one?
Rita Uganden-Teryila: Impact lies in integration and longevity. A good solution works in isolation; an impactful one fits into a broader system and continues to deliver value over time.
Many solutions fail because they ignore context. They don’t consider how they interact with existing processes or behaviours.
The most effective solutions are adaptable. They include feedback loops, allowing performance to evolve with the system. So, impact is less about complexity and more about systemic fit, solutions that integrate, scale, and adapt become infrastructure.
As Co-Chair of the MIT Africa Innovate Conference, what conversations did you prioritise?
Rita Uganden-Teryila: We focused on systems-level thinking. Africa’s challenges, such as energy, infrastructure, digital transformation, which are interconnected and require coordinated solutions.
The theme, ‘Building Systems for Shared Prosperity,’ reflects this. We explored how policies, technology, and human capital interact to create scalable systems.
Infrastructure, both physical and digital, was central. Without strong systems, innovation struggles to scale.
We also emphasised collaboration. The future lies in partnerships across sectors. The key question is no longer what to build, but how to build systems that last.
Your work restored over 30,000 BOPD in Nigeria. How did systems thinking play a role?
Rita Uganden-Teryila: Each well was a complex system with mechanical, reservoir, and operational constraints.
Rather than applying generic solutions, we analysed data, mapped interactions, and identified precise failure points. This enabled targeted interventions rather than costly overhauls.
In one case, we resolved a major downhole obstruction through precision engineering instead of full workover operations.
The result was over 30,000 BOPD in recovered production. More importantly, it showed that many ‘declining’ assets still hold significant value.
The lesson we learned was that optimisation is driven by insight. When you understand the system, you achieve more with less.
What does sustainable energy systems design look like for developing economies?
Rita Uganden-Teryila: It must be adaptive. Developing economies face infrastructure, financing, and policy constraints that require flexible solutions.
We need decentralised systems, including hybrid models combining renewables, storage, and smart distribution. These systems improve reliability and reduce vulnerability.
Affordability is also critical. Solutions must be economically viable, not just technically sound. Ultimately, sustainability in these contexts is about resilience, scalability, and inclusivity, not just energy generation.
What are the biggest bottlenecks in energy systems today?
Rita Uganden-Teryila: Fragmentation is a major issue. Generation, distribution, and consumption often operate in silos, creating inefficiencies.
There’s also limited visibility across systems, making optimisation difficult. For instance, energy may be available but unable to reach users due to distribution constraints. Outdated infrastructure compounds the problem.
The solution lies in integration, systems that communicate and adapt in real time. Data plays a critical role in enabling this visibility and optimisation.
Ultimately, the bottleneck is structural, not just technical.
How has your experience at Apple shaped your engineering approach?
Rita Uganden-Teryila: It reinforced the importance of structure and visibility in complex systems. In AI governance, inefficiencies often persist because they are not measured. By creating frameworks to track and evaluate system performance, we improved efficiency and reduced non-productive time.
It also highlighted the value of standardisation. Clear processes enable teams to scale effectively.
The takeaway is simple: advanced systems need governance. Without it, complexity becomes inefficiency.
What has it been like operating in male-dominated industries?
Rita Uganden-Teryila: It requires resilience and clarity of purpose. In such environments, results matter more than perception over time. Consistency builds credibility, and credibility creates influence.
I’ve focused on delivering value while also supporting others entering the field. Representation is important, not just for visibility, but for expanding opportunity. Progress is not just individual success, but collective advancement.
What advice would you give to young engineers?
Rita Uganden-Teryila: Focus on systems thinking. Tools change, but systems understanding endures. Seek challenging environments that expand your perspective. Growth comes from discomfort.
Be adaptable. High-stakes environments require both technical and strategic thinking. Finally, be intentional. Every experience should contribute to long-term development.
What does the future of systems design look like?
Rita Uganden-Teryila: It will be interdisciplinary. Complex problems require integrated solutions across technical, economic, and social domains. Data and AI will make systems more adaptive, but governance will become equally important.
The future belongs to engineers who can navigate complexity with clarity by designing systems that are efficient, resilient, and responsible.
