From geology graduate to global sales leader, Gwyn Simmonds has spent more than 25 years at the intersection of data, reliability, and customer trust. In this episode, Steve explores how a curiosity-driven career led Gwyn from the lab bench to the boardroom and what’s changed along the way.
Gwyn shares honest reflections on leadership, travel, and learning on the job, revealing how oil analysis has evolved from pipettes and paper reports to automation, AI, and insight-driven service.
Key Takeaways
From Geology to Oil Analysis
Straight from the University of Staffordshire, a newspaper ad led Gwyn into his first lab role. What began as “a job that paid the bills” turned into a lifelong fascination with data, machines, and people.
Curiosity Opens Doors
Not an engineer by background, Gwyn credits curiosity, and mentors like Mike Bourne, for showing him how data tells stories. That early curiosity built the foundation for his technical and commercial confidence.
Lab Coats to Leadership
Over time, Gwyn moved from interpreting data to managing accounts, then to leading global sales and marketing for eight laboratories worldwide. His leadership philosophy? “Lead from the front but bring everyone with you.”
Technology Transforms Talent
From pipettes to robots and from spreadsheets to Power BI dashboards, Gwyn describes how AI and automation are changing not just how labs work, but who works in them. Data literacy now sits beside engineering know-how.
Trust and Flexibility
With teams across continents, Gwyn leads through trust rather than control balancing global travel with family life in North Wales. His open, people-first approach shows that culture matters as much as process.
Learning Never Stops
From workplace book clubs (The Challenger Sale, Lean Selling, Modern Sales Leadership) to industry networking, Gwyn emphasises that growth comes from sharing knowledge, not guarding it.
🔗 Connect with Gwyn
• Gwyn Simmonds on LinkedIn
• POLARIS Laboratories
Why Listen
If you’ve ever wondered what a career in lubricants and condition monitoring really looks like, this episode offers a candid, human look at how curiosity, learning, and leadership evolve over time.
Whether you’re just starting out, leading teams, or simply trying to balance work and life on the road, Gwyn’s journey shows that staying curious is still the best strategy there is.