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From Pipettes to People – The Journey of Gwyn Simmonds, Polaris Laboratories
In this episode of Beyond The Blend, Steve Knapp sits down with Gwyn Simmonds, Executive Director of Global Sales and Marketing at Polaris Laboratories. What begins as a chance LinkedIn connection turned airport encounter becomes a thoughtful conversation about curiosity, leadership, and the evolution of an industry.
From the oil-stained benches of a North Wales lab to the boardrooms of Indianapolis, Gwyn’s story captures the changing face of the lubricants sector – one that is as much about people as it is about precision.
Falling Into the Industry and Finding Purpose
Like many in lubricants, Gwyn didn’t plan to be here. A geology graduate, he answered a job advert expecting a life in exploration, only to find himself analysing engine oil samples. What began as a stopgap became a career. His curiosity took him from lab technician to data interpreter, discovering how small results told big stories about machines and performance. Over 25 years later, that same curiosity underpins his success. His story reminds us that some of the best careers are found by accident – it’s what you do once you arrive that matters.
From Lab Coats to Algorithms – Technology Takes Over
The days of pipettes and paper reports are long gone. Today, Polaris operates more like a tech company than a laboratory. Automation, robotics, and AI are now central to operations, and the new generation of analysts are as fluent in Power BI and Salesforce as they are in chemistry. Gwyn explains how data integration and machine learning have transformed oil analysis into a predictive science, allowing customers to make real-time reliability decisions. It’s a striking reminder that while the tools change, the mission remains the same – helping people protect what matters through better information.
The Power of Technical Knowledge in Commercial Roles
Gwyn’s move from technical expert to sales professional wasn’t instant, but it was transformative. His deep product knowledge made him credible with customers, able to discuss the ‘why’ as much as the ‘what’. Today, he champions consultative selling – where understanding an engine, gearbox, or pump matters as much as understanding a customer’s business. At Polaris, sales teams are trained not just to sell but to translate data into value. It’s a model of selling that builds trust, confidence, and partnership – something every modern technical industry can learn from.
Leadership That Trusts and Teaches
Now leading global sales and marketing, Gwyn’s philosophy is simple: lead from the front. For him, leadership isn’t about command but consistency. He encourages teams to match the company’s operational discipline with the same rigour in sales – standard processes, shared language, and continual improvement. Most importantly, he believes in trust. If results are there, flexibility follows. This trust culture allows team members to manage their lives and work responsibly – a leadership lesson in autonomy and accountability that feels perfectly in tune with today’s world.
Learning Together – The Polaris Book Club
One of the most engaging parts of the conversation is Gwyn’s pride in the company book club. Reading The Challenger Sale, Lean Selling, and soon Modern Sales Leadership, teams explore ideas together and turn them into action. It’s part community, part training, and part culture-building exercise that ensures everyone speaks the same commercial language. The result? A business that thinks, learns, and sells together – a rare alignment of minds that keeps Polaris agile and cohesive in an evolving marketplace.
Connection Through Crisis – Lessons from COVID
When lockdown hit, Gwyn and his team found ways to stay connected and even grow stronger. While the labs kept running as essential operations, the commercial teams leaned into digital connection. ‘Champion Chats’ with customers replaced face-to-face meetings, creating deeper insights and new relationships. Gwyn reflects with warmth on finding human connection in isolation – whether that was sharing a socially distant beer on the driveway or teaching through Zoom. It’s a reminder that leadership is as much about presence as it is about process.
Balance, Family, and Leading by Example
Managing time zones, travel, and leadership demands isn’t easy, but Gwyn’s approach is refreshingly grounded. He models balance by openly blocking time to take his children to school or adjusting his day around family life. Trust, again, sits at the core. This openness normalises balance across the team – a far cry from the old corporate cultures of presenteeism. By showing it’s possible to perform at the highest level while keeping family first, Gwyn offers a modern view of leadership that many will find inspiring.
Pride, Community, and the Spirit of Wrexham
Beyond business, Gwyn’s dual love for Liverpool and Wrexham reveals the same loyalty he brings to work. His pride in seeing Wrexham’s resurgence – fuelled by new investment and belief – mirrors his own philosophy of growth through community and shared purpose. The transformation of a local club into a global story is a fitting metaphor for how passion, storytelling, and people can reignite entire industries.
Continuous Learning and Communication – The Real Leadership Legacy
As the conversation closes, Gwyn shares two timeless lessons: keep learning and keep communicating. Every meeting, book, and customer interaction is a chance to gain something new. Sharing knowledge openly, rather than holding it, creates collective success. It’s a philosophy that underpins his entire career and continues to guide Polaris’s growth. In an era of fast change and complex data, that human curiosity remains the constant – and the difference between good and great.
Summary & Call to Action
This conversation with Gwyn Simmonds paints a portrait of leadership grounded in curiosity, trust, and continual learning. From geology student to global executive, his story reflects both how the lubricants industry has evolved and how timeless values still drive progress. Whether you’re in the lab, leading a team, or finding your way into a new sector, Gwyn’s message is clear: stay curious, share knowledge, and keep people at the heart of what you do.
