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From Fine Art to Lubricant Expo: Annie Lindsell on Purpose, People, and Passion
The lubricant industry is powered not only by chemistry and innovation but by the people who bring it all together. In a recent episode of Beyond The Blend, Annie Lindsell, Sales Operations Director at Blueprint Events (Lubricant Expo), shared her journey from fine art to exhibitions and ultimately into lubricants. Speaking with Rob Taylor of Plan Grow Do, she explored themes of career pivots, curiosity, human connection, work–life balance, and finding purpose in unexpected places. Her story is a reminder that success in any industry is about more than technical expertise but more about people, passion, and persistence.
Annie’s Journey into Events and Lubricants
Annie never planned a career in lubricants. In fact, her early ambitions centred on fine art and portraiture. But a chance opportunity selling show guides at consumer events revealed her love for people, energy, and sales. Over 15 years she built a career in exhibitions across hospitality, design, and natural products before joining Blueprint Events. When offered a role in the lubricants industry, Annie admits she hesitated, knowing little about the sector. Yet the warmth of the community and the scale of its innovation quickly won her over, proving that career detours often lead to surprising, fulfilling destinations.
Curiosity, Learning, and Strategic Thinking
What makes exhibitions unique, Annie explained, is the need to immerse yourself in an industry you may not know at the outset. Success doesn’t depend on being a technical expert, but on asking questions, listening, and connecting people. Annie sees curiosity as a professional superpower and it allows her to learn constantly while developing strategies to help businesses meet their goals. For her, creativity now means building campaigns, collaborating with teams, and solving problems. Strategic thinking, not just artistic design, fuels her daily motivation. This adaptability shows how skills developed in one field can thrive in another.
The Human Value of Events
Annie spoke passionately about the irreplaceable value of face-to-face events. While online meetings offer convenience, they lack the depth, presence, and sensory engagement of live shows. Events create environments where people give one another full attention, fostering trust and genuine conversation. Trade shows are not simply expensive exhibitions but cost- and time-efficient “shop fronts,” compressing months of outreach into three days of concentrated opportunity. Annie noted how Blueprint’s Lubricant Expo is growing at an extraordinary pace, fuelled by industry appetite for meaningful in-person connections. In a world of shrinking attention spans, events remain essential for serious business engagement.
Balancing Work, Family, and Identity
Beyond the exhibition floor, Annie spoke openly about the challenges of balancing her career with raising two children. She recalled moments of burnout and guilt when they were young, alongside the pressures faced by working mothers. Yet she credits her return to work with restoring her identity, making her not only a happier professional but a more present and fulfilled parent. Annie rejects the idea that ambition and family must be in conflict; instead, she views her career as role modelling, showing her children that hard work and resilience pay off. It’s a message that resonates with many parents.
Purpose, Passion, and Future Outlook
Since joining the lubricants industry, Annie has been struck by the passion and purpose of those working within it. From sustainability innovation to supply chain collaboration, she sees first-hand how lubricants underpin everything society produces and consumes. Annie’s outlook for the future is refreshingly grounded: rather than rigid five-year plans, she aims to stay present, enjoy the journey, and keep learning. She describes life as a “big squiggle” rather than a straight line; embracing change, unpredictability, and growth along the way. It’s an approach that combines ambition with gratitude, and one that clearly fuels her success.
Summary
Annie Lindsell’s story is a powerful example of how curiosity, adaptability, and people-first thinking can unlock purpose in unexpected industries. From fine art to exhibitions, and now lubricants, she shows that passion isn’t limited to one field but believes it grows wherever there is community, creativity, and opportunity. Her reflections on events, balance, and purpose offer lessons that extend beyond lubricants, reminding us of the enduring value of human connection.
👉 To hear the full conversation and more stories from the people shaping the lubricant industry, subscribe to Beyond The Blend wherever you get your podcasts.
