The secret to sustainable success in the energy sector isn't found in quarterly reports or production metrics—it's hidden in the invisible forces that drive human performance. As SLB completes its transformative acquisition of ChampionX, the company sits at a crossroads that could define the next decade of oilfield leadership.
When it comes to driving success in the oilfield services industry, the fundamentals—innovation, operation, and strategy—may fuel the machine, but it's culture that ignites long-lasting performance. Champion X and Baker Hughes, two industry trailblazers, are living proof of this. Their consistent recognition as Best Energy Workplaces and the Lifetime Achievement honors for their CEOs highlight a simple truth: strong culture transforms companies into powerhouses.
The story of ChampionX isn't just about chemistry solutions and artificial lift systems. It's about a company that has cracked the code on sustainable winning culture. Meanwhile, their acquisition partner SLB, despite its technical prowess, faces cultural headwinds that could stifle the very innovation and agility needed to capitalize on this historic merger.
SLB (formerly Schlumberger), widely respected for its disciplined operations and strategic clarity, stands at a crossroads. By tapping into cultural strategies similar to those of Champion X, SLB could position itself as the exemplar of technical prowess balanced with cultural brilliance—a true leader in the energy sector. Carmen Rando Bejar said it this week.
Here’s how adopting the right mindset could redefine SLB’s trajectory.
Champion X: A Masterclass in Leading with Culture
At its heart, Champion X showcases what a winning culture can do. Beyond their technical expertise, the company embodies empowerment, inclusivity, and agility—core elements that inspire both employees and partners alike. Their recognition as Best Energy Workplaces isn’t just an accolade; it’s a reflection of a workplace where transparency, alignment, and passion are palpable.
What’s more, their CEO’s Lifetime Achievement Award wasn’t just handed down for operational wins. It symbolizes the value of leadership that prioritizes people as much as profits. Every team member—whether on the rig or in the boardroom—knows they have a stake in the company’s success.
Let's look at the numbers, though over time comparing Champion X, SLB and Baker Hughes. What do you see?
Champion X has mastered what many companies miss entirely. Exceptional culture drives two game-changing factors:
- Talent Retention and Attraction
Professionals don’t just want jobs; they want purpose, a sense of belonging, and growth opportunities. Champion X understood that culture is what seals the deal for high-performing, mission-oriented talent.
- Sustainable Performance
A collaborative, trust-filled workplace translates directly to better decision-making, responsiveness, and innovation—especially critical in navigating the complexities of today’s energy demands.
SLB, take notes.
Why SLB Should Pay Attention
From the outside, SLB appears to have it all—strategic discipline, operational excellence, and an unparalleled ecosystem. While SLB projects an image of innovation, during M&A and integration, companies often experience bureaucracy over agility and vision. This disconnect can risk eroding trust, both internally and externally.
- A "technical but cold" tone can limit emotional connection with both employees and potential hires. It’s not enough to lead by process; inspiration matters.
- Resistance to change stifles creativity and blocks effectiveness. Without empowered teams and adaptive leadership, innovation struggles to thrive.
- By following the cultural playbook of Champion X —an organization known for nurturing energy, collaboration, and vision—SLB has the opportunity to close these gaps.
When culture is alive, transparent, and purpose-driven, the results radiate through every aspect of the business. SLB’s already formidable operational framework could become unstoppable with the infusion of a people-first, emotionally resonant ethos.
The Baker Hughes Effect
Baker Hughes, like Champion X, serves as a model of alignment between culture and results.
SLB, by drawing inspiration from Baker Hughes, can amplify its impact. Strong cognitive coherence, like that at Baker Hughes, leads to reduced burnout and increased trust. Leaders who exude vision and decisiveness encourage collaboration, while employees rally behind shared goals.
The company's approach to belonging provides a masterclass in how cultural values can drive competitive advantage. Baker Hughes has created what industry observers describe as a "globally diverse, locally connected" culture that leverages different perspectives and experiences to drive innovation. This isn't compliance—it's coding culture intentionally as a strategy, where different viewpoints and backgrounds combine to solve complex technical and business challenges.
The numbers tell a compelling story.
Baker Hughes has earned recognition as a six-time Best Energy Workplaces winner, placing it in the same elite category as ChampionX. But what sets Baker Hughes apart is the sustained nature of this excellence and the way cultural strength has translated into market leadership and innovation capacity. Under Lorenzo Simonelli's leadership, the company has achieved record revenues while simultaneously building one of the industry's most admired workplace cultures.
More near term, in the first quarter of 2025, Baker Hughes demonstrated resilience by outperforming Street estimates with an EBITDA that surpassed expectations by 2%. The company’s financial strength is evident in its $27.8 billion revenue over the last twelve months, with a healthy gross profit margin of 21.4% and an impressive return on equity of 18%. Just yesterday, Baker Hughes announced beating second-quarter estimates, while SLB reported a 6% drop and Halliburton's outlook says the market is soft.
Let's look at it over time since 2022-2025.
But the industry as a whole faces headwinds that strategy, process, and assets alone won't keep it on top. Culture matters, and it has to be for the long run. You cannot buy it. You build it. and when the headwinds are here, you must double down on people first and relentlessly empower your workforce to excel.
Invisible Metrics and ALLI’s Role
Where does one start in building such a high-performance culture? That’s where ALLY Energy and invisible metrics come in. ALLY has cracked the code on identifying and leveraging deep, often unseen cultural factors that differentiate winning teams from mediocre ones.
Christopher Skinner, CTO of ALLY, said, "From fostering cognitive coherence to ensuring internal-external alignment, these metrics don’t just measure; they diagnose and optimize. For SLB, engaging ALLY could mean actionable insights to revitalize their workplace and attract the next wave of top industry talent."
Skinner, a 7X founder with 3 exits, one to Google for $750M, makes it a priority to educate customers that strong leadership isn’t just about knowing numbers; it’s about understanding people. When organizations align their internal dynamics with their external messaging—when their actions align with their words—the results are undeniable. It’s no coincidence that Champion X’s and Baker Hughes’ cultures are emblematic of longevity and success.
The completion of SLB's ChampionX acquisition represents more than a strategic transaction—it's a cultural inflection point that could define the next decade of oilfield and digital technology leadership. The question isn't whether SLB can integrate ChampionX's technical capabilities and market presence. The question is whether SLB has the vision and commitment to leverage ChampionX's cultural DNA to transform itself into the kind of powerhouse that doesn't just compete in the energy transition but leads it.
A Call to Action
The energy industry is not defined solely by technical prowess—it thrives on people, vision, and culture. Companies that pair strategic excellence with compelling, human-centered cultures will win.
The journey toward cultural excellence doesn't have to be traveled alone. ALLY Energy is working with organizations to unlock the invisible metrics that drive sustainable success. With a track record of analyzing over 1.3 million organizations and our deep expertise in the energy sector, we offer the insights, tools, and support needed to transform cultural challenges into competitive advantages.
Whether you're looking to measure your organization's current cultural performance, identify specific areas for improvement, or develop comprehensive transformation strategies, ALLI's Authentic Large Language Intelligence provides the real-time insights and actionable recommendations that drive results. No more dashboards to navigate or complex analysis cycles to endure—just the answers you need to build the kind of culture that attracts top talent, drives innovation, and creates sustainable growth.
Success favors the bold.
Credit: The lead image was provided by our friends at Gapingvoid.
