From a small village in India to the Global Energy Stage.

In this episode of Oilfield 360, hosts David de Roode and Victoria Beard sit down with Soma Somasundaram, Executive Advisor to the CEO of SLB, and former CEO of recently acquired Champion X, to explore his remarkable rise from rural southern India to a leadership role shaping the future of energy. Soma shares career milestones, lessons from high-stakes mergers and acquisitions, and strategies for protecting company culture, plus his vision for expanding energy access to improve lives worldwide.

Don’t miss this inspiring journey of resilience, leadership, and impact.

00:00 Introduction and Host Banter

01:33 Guest Introduction: Soma Somasundaram

02:40 Soma's Early Life and Education

04:44 Career Beginnings at Baker Hughes

06:52 Transition to Dover and Return to Oil & Gas

10:24 Building a Portfolio at Dover

14:37 Acquisition Strategies and Integration

26:18 Balancing Standardization and Customization

30:23 Champion X and SLB Merger Insights

30:40 Cultural Alignment in Mergers

33:36 Early Integration Success

34:51 Proudest Moments at Champion X

38:31 Personal Leadership Journey

41:07 Servant Leadership and Role Models

46:10 SLB's Acquisition Strategy

52:55 Bettering Human Lives Foundation

58:02 Future of the Energy Industry

01:01:14 Closing Thoughts and Advice