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Tech in the New Energy Age: NOV’s David Reid Talks Robotics, AI, & Advanced Drilling

David is a growth catalyst for business, products, teams, people & culture. Unique business and technology leader with a proven record of eliminating large corporate inefficiencies & building effective, dynamic communities that deliver the impossible. Skilled at motivating large groups, technology, strategy, market development, new business model change, leadership growth, and all forms of development. Experienced with organizations ranging from small to large teams, 30-60k people, and workingwith businesses from $10M to $25bn of product and service business, with personal experiencein innovation, rapid prototyping, global business, negotiation, cultural sensitivity, marketing, acquisition, sales, integration, standardization, large project change, new product development, drilling rig architecture and drilling automation.

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Apple podcast Spotify Google podcast Stitcher

Connect with David:

LinkedIn: David Reid

Websites: NOV | nov.com, redM | joinredm.com

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Click to read the Transcript

🎧 Episode Highlights

[00:00] Podcast Begins
[01:50] Technology + Marketing: How David’s 2 roles combine to tell NOV’s story
[04:02] Robotics Reimagine Labor: Innovative technology changing an energy workforce
[11:10] Creative Destruction: What happens when tech makes your job obsolete?
[15:10] Can Anyone Be a Leader? Lessons learned from an experienced mentor
[18:05] redM, A Passion Project: David’s nonprofit work helping sex trafficking victims
[24:44] Navigating Energy Transition: NOV repurposes past tech for future sustainability

🔑 Key Takeaways

Replacing Humans with Robotics: David doesn’t believe in fearing creative destruction; he’s a strong supporter of replacing humans with machines, especially when it comes to highly dangerous and technical energy jobs. “It doesn’t feel the same,” David admits, “but sometimes, it’s better.”
Lifetime Leadership Lessons: “People need to discover themselves first,” David explains when asked about his role as a leader and mentor, both at NOV and in his nonprofit work at redM. David advocates for organizations of all sizes to mentor the talent, superpowers, and uniqueness of everyone to create successful leadership structures.
What’s Next for Energy Transition? David makes one thing clear: NOV can attribute its success in the new energy age to their ability to make things. From adapting past technology for the digital renaissance or reusing previous materials for new ideas, NOV isn’t afraid to innovate and create beyond oil and gas to emerge in geothermal and wind energy spaces.

👤 Guest Spotlight

David Reid:

A growth catalyst for business, products, teams, people & culture. Unique business and technology leader with a proven record of eliminating large corporate inefficiencies & building effective, dynamic, communities that deliver the impossible. Skilled at motivating large groups, technology, strategy, market development, new business model change, leadership growth and all forms of development.

Experienced with organizations ranging from small to large teams, 30-60k people, and working with businesses from $10M to $25bn of product and service business, with personal experience in innovation, rapid prototyping, global business, negotiation, cultural sensitivity, marketing, acquisition, sales, integration, standardization, large project change, new product development, drilling rig architecture and drilling automation.

Posted on:

March 13, 2025