Davis Larssen on Leadership, Culture, and Tough CEO Decisions | Energy Sector Heroes
Description
For many of you aiming to move into leadership roles, the question often comes up: What does it really take to steer a company through cultural and financial challenges?
In this episode of Energy Sector Heroes, I sit down with Davis Larssen, CEO and former senior leader at Proserv and Schlumberger, to talk about the decisions and trade-offs that shape a CEO’s career.
Davis reflects on the realities of leadership — from managing cross-cultural teams to addressing financial pressures — and shares what he’s learned about building a sustainable business while staying true to your own values.
Here are three actionable takeaways from our conversation:
💼 Understand culture before strategy – Financial results depend on people and culture. Take time to learn how teams operate and where hidden barriers lie before jumping into solutions.
🔍 Balance short-term and long-term decisions – CEOs often juggle immediate financial pressures with positioning the company for future success. Practice weighing both when making decisions in your own role.
❤️ Find passion as well as skill – Career longevity depends not only on capability but also on genuine enjoyment of the work. If you don’t care about the mission, it will show in your leadership.
👉 For professionals, this episode is a chance to reflect on what it takes to lead at the top. For employers, it’s a reminder that developing future leaders with cultural intelligence, resilience, and values-driven decision-making is what keeps organisations competitive.
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