#90. Neal Lux talks about going from Coil Tubing Startup to CEO-Level Leadership

How do you turn a startup launched during a downturn into a major oilfield technology success story?On this episode of The Oilfield 360 podcast, hosts David de Roode and Victoria Beard Queen sit down with Neal Lux, CEO of Forum Energy Technologies (and TV Star - Landman appearance), to discuss his path from co-founding Global Tubing to leading FET today.Lux shares insights on scaling a coil tubing startup, the Smart Taper innovation that improved weld fatigue life, and how technologies like subsea robotics and remote ROV operations are shaping the future of oilfield services. 00:00 Why Oil and Gas Matters00:36 Podcast and Sponsors03:48 Meet Neal Lux04:54 From Consulting to Maverick07:55 Joining a Risky Startup11:30 Global Tubing Early Struggles13:37 Culture and Innovation15:29 Coil Tubing Explained17:54 Smart Taper Breakthrough19:13 Designing for Long Wells21:16 Beyond Intervention Use Cases23:22 Partnering with Operators25:33 Why They Bought Eagle26:12 Joining the Forum Family27:04 Leadership Under Chris27:49 COVID Debt Turning Point28:32 What FET Does Today30:17 FET 2030 Growth Plan33:10 Landman TV Cameo37:02 Subsea Robotics Innovation39:38 Lessons From Mistakes41:52 Life Outside Work45:13 CEO Reality Check48:34 Investor Story and Value50:21 NYSE Texas Listing