We’re so excited to welcome Ben Little to the Bridger Photonics team as our new CEO, guiding us into an exciting new chapter of growth and impact on emissions reduction.
With extensive experience in technology, scaling businesses, and leadership, Ben will focus on driving Bridger’s mission by advancing and scaling our technology, positioning Bridger for sustainable growth, and empowering our talented team to continue delivering impactful solutions in the oil and gas sector.
To help you get to know him better, we asked Ben about his vision for the company’s future, the reasons behind his decision to join Bridger, and the key lessons he’s gained throughout his career.
Q: What drew you to work with us at Bridger Photonics?
Little: There were three things that were really key drivers to my decision.
The first one was the culture of Bridger. I've had the privilege of working and leading a bunch of different organizations – I’ve had the opportunity to interact and work with hundreds of companies. And the culture that Bridger has is infectious, and that absolutely drew me in. I quickly realized I wanted to become part of this organization, because of its culture.
The second area is the important work that we are doing on a global scale. We’re helping a vital industry address an incredibly important challenge. The significance of oil and gas for our economy, well-being, and national security can’t be understated. And as someone who loves the outdoors, I also recognize the importance of reducing emissions. That opportunity to tackle this challenge was very compelling to me.
The third—and this really was the icing on the cake – is being able to lead an outstanding company in our state of Montana. Those opportunities aren't a dime a dozen –in fact, they're very rare—so I was thrilled when the opportunity presented itself.
Q: What will be your initial priorities as the new CEO?
Little: First and foremost, it is understanding our organization and figuring out ways that we can enhance the phenomenal things that we are already doing.
Culture, as I talked about, was a main driver of why I wanted to join this team, so I want to focus on enhancing and strengthening our culture.
Additionally, I’m focused on our next phase of growth. Bridger has crossed an important chasm. What does that mean? We’ve achieved product-market fit and scale, but now we need to build durable scale. The secret sauce lies in balancing growth with preserving the culture that got us here. Our culture is one of our greatest strengths, and the challenge is ensuring it remains an asset—not an inhibitor—as we scale.
I often say, “The world is not flat.” While this industry is new to me, I’ve found commonalities across companies and industries, particularly in their stages of growth. Growth requires a thoughtful approach—building on what makes us unique while adapting lessons learned from scaling other businesses. There’s comfort in partnering with someone who’s guided organizations through this process. By navigating thoughtfully, we can preserve our culture and achieve the next level of success.
Q: Tell us about your first job.
Little: My first job was washing cars. It wasn’t at a car wash, though, I walked around and offered car washes, and it taught me to think like an owner. After the wash and before returning the car, I’d have someone critique my work to see what I missed. My dad was the one that taught me to take a step back and ask, “If I owned this car, would I feel it was a job well done?” That perspective—focusing on whether the customer would be happy rather than just myself—has stayed with me throughout my career.
This helped me recognize that no matter what I’m doing, I’m serving someone else. Whether it’s an internal employee project or an external client, I ask myself: “Is the work I’m delivering something they’ll be satisfied with?” This mindset has been especially valuable as I’ve grown companies.
Q: What is a leadership lesson that you learned the hard way?
Little: Ask questions and don’t assume.
The power of asking questions in leadership is crucial—but it only works if you truly listen to the answers. There are leaders who are great at asking questions, but they don’t take the time to genuinely hear what’s being said. I’ve learned it’s not just about asking –it’s about listening, asking clarifying questions, and ensuring everyone is on the same page. Assumptions can create blind spots, and when I’ve failed to listen it’s led to avoidable missteps.
On the other hand, when I‘ve taken the time to really hear people and validate their input, it builds trust, fosters collaboration, and oftentimes leads to better decisions. When you really listen… that’s how you really advance a company’s mission.
Q: What is a piece of advice you’ve received that stuck with you throughout your career?
Little: Work hard when it's hard.
People often assume that success is linear and happens overnight, but that’s rarely the case. Success comes from showing up, putting in the work, and leaning into the challenges, even when it’s difficult. We’re going to face challenges, and that’s okay. Growth happens when we face those challenges head on.
The truth is, sometimes things are difficult, and that’s part of the process. It doesn’t always have to be easy, and it’s in those hard moments that we find resilience, develop new skills, and ultimately achieve what matters most.
Q: How do you plan to balance innovation with client needs and scalability?
Little: I love this question. First, I fundamentally believe that great businesses need to be client-centric, and product-led. This means we need to listen to what our partners, customers, and employees have to say, to learn some great ways that we can innovate and scale now and in the future.
There's a financial reality to all of that, and we must find that balance. By having a good leadership team, we can start to quantify the value of these ideas and the near-term, mid-term and long-term value of all of that and prioritize.
Fortunately, a lot of the initiatives our clients request, and those we recognize internally, center on technology—a field I have a long career in. I'm excited to leverage my background in transforming businesses into technology-driven companies, applying innovation both internally and externally. Bridger is leading this charge in a rapidly evolving industry. Our industry is rapidly evolving, our company is expanding and providing valuable products, and we're developing great new products that our clients are very excited about.