Breaking Barriers and Building Labs: A Woman’s Path to Industry Leadership
Q&A with Gwenn Barker, Global Laboratory Operations Manager, Clarios
The content below was provided by WGBI Sustaining Advocate Sponsor Clarios
As part of our sponsorship of Women in the Global Battery Industry (WGBI), we’re proud to highlight the stories of women making a difference at Clarios and across the energy storage sector. In this Q&A, we sit down with Gwenn Barker, Global Laboratory Operations Manager at Clarios, whose career journey—from lab technician to global leader—exemplifies the power of perseverance, innovation, and influence. With more than 14 years at Clarios, she has helped shape how batteries are tested and validated across the world, all while mentoring others, navigating change, and embracing global collaboration. Her story offers a thoughtful look at the challenges and opportunities facing the battery industry today—and the importance of lifting others along the way.
Q: To start, can you tell us a bit about yourself, your current role at Clarios, and how your work supports the broader battery industry?
I’m single and live with my two fur babies—Jack and Sally—who are brother and sister cats named after The Nightmare Before Christmas characters. I love traveling with friends, going to concerts, and exploring different cuisines through cooking and dining.
I’ve been with Clarios for 14.5 years and currently serve as the Global Laboratory Operations Manager. My focus is on standardizing and improving our global laboratories that test both lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries. One of the key initiatives I’ve helped lead is implementing a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). This system provides a consistent platform for global teams to request testing and upload results, which supports uniform reporting and enables us to compare performance across labs and products. For instance, if two plants are manufacturing the same battery, we should see similar test results. If we don’t, that prompts a deeper dive into processes and opportunities for improvement. This standardization also fosters greater collaboration across our global lab network.
Q: Can you walk us through your professional journey—your education and career path—and what led you to your current role at Clarios?
I began studying biochemistry at UW–Oshkosh, then moved to the West Coast and continued my education in Spokane, Washington. I eventually returned to Wisconsin when my father was terminally ill and completed my degree at UW–Milwaukee. I worked full-time throughout college to avoid student loans.
My career has taken me through a variety of lab-based roles. I’ve worked as an industrial chemical lab technician, handled hazardous waste recycling, conducted food chemistry analysis, performed R&D in pharmaceuticals, and even managed analytical testing for printing ink chemistry.
When I joined Clarios (then Johnson Controls), I was hired to establish and run R&D laboratories on the UW–Milwaukee campus. The idea was to have our chemists working side by side with UWM students and professors to advance lithium-ion battery technologies. I was responsible for building out the labs and overseeing testing, even though the students and employees reported to other managers. It was an incredible opportunity that merged science, education, and innovation.
Q: What initially drew you to the battery industry, and what continues to motivate you in your work today?
At the time, Johnson Controls was pioneering its collaboration with UW–Milwaukee, and I was excited by the opportunity to be a part of that innovation. Having attended UWM myself, I knew how meaningful the academic environment could be—and it was inspiring to return in a professional capacity to help shape the future of energy storage. I was also ready to step into a leadership role, and this job offered the chance to build labs from the ground up.
We started with empty rooms and turned them into cutting-edge research spaces. I was able to apply my experience in safety protocols, scientific procedures, ergonomics, and project management while mentoring students and collaborating with professors. It truly was a dream role, combining everything I loved about science, leadership, and community engagement.
Q: Looking back, what have been some pivotal moments or lessons in your career that shaped your approach to leadership or innovation?
One of the most meaningful experiences was building the labs at UWM—some of which were the first of their kind in the world. We constructed a dry room that enabled students and employees to build lithium-ion cells completely from scratch. The work we were doing, and the team I was part of, impressed and inspired me every day.
When the economy shifted and we transitioned those labs to UWM, it was a tough but valuable lesson. I had poured so much into creating and managing them—they felt like my babies—but I had to let go and pivot. That experience helped me realize I could take everything I’d learned and apply it to a broader, global context. I began supporting the standardization of our existing global labs, using my experience to drive improvements.
A key challenge was that I had no direct authority over these labs. I had to lead by influence—building relationships, establishing trust, and showing the value of collaboration. It was a humbling and powerful lesson in leadership.
Another major lesson came from visiting our labs around the world. While we’re all part of the same company, each country has its own culture, and I learned quickly that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. To be effective, I had to adapt my communication style to fit the cultural norms of each location.
Q: What are some key challenges professionals in the battery industry face today, and how do organizations like WGBI help address them?
There are still challenges with diversity and inclusion across the industry. Additionally, the political landscape in the U.S. is increasingly polarized, and that has implications for global manufacturers like Clarios. While the government is encouraging more domestic manufacturing, we also need to maintain a global footprint. It’s unclear how policy will shape the future of our industry, and organizations like WGBI can help us navigate those complexities with broader perspectives and shared strategies.
Q: How does Clarios foster a culture of diversity, collaboration, and inclusion? Are there any programs or initiatives that stand out to you?
Honestly, I’ve felt that since Clarios became an independent company, the focus has largely been on stabilizing operations and achieving profitability. While that’s understandable, I do think we’ve lost some momentum when it comes to diversity, collaboration, and inclusion. I don’t see as much diversity in leadership as I’d like to, and I hope Clarios recommits to these values in a more meaningful way.
Being part of WGBI helps me feel more connected to a supportive network, but I believe there’s still significant opportunity for growth at Clarios in this area.
Q: What advice would you offer to someone just starting out in the battery sector—regardless of their background?
When I started, there weren’t formal mentors, but I had one incredible person I could go to for anything—from navigating systems like setting up work travel to understanding technical tasks like using a Bitrode for charge/discharge testing. That person was Linda Grus, and she made a huge difference. If she didn’t know the answer, she always helped me find someone who did. That helped me build a network of resources.
My advice: Don’t go it alone. Find someone who can help guide you, ask questions, seek answers, and then be that resource for others when you can. Get involved—participate in work activities and community events that nourish your soul. Clarios does a lot of outreach and volunteer work, and that’s just as important (in my opinion) as your day-to-day job. Engage with your workplace in ways that make it a community you’re proud to be part of.
