Meet Anthony Gioia: Building Disciplined Innovation at Premier Labs

Premier Labs exists to turn real manufacturing challenges into scalable, market-ready ventures. That work requires more than new ideas—it demands a deep understanding of how manufacturing environments operate, how engineering decisions are made, and how products move from concept to execution. 

As Vice President of Premier Labs, Anthony Gioia plays a central role in shaping that approach. He oversees the progression of new ventures from early ideation through proof of concept and prototype development, while also supporting the engineering direction, project management, and market alignment of each initiative. His role sits at the intersection of technical execution and strategic clarity—ensuring ideas are not only innovative, but viable. 

His path to Premier Labs began in traditional engineering leadership, where full lifecycle project execution was the standard. That experience continues to influence how Premier Labs operates today, even as the team works in earlier, more exploratory stages of development. 

Gioia’s path to Premier Labs was shaped by years of hands-on engineering experience. He began his career at Siemens in an engineering leadership development program before joining Premier Automation, where he spent the early years of his career executing full lifecycle projects for manufacturers. 

“I wanted to be closer to the work,” Gioia says. “I wanted to do cradle-to-grave engineering—owning projects from concept all the way through execution.” 

That experience at Premier Automation—working directly with manufacturers, solving real problems on the plant floor, and managing complex engineering efforts—continues to influence how he approaches his work today. 

Premier Labs represents a natural evolution of that background. While the work now begins earlier in the lifecycle, Gioia sees it as an opportunity to apply proven engineering discipline in a new context. 

“What excites me about Labs is getting to build something from the very beginning,” he explains. “You’re learning constantly—about product development, business, and how to turn an idea into something real.” 

Experience has taught Gioia that meaningful innovation rarely happens all at once. It requires clear stages, honest evaluation, and the discipline to move forward only when the foundation is solid. 

“We’re building toward a larger vision, but we do it step by step,” Gioia notes. “Each phase proves value before it unlocks the next.” 

At Premier Labs, this perspective guides how ideas are evaluated, teams are aligned, and innovation is translated into real market value. 

Leading with Process and Clarity 

Premier Labs approaches innovation with the same rigor that defines Premier’s engineering roots. Even though much of the work begins earlier in the lifecycle—long before a solution is ready for deployment—the expectations around clarity, accountability, and execution never change. 

“At the very beginning, everything starts from a problem-first perspective,” Gioia explains. “People often come in with a new technology or a cool idea, but the real question is: what problem does this solve, and who actually needs it?” 

Ideas are tested early against real manufacturing conditions. Instead of chasing novelty, the team focuses on urgency, value, and whether a problem is meaningful enough to justify building a solution around it. 

A structured development process supports that discipline, guiding each venture from concept through execution. Creativity is encouraged, but it operates within clear guardrails. 

“It’s not about skipping steps because something feels exciting,” Gioia says. “Each phase exists for a reason. You prove value incrementally, and that’s what allows you to move forward with confidence.” 

Collaboration follows the same principle. Engineers, product leaders, and business stakeholders are involved early, with alignment prioritized over siloed ownership. 

“A big part of my role is alignment,” Gioia notes. “Listening to engineering, listening to the market, and making sure those perspectives are clearly communicated across the team.” 

By combining structure with openness, Premier Labs creates space for ideas to be captured, evaluated, and acted on without losing focus. Prioritization is intentional, progress is measured, and momentum is maintained—allowing teams to move quickly while staying grounded in what matters most. 

For Gioia, that balance has also reshaped how he thinks about progress, leadership, and what success truly looks like when building something new. 

Turning Experience into Impact 

At Premier Labs, success is not defined by a single finish line. Building something new requires patience, perspective, and an understanding that progress must be measured in stages. 

“Success looks different depending on where you are,” Gioia says. “It might be validating a problem, building a proof of concept, or hardening a prototype. Each step has its own definition of progress.” 

Rather than measuring ventures solely by whether they are ready for market, the team evaluates whether the right questions are being answered at the right time. Early work is about learning—testing assumptions, understanding customer pain points, and confirming that a problem is worth solving before committing significant resources. 

That perspective also shapes how Gioia thinks about leadership. Clear communication and collaboration are viewed as critical to sustained progress, especially in cross-functional environments. 

“If people don’t understand the goal or how their work fits into it, momentum stalls,” he explains. “Alignment and communication are what keep teams moving forward.” 

Beyond technical milestones, team engagement and shared belief in the direction of the work are treated as meaningful indicators of long-term success. 

“If the team is excited about what they’re building and understands where it’s headed, the results tend to follow,” Gioia says. “When morale is strong and the vision is clear, success becomes obvious to everyone.” 

By viewing success as a series of intentional steps—rather than a single outcome—Premier Labs creates space for learning, alignment, and sustainable progress as new ventures take shape. 

Looking Ahead 

As Premier Labs continues to grow, its role extends beyond launching new ventures. It also creates new pathways for leadership and collaboration across the organization. 

“This gives people the opportunity to get involved in something new and potentially grow into leadership roles as those ventures mature,” Gioia notes. 

With emerging technologies accelerating and manufacturing challenges becoming more complex, Premier Labs is positioned to help shape what comes next—by staying grounded in real problems, disciplined execution, and a team-first mindset. 

“It’s never about one person,” Gioia says. “It’s about the team doing great work together.”