The Chemical Show: Leadership Conversations on Strategy, Supply Chain, Innovation, Talent and Trends

Discover key insights and discussions on topics such as global economics, supply chain, digitization, and customer value.  Sharing insights from Day 2 of The Chemical Summit 2023, Victoria Meyer dives into topics that matter. We explore the expectation of a mild recession and its impact on different industries within the chemical sector, the long-term labor shortage and its resolution through immigration and automation, the critical role of data in business transformation, and the importance of upskilling existing talent.

Some key points in today's episode:
1. Understand the projected economic landscape and how it may impact the chemical industry.
2. Gain insights into the labor shortage and explore potential solutions through immigration, automation, and upskilling.
3. Recognize the significance of data in supporting supply chain, collaboration, and business differentiation.
4. Explore strategies to upskill existing resources within the chemical industry to fill the demand for data analysis and digitization.
5. Reflect on the importance of customer-centric approaches in creating value and driving sustainable growth in the chemical industry.

Killer quote/insight: "Data is a differentiating factor in business transformation and is key to differentiate businesses to their customers and suppliers." - Pam Walker, UL Solutions

Follow The Chemical Summit on LinkedIn for updates about this year and next year’s events. https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-chemical-summit/

ShowNotes created using CastMagic.io.  Check it out here: https://get.castmagic.io/ean5etivmzi1

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Our inaugural conference, The Chemical Summit occurred October 24th - 25th, 2023 in The Woodlands, Texas. In this special edition of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer shares highlights from the first day of the Summit which focused on thought leadership, building connections, and gaining insights in the chemical industry. 

Exploring the themes of transformation, sustainability, and ESG, speakers emphasized the need for personal and business transformation, the challenges of achieving sustainability goals, and the importance of continuous improvement in creating value. Join Victoria as she shares insights from industry leaders and encourages listeners to transform their businesses and embrace sustainability.

Victoria Meyer shares more about the insights shared by industry leaders at The Chemical Summit, including: 

• The biggest challenges chemical companies face today
• If you want your business to transform, YOU as a leader need to transform. (Megan Gluth-Bohan, CEO of TRInternational on transformational leadership)
• True change takes decades.  The chemical industry will success in sustainability by evolution not revolution. (Brad Beauchamp, CEO of Carpenter Co., Evolution not Revolution: The Path to Sustainability) 
• The chemical industry is currently producing thousands of circular products, they’re just not marketing them as circular. (Kelly Gilroy of Univar Solutions in The Path to Sustainability is Not (Only) Circular panel discussion)
• ESG investing only works when companies are creating profits and value (Jonas Oxgaard of McKinsey in The Path to Sustainability is Not (Only) Circular panel discussion)
• ESG is all about culture and value – your company culture and values (Terry Hill of Barentz in a Fireside Chat about ESG).

Follow The Chemical Summit on LinkedIn for updates about this year and next year’s events. https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-chemical-summit/

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The housing market plays a crucial role in career moves. As it becomes more expensive to find affordable housing, employees are less likely to take on job changes or accept nominal raises. Companies are realizing the need to address this issue and its impact on talent retention.

In this episode of The Chemical Show, we delve into the fascinating intersection between the chemical industry employment and housing costs. Join host Victoria Meyer as she interviews Adam Krueger, Vice President of Sun Recruiting, who provides invaluable insights and analysis. Discover how changes in the housing market impact job mobility, compensation trends, and talent retention in the chemical industry. Uncover the challenges faced by professionals and gain actionable strategies to navigate these complex dynamics. 

Join us to learn more about the following this week:

• "Weird" 4th Quarter job market in the chemical industry
• How is the housing market affecting the chemical industry job market
• Key trends in talent and recruiting in the chemical industry
• Expanding the chemical sector's talent pool
• The cost of keeping employee verses replacing them
• Hybrid work critical driver in employee decisions 
• The rise of Gen Z in the workforce
• Advice to chemical companies looking to fill roles
• Advice to candidates looking to land chemical company jobs

Victoria and Adam also discuss the challenge of attracting and retaining talent in a talent war due to the retirement of experienced professionals. Additionally, Adam highlights the importance of salary competitiveness, remote work opportunities, and the evolving social skills of Gen Z employees. Whether you're a job seeker navigating the industry or an employer looking to adapt to changing trends, this episode offers valuable perspectives on the state of the chemical industry job market.

Additional Links:

https://www.wsj.com/podcasts/your-money-matters/how-mba-students-are-dealing-with-a-tighter-job-market/

Salary Survey:  https://www.sunrecruiting.com/report-results23/

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In a world where visual appeal of consumer products is critical, it's important for brands to prioritize product safety and ensure consumers of all ages understand these products are for using NOT consuming! Kristin Cordz, Vice President of Business Development for Market Actives, shares more about her work with Bitrex, focusing on making products taste aversive (bad!!) to prevent the accidental ingestion of harmful substances, including household items like dish tablets, batteries and more. Companies use Bitrex to add an extra layer of safety to their products and to build trust with consumers.

In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer and Kristin, also known as “The Bitter Gal”, discuss working with major consumer brands to ensure their products are safe and effective. Through their conversation, Victoria and Kristin delve into the importance of transparency in product safety, the challenges faced in the industry, and the need for standardized information to empower consumers in making informed choice

Join us to learn more about the following this week:

• Product safety through Bitrex
• The increasing demand for transparency and safety in products
• Gaining customer insights and meeting the needs of the market
• Working against commoditization to ensure value
• Global safety standards
• Bitrex product tasting
• ACI's Future Leaders Program
• Standardizing customer understanding 

Victoria and Kristin explore the challenges and importance of enhancing product safety and discuss how the manufacturing practices of global companies and the overflow of practices to other regions have led to varying levels of product safety discussion. They further emphasize the impact of transparency trends in consumer awareness and the need for standardized information to assist consumers in making informed decisions. Listen in as they share insights, real-life examples, and strategies to ensure product safety in an evolving consumer landscape.

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Delving into the challenges and opportunities in the chemical industry, the importance of building strong relationships and value propositions, and the impact of sustainability on business decision-making, Chad Hall, Vice President of Energy at Integrity BioChem, discusses insights into coaching, leadership, and navigating the ever-changing landscape of the chemical industry with host Victoria Meyer. 

In this episode of The Chemical Show, Victoria and Chad discuss the concept of coaching and its application in the business world. Chad shares his perspective on how coaching can be effective regardless of team or company size. According to Chad, anyone in a managerial role can become a coach, regardless of job title. This thought-provoking perspective invites us to reimagine a world where the word "manager" is replaced with "coach."

Join us to learn more about the following this week:

• Integrity Biochem's take on the markets in 2023 and going into 2024
• Your customer's business decisions and how it drives business value
• How to create customer "stickiness" - keeping business versus winning it 
• The tug of war between corporate control and procurement control - uncovering value and ROI
• Sustainability and ESG in oil and gas
• Scaling products to take on aggressive sustainability goals
• Coaching versus managing 

With years of experience in executive coaching and a passion for helping others succeed, Chad brings a unique perspective to his conversation about coaching, the power of building strong relationships, and the importance of delivering on promises in the chemical industry with Victoria. Join us this week to learn more. 

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Additional Links:

Michael Suver Ep13: Bio-Based Chemistry: The Rise Of A Green Chemical Industry With Michael Suver

Michael Suver Ep 44: How The Chemical Industry Is Becoming Sustainable With Cameron Whaley And Michael Suver

The Wall Street Journal: Companies Stall Climate Action Despite Earlier Promises

Our inaugural conference, The Chemical Summit, is happening October 24-25 in The Woodlands, Texas. Our exciting agenda features many guests from The Chemical Show podcast.

Victoria Meyer shares more about connection and what to expect at The Chemical Summit, including: 

• The importance of connection and community
• How business connections provide context and insights
• Fostering connection and community at The Chemical Summit
• Relaunching The Chemical Community as an online platform

Learn more and register for The Chemical Summit at www.thechemicalsummit.com

***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player.
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***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at www.thechemicalshow.com. 

Have you ever wondered how companies are repurposing carbon dioxide emissions and turning them into valuable raw materials? In this episode of The Chemical Show, we dive into the world of carbon capture and utilization with our guest, Keith Wiggins, CEO of Econic Technologies. Econic is a company focused on repurposing carbon dioxide emissions into valuable carbon-based raw materials. 

In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer and Keith discuss the different brackets of technologies for repurposing CO2 and the challenges they have faced in terms of stability and cost. He highlights the significant amount of CO2 emissions produced globally each year and the need to do something with this captured carbon. Keith shares his insights and experiences in developing technologies that repurpose CO2, the challenges faced in gaining market acceptance, and the potential for creating a circular economy in industries such as polyurethanes and surfactants.

Join us to learn more about the following this week:

• Hitting chemical industry glass ceilings
• The origin story of Econic Technologies
• Defining what "good" looks like through working with the world's largest chemical companies
• Econic's focus on commercializing technology
• "Pioneered Licensees" with Econic Technologies
• Critical attributes in chemical industry business partnerships
• Working with customers' resistance to new technology
• Opportunities in the renewable carbon initiative, sustainability in the chemical industry
• China's influence on the chemical industry
• What's next for Econic?

In this episode, Victoria and Keith delve into the exciting world of carbon capture and utilization. Keith discusses the challenges faced in repurposing CO2 emissions, the need to create a market and demand for such technologies, and the importance of collaboration with partners and understanding the value chain. We explore the global push for sustainability and how the chemical industry can play a pivotal role in driving innovation and efficiency. Join us as we uncover the potential for creating a circular economy and turning carbon dioxide into a valuable resource for industry.

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Our inaugural conference, The Chemical Summit is happening October 24-25 in The Woodlands, Texas. Our exciting agenda features many guests from The Chemical Show podcast.

Victoria Meyer shares more about Benchmarking and what to expect at The Chemical Summit, including: 

• The Chemical Summit will provide insights and informal benchmarking for leaders in the chemical industry
• The importance of benchmarking as a measuring stick in the chemical industry
•  Addressing gaps in benchmarking, particularly in relation to ESG, sustainability, digitization, and AI
• The Chemical Summit will take a different approach to benchmarking and will be informal yet relevant

Learn more and register for The Chemical Summit at www.thechemicalsummit.com

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With the growing trend towards sustainability and natural products, Aaron Lee, Global Vice President of Home Care and Industrial Cleaning for Univar Solutions, discusses the different segments of their business, highlighting the shift towards innovation in the post-pandemic world. Customers are increasingly looking for natural and sustainable alternatives in the home care space. There is a growing demand for multifunctional natural products, and customers are willing to pay a premium for them. 

In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer invites Aaron, an industry expert and leader in the field of chemical distribution, to share insights into the different segments of their business, including home care, industrial and hospitality, and auto appearance. Victoria and Aaron discuss the challenges and opportunities for innovation in science during the pandemic. Aaron shares how Univar Solutions played a part in this story, especially with their home care and industrial cleaning team.

Join us as Victoria and Aaron discuss the following topics this week:

• How the cleaning industry keeps the economy healthy, fed, clean, and safe
• The post pandemic shift to innovation in the cleaning industry
• Natural and bio-based products in the cleaning industry
• How the pandemic changed global consumer behaviors in home care, auto, and hospitality cleaning industries
• The quest to create more natural and sustainable products
• The role of chemical industry distribution now

Victoria and Aaron discuss Univar Solutions' commitment to expanding their portfolio of sustainable and eco-friendly products, and how they work closely with customers and suppliers to develop innovative solutions. Aaron also sheds light on the evolving role of chemical distribution companies, where they not only provide logistics but also play a crucial role in driving innovation. Tune in to gain valuable insights into the declining hospitality industry, the importance of sustainability, and the future of chemical distribution in the cleaning industry.

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Our inaugural conference The Chemical Summit is happening October 24-25, 2023 in The Woodlands, Texas.  Our exciting agenda features many guests from The Chemical Show podcast that you want to meet, learn from, and know.

Victoria Meyer shares more about Thought Leadership and what to expect at The Chemical Summit, including: 

• Three pillars of The Chemical Summit: Thought leadership, Building Connections, and Insights that you can apply to your business.
• What is thought leadership? How does it apply to me?
• Keeping it REAL at The Chemical Summit: 
  • Relevant
  • Engaging
  • Action-Oriented,  and 
  • Learnings that you can Leverage
• Deliberate engagement and REAL thought-leadership at The Chemical Summit

Learn more and register for The Chemical Summit at www.thechemicalsummit.com

***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player.
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***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at www.thechemicalshow.com.