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

From collaborating with major brands to navigating the challenges of sustainable product development and end-of-life solutions, Scott Bober, Senior VP of Global Sales at CJ Biomaterials joins host Victoria Meyer on The Chemical Show to provide valuable insights into the ever-evolving world of sustainable chemicals and materials. CJ Biomaterials is a startup within CJ CheilJedang, the 7th largest conglomerate in Korea. Victoria and Scott discuss CJ’s recent acquisition of Metabolics, giving them an advantage in commercializing their product. 

Learn more about the following topics this week:

1. Helping companies meet ESG and Sustainability Standards through bio-packaging

2. Commercializing Sustainable Products 

3. Identifying Partnerships at different points in the value chain

4. Establishing internal processes in a startup business 

5. Bioplastics vs. cost

6. Finding customer and Consumer value in sustainable products

Victoria and Scott also discuss the challenges associated with consumer demand for sustainable products, lack of infrastructure for composting, and the cost of replacing widely used plastics. Sharing how CJ navigates challenges with specialty industrial marketing, Scott discusses their work in sustainability, involving government affairs, collaboration with internal food brands, and attending trade shows. Join us on this episode of The Chemical Show as we explore CJ's exciting journey in the chemical industry, their commitment to sustainability, and their vision for a more environmentally-friendly future.

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Digitization and supply chain go hand-in-hand.  In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer welcomes Arun Samuga, Chief Innovation Officer at Elemica to expand on the development of new digital products and solutions in the area of supply chain innovation. Arun emphasizes the importance of educating potential clients about the advantages of embarking on a digital journey while exploring the various benefits of digitization, including reducing working capital, increasing cash on hand, investing in customer experience and sustainability, and expanding sales channels. 

Learn more about the following in this episode:

• Evolution of chemical process companies
• How business system connectivity supports the supply chain
• Why companies are mix-and-matching digital and automation solutions 
• Digitization in smaller companies
• Elemica’s Multichannel Strategy
• The democratization of AI

 Victoria and Arun discuss Elemica’s digital solutions, which impact various business functions from fulfillment to procurement to customer service. Arun discusses Elemica’s move towards providing customized services to cater to the unique needs of different enterprises.

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Wondering how to get better results from your strategy?

In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer explores the topic of strategy execution and the common pitfalls organizations face. Victoria discusses the necessity of involving the entire organization in the strategy process to ensure understanding and alignment. Citing a recent study conducted by Harvard Business Review, Victoria highlights the significant gap between executives' perception of strategic alignment and employees' actual understanding. 

Learn more about the following in this episode:

• Challenges in Vision and Strategy Development 
• Risks of Top Down Strategy
• Gap in Executive and Employee Strategic Alignment Understanding
• 4 Approaches to Overcoming the Strategy Disconnect
• Why Employee Engagement is Critical to Strategy Development

Victoria emphasizes the importance of engaging employees in the strategy setting process in order to drive buy-in and shared context. Discussing the risks of not getting the vision and strategy right, especially in the ever-changing post-pandemic world, Victoria offers compelling approaches to engaging employees and overcoming strategy disconnect. 

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Additional links:

Harvard Business Review: Is Your Company as Strategically Aligned as You Think It Is?

In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer invites George L. Vann, president of EcoServices, which is a part of Ecovyst to chat about his unique career path - from graduating with a mechanical engineering degree, to serving in the military, to various roles in the chemical industry. George emphasizes the importance of long-term relationships with customers and the need for long-term contracts to establish trust and dependability. He also shares insights into fundamental factors across businesses, including growth, providing value to customers, and attracting and retaining talent.

Learn more about the following in this episode:

1. Applying Leadership skills US Army to Business

2. Business mindset: big vs. small companies

3. Weathering economic storms in business

4. Impact of electrification on sulfur business

5. Circularity and sustainability in mature industries   

6. The importance of talent and skilled trades

Drawing upon his military background, George discusses the leadership skills he acquired, emphasizing the importance of working with people, considering different viewpoints, making informed decisions, and taking accountability. Victoria and George also explore how creating partnerships with educational institutions help to develop internship and trainee programs, which can help create a pipeline of qualified individuals for vocational technical positions. Lastly, George highlights the need for smaller companies like Ecovyst to create unique value propositions to attract talent.

Please subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player. And, visit www.thechemicalshow.com to subscribe to our email list and get additional insights.

Your customers are the key to strategic success.

In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer delves into the importance of engaging customers early on to de-risk business strategy. Victoria shares valuable insights and strategies for effectively engaging customers and stakeholders during key business changes and decisions. Discussing the benefits of introducing a new product or service and involving customers early in the development process, Victoria explores the barriers and fears that may prevent business leaders from seeking customer feedback and provides strategies to overcome them. 

Learn more about the following in this episode:

• Why early Customer and Stakeholder Engagement matters
• Managing Risk - a key leadership role
• Engaging your customers to build ambassadors 
• Time is money: Ask the right questions early, to increase success later
• How to engage your customers

Using real-life examples from industry leaders like Shell and Ford Motor Company, Victoria emphasizes the need for customer and stakeholder engagement to inform decisions, test assumptions, and create successful strategies. Join Victoria for this insightful episode to learn how proactive customer engagement can help de-risk your business and build strong relationships with your target market.

Please subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player. And, visit www.thechemicalshow.com to subscribe to our email list and get additional insights.

Additional links:

Focus: The manufacturing backlash: No factory in my backyard

Data-Based Insights Into The Customer Experience With Kevin Huntsman

Shell Chemicals

Ford Motor Company

In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer talks with Karen Tkaczyk, director of Life Sciences Regulated and Enterprise Solutions at MasterWord to share more about her unique combination of industrial and service experience as she helps chemical, energy, and life science companies do business globally with minimal risk. Victoria and Karen discuss the importance of technical expertise in language translation services, talent shortages influenced by the pandemic, the impact of geopolitical events on translation services, and the importance of breaking through language barriers in business relationships.

Learn more about the following in this episode:

• The challenge of languages in Chemical and Material Science industry
• The role of translation in global businesses
• How the pandemic accelerated AI and Technology
• The Talent supply chain 
• Local language is critical to the Customer Experience
• Translation services as a risk mitigation tool

Translation and language services play a crucial role in bridging communication gaps in a globalized world. From helping businesses expand internationally, to ensuring safety compliance and protecting intellectual property, it's a fascinating and ever-evolving field. Join us this week to learn more!

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Do you treat your B2B customers the same or personalize your engagement and their experience?

In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer focuses on segmentation and personalization. B2B companies in the chemical industry often focus on organizational factors when segmenting their market. However, limited use of segmentation can leave both parties feeling unheard. By prioritizing customer relationships and serving them appropriately, companies can address specific needs in a unique and important manner. Victoria highlights the need for businesses to shift towards a more structured and customer-centric approach, using buyer personas to understand their customers' roles, drivers, and interests. 

Learn more about the following in this episode:

• The importance of using both Personalization and Segmentation with B2B customers
• Why Personalization is critical to creating value in B2B chemicals
• Four scenarios in applying segmentation and personalization and their impact
• Supplier-centricity vs. Customer-centricity

Discussing the challenges companies face in implementing personalization and the impact it can have on improving the customer experience, Victoria provides valuable insights into the importance of segmentation and personalization in creating business value and improving customer relationships. Join us this week as Victoria takes a deep dive into customer segmentation and its impact!

Please subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player. And, visit www.thechemicalshow.com to subscribe to our email list and get additional insights.

American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) to chat about his organization's efforts towards a circular economy and rail safety. Victoria and Chet discuss the importance of recycling and innovation, the challenges of reducing plastic waste, rail safety, the dual challenge of producing energy while maintaining sustainability, and the immense value and benefits of plastics.

Learn more about the following in this episode:

•  AFPM's top priorities
•  Storytelling in the chemical industry
•  UN Plastics Treaty
•  Education and Awareness of Advanced Recycling
•  The EPA's proposed draft strategy to prevent plastic pollution
•  Achieving a circular economy
•  Challenges with Rail Transportation

Chet emphasizes the importance of approaching plastics in a nuanced and balanced way, neither treating them as inherently good nor bad, but recognizing their essential role in modern life. Victoria and Chet also discuss the benefits of advanced recycling, which creates "pure feedstock" that can be reused in new products. Thompson expresses his optimism for progress within Congress to enhance public safety for rail and promote competition in the industry.

Please subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player. And, visit www.thechemicalshow.com to subscribe to our email list and get additional insights.

AFPM sustainability report: https://afpm.org/data-reports/publications/sustainability-report

AFPM: https://afpm.org/

Progress: https://wemakeprogress.org/

Empower: https://empower.afpm.org/

On this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer is joined by Peter Hanik, President and Founder of Pretium Innovation. Victoria and Pete discuss the importance of innovation in the chemical industry, as well as strategies for problem-solving and understanding customer needs. 

Learn more about the following in this episode:

• Innovation in the chemical industry
• Crafting a long-term career in chemicals 
• "Type Three" Problems and Solutions 
• Adapting to cultural differences in a global career 

Sharing his 50+ years experience in the chemical industry, Pete offers valuable insights into problem-solving and innovation in the chemical industry, as well as strategies for understanding and addressing customer needs in a sustainable way.

Please subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player. And, visit www.thechemicalshow.com to subscribe to our email list and get additional insights.

Check out Peter Hanik’s book, Type 3 Solutions: Problem Solving for Competitive Advantage: https://amzn.to/440uirc

Humans are master storytellers and as business leaders, we should harness the power of storytelling.

In this episode of The Chemical Show, host Victoria Meyer explores why storytelling is critical for businesses to control the narrative about their performance, products, and value creation. Victoria shares how business storytelling involves interpreting facts and creating emotional connections as well as what makes a good story - starting with the end in mind, choosing the right information and time frame, using visual supports, choosing strong words, making it personal, and relatable. 

Topics discussed in this week’s episode:

• The case for storytelling in business
• Why owning the narrative is critical
• Insights from Harvard Business School
• 3 tips for compelling business stories
• Case study on the power of the right story

Tune in to learn more on this episode of The Chemical Show!

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For more insights and information, check out www.thechemicalshow.com