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

What’s the one thing you should always bring to Thanksgiving dinner? According to host Victoria Meyer, it’s a great conversation starter—especially about topics that matter in the chemical industry today. From questions about the future of plastics and the impact of AI to navigating a challenging job market and redefining leadership, Victoria lays out five key talking points to help spark smart, relevant discussions around the holiday table. 

Victoria explores the uneven state of the economy, the rapid adoption of AI, the real story behind plastics and sustainability, how leaders are recalibrating during times of transition, and why talent and skills gaps are shaping the future of the industry. Her practical insights deliver both context and clarity for professionals facing today’s market challenges—making this episode a timely resource for both your Thanksgiving conversations and your business strategy. 

Victoria explores the following topics: 

• 1. Why the economy feels uneven and how chemicals give you unique insight. 
• 2. How AI is already shaping your world—at work and at home. 
• 3. What to say when tough plastics or sustainability questions arise. 
• 4. How resilient leaders focus and adapt during rapid business shifts. 
• 5. Why the biggest risk—and opportunity—is the people powering the chemical industry. 

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The chemical industry is navigating its longest down cycle in two decades, with oversupply, weak demand, and tariff uncertainty shaping a challenging landscape for business leaders. Host Victoria Meyer unpacks the third quarter 2025 earnings reports, highlighting five key themes impacting the industry: soft demand, price and margin pressures, disciplined cost control, shifts in supply chain strategy, and the increasing impact of tariffs and trade policy. 

Victoria shares strategies for business leaders looking to finish 2025 strong and prepare for 2026, including focusing on core value segments, strengthening regional supply chains, protecting margins, improving demand forecasting, and prioritizing cash and investment discipline. This episode delivers actionable insights for chemical industry professionals facing tough decisions and searching for clarity in uncertain times. 

Victoria explores the following topics: 

• Industry faces weak demand, uncertainty, and stalled recovery. 
• Oversupply crisis: Prices and margins squeezed, except in specialty/innovation segments. 
• Cost discipline intensifies: Cutting spending, optimizing portfolios, reducing dividends. 
• Firms pivot to regional markets and supply chains to manage tariffs and simplify operations. 
• Actionable strategies for leaders to drive clarity, control, and growth heading into 2026. 

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Geopolitics, energy volatility, and persistent oversupply are reshaping the global chemical industry as 2025 draws to a close. Victoria Meyer sits down with Kurt Barrow and Andrew Neale from S&P Global to address the forces driving today’s market dynamics, the impact of government policies, and the shifting landscape heading into 2026. They break down how new sanctions, tariffs, and energy transition policies are influencing everything from oil prices and supply chains to chemical production strategies worldwide. 

The episode explores regional strengths and vulnerabilities, with North America, the Middle East, and China taking leading roles amid rationalization and capacity closures in Europe and South Korea. Kurt Barrow and Andrew Neale share insights on how chemical producers are responding to cost shifts, supply chain resets, and evolving consumer demand. The conversation also previewed the upcoming World Petrochemical Conference and CERAWeek, emphasizing the need for industry leaders to stay agile in response to accelerated change, emerging technologies, and global market imbalances. 

Victoria, Kurt, and Andrew discuss the following this week: 

•  Why government action, oversupply, and shifting demand are redefining 2025 in the chemical markets.
•  How new sanctions, oil movements, and policy shifts impact feedstocks and chemical production.
•  Real-world examples of how canal disruptions, freight rate swings, and tariffs are reshaping global sourcing.
•  Regional winners and losers as energy prices, assets, and investments shift across Europe, China, and the US.
•  Key strategies for chemical leaders navigating consolidation, energy transition, and market shifts ahead.

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• (00:01) - - Introduction & Welcome

What does it take to transform a legacy chemical business into a cutting-edge innovation engine? Mike Finelli, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Syensqo (formerly Solvay), shares his journey from mailroom to C-suite and outlines how the company is leveraging sustainability, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence to drive growth and solve some of the world's toughest challenges. With a 160-year heritage and a fresh start after splitting from Solvay, Syensqo’s focus spans advanced materials for aerospace, automotive, healthcare, electronics, water filtration, and more. 

Host Victoria Meyer and Mike discuss building a culture where AI becomes a daily tool for everyone, the company’s research priorities, and the launch of customer innovation centers designed to foster collaborative, customer-centric solutions. They also address leading through change—both technological and organizational—offering candid insights on managing culture shifts, developing future leaders, and the role of purpose-driven innovation in attracting and retaining talent in the chemical industry. 

In this week's episode, Victoria and Mike talk about: 

• From Mailroom to C-Suite: Mike Finelli’s journey highlights the power of a growth mindset in chemicals. 
• How Syensqo balances tradition with a culture of innovation after its split from Solvay. 
• Syensqo puts sustainability at the core of R&D, tackling global challenges with biotech and renewables. 
• Building an AI-driven organization where generative tools accelerate discovery and everyday productivity. 
• Driving innovation by partnering closely with customers in globally connected labs for faster solutions. 

Accelerating sustainability through industry-wide collaboration is changing how chemical companies approach procurement, carbon reduction, and risk management. Victoria Meyer welcomes Jennifer Jewson, Chief Procurement Officer at LyondellBasell and President of Together for Sustainability (TfS), alongside Danielle Warnock, Senior Manager at Nouryon and TfS Regional Lead, to discuss how strategic alliances like TfS are driving real progress on sustainable procurement across the chemical industry. 

Victoria, Jennifer, and Danielle examine the foundations and impact of TfS: standardizing supplier engagement, launching shared audit platforms, and advancing product carbon footprint measurement to address complex Scope 3 emissions. The conversation covers how sustainable procurement is intertwining with business strategy, the challenges and realities of delivering on corporate sustainability promises, and how companies are equipping teams and the next generation of leaders to advance long-term change. Discover how collaborative platforms and disciplined governance are helping shape the future of chemicals, and why staying committed to sustainability is critical for competitiveness, growth, and continued license to operate. 

Victoria, Jennifer, and Danielle discuss the following topics on this week's episode: 

•  Together for Sustainability unites chemical companies to create shared sustainable procurement goals.
•  Sustainable procurement explained: What it means and why it matters
•  How TfS members use common platforms and audits to simplify supplier engagement and data exchange.
•  Companies balance regulation, market shifts, and sustainability priorities to future-proof the industry.
•  Passionate professionals and peer learning accelerate supply chain sustainability.

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Efficiency and innovation have quietly embedded sustainability into the DNA of the chemical industry—long before the hype cycles and regulatory pressures. Mitch Toomey, VP of Sustainability and Responsible Care at the American Chemistry Council (ACC), joins host Victoria Meyer to discuss how sustainability priorities are shaped by business needs, customer expectations, and practical realities. Mitch shares his journey from management consulting to the United Nations, BASF, and now ACC, spotlighting the business case for sustainability and the real progress chemical companies are making in reducing emissions and waste, even as industry output grows. 

The conversation explores how the expectations around sustainability have shifted, why incremental improvements and transparency matter, and how the value chain—spanning suppliers, manufacturers, and customers—is working together to deliver meaningful results. Mitch addresses common public misconceptions about the chemical industry, offers insights into aligning diverse member interests at ACC, and closes with advice for future leaders who want to make an impact across business and policy. 

Victoria and Mitch explore the following topics on this episode: 

• The business case for sustainability: how efficiency and profitability drive lasting change 
• Why chemical companies focus on practical, measurable sustainability improvements. 
• How chemistry shapes everyday life 
• Aligning diverse players across the chemical value chain for real sustainability progress. 
• Mitch Toomey’s advice on careers and impact in sustainable chemistry. 

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People and culture are at the heart of transformation in an AI-enabled world—especially for chemical industry leaders navigating rapid change. Host Victoria Meyer recaps the highlights from The Chemical Summit 2025, where leaders gathered in Houston to share perspectives on business strategy, workforce evolution, technology, and sustainability. The central themes included the critical role of organizational culture, the need for strong collaboration and business agility, and how digital tools and AI are reshaping work across the sector.

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Listeners get insights from keynote speakers and panelists on purpose-driven leadership, the realities of upskilling talent, and the impact of new technology on daily operations. Victoria explores how companies are building resilience in supply chains, creating customer value beyond price, responding to economic volatility, and implementing AI not as a job-taker, but as a growth engine.  

Victoria discusses the following topics: 

1. How leaders are reshaping workplaces to thrive in the AI-powered chemical industry.   
2. The strategies and collaboration driving chemical companies to stay nimble and deliver value.   
3. Real stories of AI and digitalization fueling industry innovation and trust.   
4. Data-driven trends in employee satisfaction, well-being, and skill development.   
5. How executives are steering their companies through disruption and towards lasting success. 

Taking on a 100-year-old industry with a startup mentality requires equal parts resilience, adaptability, and trust. Jimmy Jett, CEO of Integrity Biochem, joins host Victoria Meyer for an insightful fireside chat that uncovers the challenges and strategies behind transforming a traditional chemical business. Jimmy shares how his team moved innovative technology from the pharmaceutical sector into oil and gas, then successfully scaled into personal care and mining. 

Their conversation highlights the unique pressures of operating a startup in a legacy market—navigating regulatory hurdles, building a culture of speed and trust, and leveraging partnerships for rapid growth and scale. With candid stories on leadership, funding, and talent, Jimmy and Victoria shine a light on what it takes to disrupt and thrive in the chemical industry today, amidst economic, geopolitical, and technological shifts. 

Victoria and Jimmy explore the following topics: 

• How Integrity Biochem brought a fast-paced startup mindset to disrupt the century old chemical industry. 
• How Jimmy Jett built his team and pivoted from entrepreneurship to structured, scalable operations. 
• The real challenges of scaling from a three-acre site to global operations. 
• Culture, resilience, and the leadership journey 
• Navigating uncertainty in a changing industry 

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Oversupply, uncertainty, and shifting global forces are reshaping the chemical industry in unprecedented ways. Dewey Johnson, Senior Vice President of Dow Jones and global head of Chemical Market Analytics, joins host Victoria Meyer to dissect what’s driving the deepest and longest industry downcycle on record—from China’s march toward chemical self-sufficiency to the impact of sustainability targets and supply chain risk. Dewey shares his perspective on the global landscape, the interplay of political, economic, and environmental pressures, and why market participants are facing tough decisions about assets, investment, and strategy. 

Victoria and Dewey also explore how companies are navigating regional differences, the growing importance of AI, and why the next five years could bring more M&A, shutdowns, and portfolio reshaping. With insight into the evolving role of Chemical Market Analytics under Dow Jones, this conversation offers chemical industry professionals a candid look at the trends and disruptions shaping the market today—and practical considerations for staying resilient and competitive into the future. 

Victoria and Dewey discuss the following topics: 

•  Discover the forces pushing chemical markets into a deep, global downturn.  
•  Learn how geopolitical shifts are rewriting the rules of industry competition.  
•  Uncover China's oversized impact on worldwide chemical supply and trade.  
•  See how innovation and strategic moves are helping companies stay resilient.  
•  Explore how data, analytics, and AI are guiding smarter decisions in uncertain times.

Killer Quote: "This is the longest and deepest down cycle ethylene has ever experienced, ever." — Dewey Johnson

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As the chemical industry closes out a turbulent 2025, leaders are facing another critical inflection point. In this solo episode, host Victoria Meyer lays out the key market trends, leadership strategies, and execution tactics that matter most for finishing the year strong and setting up for success in 2026.

Victoria unpacks how permanent asset shutdowns, trade and tariff volatility, tighter capital, the evolving business case for decarbonization, and uneven demand are reshaping industry decision-making. She dives into the practical steps that chemical leaders—from the C-suite to frontline managers—can take now to sharpen operational discipline, drive portfolio value, and protect strategic growth opportunities amid uncertainty.

From capital allocation and supply chain resilience to customer partnership and talent management, Victoria emphasizes the importance of strategic discipline and a focus on the fundamentals. Leaders need to navigate today’s challenges but also position their business to capture opportunities as the landscape evolves.

Victoria highlights:

• Five top market trends defining Q4 2025: asset shutdowns, trade/tariff uncertainty, capital constraints, shifting decarbonization priorities, and uneven demand.
• How permanent structural change is creating risk—but also new opportunities for those who are prepared.
• The importance of scenario planning and stress-testing supply chains to create resilience and competitive advantage.
• Why operational discipline and cash management are essential to fund innovation, M&A, and growth.
• Portfolio discipline: knowing when to prune non-core businesses and selectively invest for transformation.
• The impact of delayed decarbonization projects, but also where incremental progress and the business case still hold strong.
• How to approach talent and culture as drivers of transformation—especially amid layoffs and restructuring.
• Practical actions for leaders to close out 2025: tighten operations, protect growth capital, focus supply chain strategy, engage customers on value, and build high-performance teams.