WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:01.170 --> 00:00:05.370 Victoria: Welcome to The Chemical Show, the podcast where Chemical means business. 00:00:05.910 --> 00:00:09.720 I'm your host, Victoria Meyer, bringing you stories and insights 00:00:09.720 --> 00:00:13.590 from leaders driving innovation and growth across the chemical industry. 00:00:14.520 --> 00:00:18.840 Each week we explore key trends, real world challenges, and the 00:00:18.840 --> 00:00:20.700 strategies that make an impact. 00:00:20.910 --> 00:00:21.750 Let's get started. 00:00:23.303 --> 00:00:27.144 Welcome back to The Chemical Show, Where Leaders Talk Business Today's episode 00:00:27.144 --> 00:00:32.304 is a classic replay one that's so good, it deserves another listen, particularly 00:00:32.304 --> 00:00:35.904 since new followers of The Chemical Show may not have listened to it yet, 00:00:36.594 --> 00:00:40.584 and new longtime listeners, sometimes you just need to hit replay as well. 00:00:40.974 --> 00:00:45.204 So today I'm sharing my conversation with Bonnie Tully of Evonik, which we 00:00:45.204 --> 00:00:48.864 recorded at last year's Responsible Care and Sustainability conference. 00:00:49.584 --> 00:00:49.974 Why? 00:00:50.574 --> 00:00:55.764 Because sustainability is being redefined, companies are backing away from promises, 00:00:55.764 --> 00:00:57.894 reassessing investments and more. 00:00:58.314 --> 00:01:03.534 And yet we know that it continues to be a critical part of business, 00:01:03.654 --> 00:01:08.154 a critical part of what customers and big brands want and need. 00:01:08.454 --> 00:01:12.819 And frankly, it's a big part of the chemical industry's DNA, whether 00:01:12.819 --> 00:01:14.574 or not we call it sustainability. 00:01:15.384 --> 00:01:19.064 So, you know, one of the things that I find important in this conversation 00:01:19.064 --> 00:01:23.414 with Bonnie is she shares the importance of incremental improvements 00:01:23.864 --> 00:01:28.214 that go a long way towards overall sustainability and business goals. 00:01:28.904 --> 00:01:31.064 Honestly, it's an approach that the chemical industry has 00:01:31.064 --> 00:01:32.714 been taking for a long time. 00:01:32.864 --> 00:01:36.314 This whole idea of incremental, continuous improvement and 00:01:36.314 --> 00:01:37.604 sustainability is no different. 00:01:37.604 --> 00:01:38.474 So that's one reason. 00:01:38.774 --> 00:01:43.724 Secondly, Bonnie's lessons in leadership and career advice are spot on and 00:01:43.724 --> 00:01:48.104 continue to be relevant and important for those of us across the industry. 00:01:48.284 --> 00:01:51.974 So join me for this classic replay and enjoy. 00:01:52.585 --> 00:01:53.645 This is Victoria Meyer. 00:01:53.655 --> 00:01:55.205 Welcome back to The Chemical Show. 00:01:55.385 --> 00:01:59.345 Today, I am speaking with Bonnie Tully, who is the North 00:01:59.345 --> 00:02:01.195 American president of EVONIC. 00:02:01.605 --> 00:02:06.115 We are at ACC's Responsible Care and Sustainability Conference, 00:02:06.395 --> 00:02:09.555 where Bonnie has been a panelist and a participant, and we're going 00:02:09.555 --> 00:02:13.425 to be talking about sustainability, responsible care, and more. 00:02:13.865 --> 00:02:15.155 Bonnie, thanks for joining me today. 00:02:15.387 --> 00:02:16.027 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Thanks for having me. 00:02:16.225 --> 00:02:16.735 Victoria: Absolutely. 00:02:16.795 --> 00:02:21.175 So let's just start with your career and your interest in chemicals How did 00:02:21.265 --> 00:02:23.735 you get into the chemical industry? 00:02:23.775 --> 00:02:25.375 And what led you to where you are today? 00:02:27.046 --> 00:02:31.445 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Yeah, so I grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas and 00:02:31.995 --> 00:02:37.875 in As you know, the that area has a lot of industrial companies there. 00:02:37.875 --> 00:02:40.155 So chemical petrochemical companies. 00:02:40.725 --> 00:02:44.955 And when I was growing up there, a lot of my friends, their families, 00:02:44.955 --> 00:02:48.095 their mothers, their fathers worked in the chemical industry. 00:02:48.275 --> 00:02:50.565 And so it seemed very normal that you could. 00:02:50.715 --> 00:02:52.535 That would be an industry to go into. 00:02:52.985 --> 00:02:57.915 I went to Texas A& M, graduated mechanical engineering degree, and thought I was 00:02:57.915 --> 00:03:00.885 going into the oil and gas industry. 00:03:01.085 --> 00:03:06.685 But I graduated during a time when there was an economic downturn, and so that made 00:03:06.685 --> 00:03:08.395 me really look at the chemical industry. 00:03:08.475 --> 00:03:12.235 And went in, I've been in the industry over 30 years, and have 00:03:12.335 --> 00:03:14.085 really found it very fulfilling. 00:03:14.265 --> 00:03:17.855 Career, you have a lot of opportunities within the industry. 00:03:18.185 --> 00:03:21.245 And if you, particularly if you go with larger companies you can have a lot of 00:03:21.245 --> 00:03:24.825 opportunities within that, in that company alone to really develop your career. 00:03:25.165 --> 00:03:29.625 I started my career with Roman Haas and that the business that 00:03:29.625 --> 00:03:31.515 I was in ultimately got acquired. 00:03:31.620 --> 00:03:35.280 By Evonik, and that's how I went over to working for a German multinational 00:03:35.280 --> 00:03:36.490 was through an acquisition. 00:03:36.970 --> 00:03:41.220 And that also opens a lot of opportunities when you move from a U 00:03:41.220 --> 00:03:43.080 S based company to a multinational. 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:47.250 Victoria: And so you've, and you spent a big part of your career in. 00:03:47.890 --> 00:03:49.690 Manufacturing, am I right? 00:03:49.710 --> 00:03:52.770 And then now into leading the company. 00:03:53.160 --> 00:03:54.010 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Yeah, correct. 00:03:54.030 --> 00:03:58.760 So, I spent many years in the manufacturing part of the business. 00:03:59.190 --> 00:04:02.530 Started out as a project engineer, moved my way through production, 00:04:02.540 --> 00:04:04.760 maintenance technical manager. 00:04:05.070 --> 00:04:08.469 Then the company asked if I would go to Singapore. 00:04:08.519 --> 00:04:12.459 So I was there to build a plant and then I was the plant manager there. 00:04:12.859 --> 00:04:12.959 And. 00:04:13.099 --> 00:04:16.309 And then on to managing some of our larger facilities. 00:04:16.309 --> 00:04:19.719 I managed our facility in Mobile, Alabama, which is the largest 00:04:19.769 --> 00:04:21.319 Evonik facility in North America. 00:04:21.859 --> 00:04:26.919 And I can just say when you're managing large sites it really prepares you 00:04:26.919 --> 00:04:29.819 to run a company or run a region. 00:04:30.039 --> 00:04:34.039 You have P& L responsibilities you are dealing with lots of different 00:04:34.039 --> 00:04:36.699 functions lots of different HR topics. 00:04:37.029 --> 00:04:40.959 And It was actually kind of a smooth transition to running a business 00:04:40.979 --> 00:04:42.599 after you've run a very large site. 00:04:42.809 --> 00:04:43.249 Victoria: I bet. 00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:47.669 Yeah I mean as you say in most of For the chemical industry most of 00:04:47.669 --> 00:04:49.259 the employees are in manufacturing. 00:04:49.629 --> 00:04:51.919 And so when you're running a large site, you've got everything 00:04:51.919 --> 00:04:53.729 You've got people you've got HR. 00:04:53.739 --> 00:04:54.789 You've got policies. 00:04:54.789 --> 00:04:59.679 You've got systems and then you move into You know leadership of the region 00:04:59.699 --> 00:05:01.741 and you have all of that and more. 00:05:01.741 --> 00:05:02.331 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Exactly 00:05:02.611 --> 00:05:05.131 Victoria: Yeah, so we're here talking about responsible care 00:05:05.131 --> 00:05:09.146 You What is responsible care mean to Evonik and how does it look at 00:05:09.166 --> 00:05:10.566 Evonik when you think about that? 00:05:11.356 --> 00:05:11.586 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Yeah. 00:05:11.586 --> 00:05:14.706 So while I've been here at this conference one of the things I learned yesterday 00:05:14.716 --> 00:05:18.016 was responsible care started in 1988. 00:05:18.526 --> 00:05:21.556 So it started just a little bit before I entered the industry. 00:05:21.556 --> 00:05:26.186 So for me, responsible care has always been around and but hearing that this 00:05:26.196 --> 00:05:29.716 conference made me realize that was a step change that happened right at 00:05:29.716 --> 00:05:32.656 the very beginning of my career, but I've always known it to be there. 00:05:33.046 --> 00:05:37.966 But we like responsible care in EVONIC because it gives us some foundational 00:05:37.976 --> 00:05:42.526 principles that we can speak about that we all agree to whether we're 00:05:42.526 --> 00:05:45.746 talking about in our production facilities or with management. 00:05:46.106 --> 00:05:51.826 So, whether it's How important we take process hazard analysis or that we will 00:05:51.826 --> 00:05:57.526 participate in our community action panels or that we will stay on top 00:05:57.526 --> 00:05:59.236 of our mechanical integrity programs. 00:05:59.556 --> 00:06:02.156 It really becomes like a value proposition. 00:06:02.166 --> 00:06:04.606 What are our foundational principles? 00:06:04.786 --> 00:06:07.786 And responsible care gives you like I said, it gives you that 00:06:07.786 --> 00:06:10.894 good foundation that you can speak one language within the company. 00:06:11.101 --> 00:06:11.351 Victoria: Right. 00:06:11.511 --> 00:06:16.131 And I think for me, also, the other thing is because responsible care exists across 00:06:16.131 --> 00:06:21.351 the industry, it's a common platform and a common set of expectations across 00:06:21.351 --> 00:06:26.326 all the member companies and how they operate, interact and, you know, Execute. 00:06:26.426 --> 00:06:26.546 Right. 00:06:26.586 --> 00:06:27.310 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Absolutely. 00:06:27.586 --> 00:06:28.306 Absolutely. 00:06:28.316 --> 00:06:32.156 And you know, as a manufacturer, we know we're just one part 00:06:32.176 --> 00:06:33.706 of the whole supply chain. 00:06:33.716 --> 00:06:37.336 You've got the logistics providers, you've got the transporters, you've 00:06:37.336 --> 00:06:39.196 got the warehouses et cetera. 00:06:39.226 --> 00:06:42.016 And like you said, that we all kind of have a common platform that we all 00:06:42.016 --> 00:06:46.586 agree that we're going to be responsible care providers is very important. 00:06:46.633 --> 00:06:46.836 Victoria: Right. 00:06:46.936 --> 00:06:49.576 So the other part of this conference obviously is sustainability. 00:06:49.646 --> 00:06:52.926 And sustainability is such a critical topic in the industry. 00:06:52.926 --> 00:06:54.416 It probably always has been. 00:06:54.426 --> 00:06:58.956 It's certainly come to light much more and much more sharply 00:06:58.976 --> 00:07:00.576 in focus in the last five years. 00:07:01.256 --> 00:07:04.106 Can you talk about what sustainability means to Evonik? 00:07:05.094 --> 00:07:08.706 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Yeah, so we know that the topic sustainability 00:07:08.756 --> 00:07:10.586 can be very complicated. 00:07:10.586 --> 00:07:13.796 That word carries so much with it, right? 00:07:13.826 --> 00:07:16.756 And within Evonik, we realized we needed to. 00:07:17.256 --> 00:07:21.246 Take that topic and make it more understandable for our employees. 00:07:21.346 --> 00:07:24.566 So basically we have broken sustainability down to three pillars. 00:07:25.076 --> 00:07:28.836 We call it next generation solutions, next generation technology, 00:07:28.856 --> 00:07:30.246 and next generation culture. 00:07:30.706 --> 00:07:34.576 Next generation solutions are the products that we are manufacturing 00:07:34.826 --> 00:07:38.421 that help Our customers make more sustainable products and we have 00:07:38.481 --> 00:07:41.051 a goal that we want over by 2030. 00:07:41.081 --> 00:07:46.061 We want over 50 percent of our portfolio of products to be sustainable solutions 00:07:46.101 --> 00:07:47.581 and we're moving in that direction. 00:07:47.891 --> 00:07:52.221 Next generation technologies as the things that we do as a company to 00:07:52.221 --> 00:07:59.466 reduce our footprint So, less CO2 emissions better use of energy of 00:07:59.466 --> 00:08:04.296 water, of land and, you know, trying to make, we say, make as small of a 00:08:04.296 --> 00:08:06.536 footprint as possible on this earth. 00:08:06.926 --> 00:08:09.926 Our next generation solutions, we call that our handprint, and we want to 00:08:09.926 --> 00:08:13.816 make that the we want that to be the biggest handprint we can, be a helping 00:08:13.816 --> 00:08:18.016 hand to, To our customers and then next generation technologies focuses 00:08:18.016 --> 00:08:19.986 on that smallest footprint as possible. 00:08:20.006 --> 00:08:23.736 And then the third pillar of that is next generation culture because 00:08:23.796 --> 00:08:27.686 to get a whole organization to move forward on sustainability, 00:08:28.136 --> 00:08:29.596 that has to become cultural. 00:08:30.616 --> 00:08:31.096 Victoria: Makes sense. 00:08:31.466 --> 00:08:35.446 So, and when you think about the solutions, obviously, you know, I think 00:08:35.446 --> 00:08:38.506 probably a lot of the products that are already in, have traditionally 00:08:38.506 --> 00:08:42.726 been in place fall into that category of really supporting sustainability 00:08:42.726 --> 00:08:43.996 profiles for your customers. 00:08:44.391 --> 00:08:48.701 Is this something your customers are actively asking for and looking for 00:08:48.731 --> 00:08:50.701 is sustainable solutions from Evonik? 00:08:51.361 --> 00:08:52.761 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Yes, absolutely. 00:08:52.791 --> 00:08:55.011 And we see that we see that globally. 00:08:55.111 --> 00:09:00.231 We are a German headquartered company, so it definitely in the EU. 00:09:00.281 --> 00:09:04.221 There's a very big push that they want to start seeing sustainable solutions. 00:09:04.581 --> 00:09:06.911 And, but we also have it here in the U. 00:09:06.911 --> 00:09:07.101 S. 00:09:07.101 --> 00:09:08.881 as well, in North America as well. 00:09:08.931 --> 00:09:10.761 But yes, there is a request for it. 00:09:11.271 --> 00:09:16.376 And you're, You hit on a very interesting point that it, it's not only like kind 00:09:16.376 --> 00:09:22.236 of the new shiny solutions that companies can provide, but also going and using 00:09:22.316 --> 00:09:25.176 existing technology in sustainable ways. 00:09:25.206 --> 00:09:27.510 So, for example we have silica. 00:09:27.611 --> 00:09:31.201 Which is a product that's been around for quite a while, but they now are 00:09:31.201 --> 00:09:35.071 using that in tires because they make them, we call them green tires, they 00:09:35.121 --> 00:09:39.601 reduce the rolling resistance for better better fuel efficiency, as well as they 00:09:39.601 --> 00:09:43.341 allow longer life of those tires, so you don't have to replace them as much. 00:09:44.091 --> 00:09:46.411 Companies are also working on those new technologies. 00:09:47.231 --> 00:09:51.531 So, for example, we have membrane technology to separate biogas 00:09:51.831 --> 00:09:54.351 to get methane from the biogas. 00:09:54.791 --> 00:09:57.291 And it doesn't have to be on a very big scale anymore. 00:09:57.341 --> 00:09:59.201 It's something that farmers can use. 00:09:59.491 --> 00:10:04.371 Where you have any kind of waste manure or food waste, you can start capturing that 00:10:04.451 --> 00:10:07.851 using technology like these membranes, separate it, and then you have methane. 00:10:08.201 --> 00:10:10.941 And then we have some that are kind of really spectacular 00:10:10.971 --> 00:10:12.741 like our biosurfactants. 00:10:13.091 --> 00:10:18.871 So these are biorenewable, biodegradable, biobased and these are really kind 00:10:18.871 --> 00:10:20.931 of next generational solutions. 00:10:21.604 --> 00:10:22.286 Victoria: That's really cool. 00:10:22.286 --> 00:10:23.816 Requires a lot of innovation. 00:10:24.096 --> 00:10:24.826 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Absolutely. 00:10:25.786 --> 00:10:28.636 Victoria: So when you know, the other pillar that you talk about is culture. 00:10:28.956 --> 00:10:29.296 Right. 00:10:29.376 --> 00:10:35.016 And certainly I think the sustainability mindset has been a cultural shift 00:10:35.026 --> 00:10:39.766 for probably every company, certainly from, you know, our time starting 00:10:39.766 --> 00:10:43.236 in the industry, sustainability was not a conversation to today, 00:10:43.236 --> 00:10:45.486 it's really the conversation. 00:10:45.786 --> 00:10:48.616 Can you talk about what that culture looks like and what 00:10:48.616 --> 00:10:52.396 those expectations are around sustainability and culture for Evonik? 00:10:52.601 --> 00:10:52.986 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Yeah. 00:10:53.346 --> 00:10:56.956 So, I've been in the industry over 30 years, and I think if you look 00:10:56.956 --> 00:11:00.766 at the very beginning when I entered this, you even had, like, I'll 00:11:00.766 --> 00:11:02.836 say climate change deniers, right? 00:11:02.846 --> 00:11:07.916 You, there was really a pushback against, no, this is, we're not 00:11:07.916 --> 00:11:09.546 going to spend resources on this. 00:11:09.886 --> 00:11:15.206 And there has just been a monumental shift to now, where the chemical industry 00:11:15.256 --> 00:11:20.626 sees that this is real and that we're now part of the solution, that we're 00:11:20.646 --> 00:11:24.916 solution providers and that we're going to be, we're going to be part of the 00:11:24.916 --> 00:11:27.156 discussion now and part of the solution. 00:11:27.546 --> 00:11:29.766 So that has been a major change. 00:11:29.976 --> 00:11:34.616 But to be able to take a, an organization with you, you have 00:11:34.616 --> 00:11:36.166 to have a cultural part of that. 00:11:36.436 --> 00:11:41.526 And for us our next generation culture is that we see that sustainability 00:11:41.596 --> 00:11:45.406 is part of our business case as part of our business model. 00:11:45.866 --> 00:11:51.316 We as managers want to see sustainable solutions coming out and we want 00:11:51.386 --> 00:11:55.841 our employees to feel that they can bring opportunities forward as well. 00:11:55.861 --> 00:12:00.931 So it's really the employees seeing sustainable opportunities and bringing 00:12:00.931 --> 00:12:04.461 them forward and also knowing that management will support that and then 00:12:04.461 --> 00:12:09.291 management saying, hey, we see a business case here and pushing the organization 00:12:09.651 --> 00:12:13.601 to work towards sustainability, like I said, either in our plants or solutions. 00:12:13.621 --> 00:12:17.651 And you have to have both, you have to have the employees as well as management 00:12:17.661 --> 00:12:20.951 all saying like, yeah, this is the direction we're going and that's culture. 00:12:21.081 --> 00:12:23.601 Victoria: And have employees really embrace that shift. 00:12:23.809 --> 00:12:24.811 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Oh, absolutely. 00:12:24.841 --> 00:12:25.601 Absolutely. 00:12:25.651 --> 00:12:27.631 They like at the shop floor level. 00:12:27.781 --> 00:12:32.021 They really appreciate the opportunity to bring forward ideas that they have. 00:12:32.041 --> 00:12:35.711 Maybe they've seen them for a long time and to say like, I think if we do this, 00:12:35.711 --> 00:12:40.631 we can reduce this waste or could we put in led light bulbs in the plant. 00:12:40.851 --> 00:12:43.321 And when we say, yeah, that's a good idea. 00:12:43.451 --> 00:12:46.251 You know, it's just positive reinforcement, but they are ready. 00:12:46.426 --> 00:12:47.051 Victoria: That's exciting. 00:12:47.271 --> 00:12:51.946 And when you think about your future employees, do you find that having A 00:12:51.946 --> 00:12:55.876 strong sustainability profile is important to new employees coming into the industry. 00:12:57.042 --> 00:12:57.846 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Absolutely. 00:12:58.006 --> 00:12:58.706 Absolutely. 00:12:58.706 --> 00:13:04.106 I think every industry the new generations coming in have a 00:13:04.106 --> 00:13:06.936 newfound respect for the planet. 00:13:06.966 --> 00:13:11.296 And they realize that if they're going to have a planet that they want to live 00:13:11.296 --> 00:13:16.056 on in two or three generations, maybe even as, Early as these generations 00:13:16.396 --> 00:13:18.576 drastic changes have to happen. 00:13:18.586 --> 00:13:22.176 And I think they want to bring that into their workforce into 00:13:22.176 --> 00:13:24.226 their work life into the workforce. 00:13:24.326 --> 00:13:26.206 And they're really passionate about it. 00:13:26.396 --> 00:13:26.856 Victoria: That's cool. 00:13:27.196 --> 00:13:29.476 And well, and then you talk about big changes, but I think 00:13:29.476 --> 00:13:31.906 the other piece that struck me today when you were on the panel. 00:13:32.266 --> 00:13:36.996 You talked about really the importance of incremental improvements and the 00:13:37.026 --> 00:13:40.776 opportunity for incremental improvements that all companies can embrace. 00:13:41.036 --> 00:13:42.366 Can you talk about that a little bit? 00:13:42.707 --> 00:13:43.066 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Yeah. 00:13:43.176 --> 00:13:46.506 We all are limited on resources and I don't care if you're a small 00:13:46.506 --> 00:13:48.486 organization or a large organization. 00:13:48.806 --> 00:13:51.916 I think maybe small organizations look at large organizations and say, Hey, you've 00:13:51.916 --> 00:13:53.536 got 10 people working on sustainability. 00:13:53.566 --> 00:13:57.416 I can tell you large organizations wish they had a hundred people working on it. 00:13:57.416 --> 00:14:00.306 You just, you never have enough resources in this area. 00:14:01.326 --> 00:14:02.956 No matter the size of your organization. 00:14:03.436 --> 00:14:08.096 So every organization just needs to start with incremental improvements. 00:14:08.476 --> 00:14:13.076 And we have found some really great improvements on things like 00:14:13.096 --> 00:14:17.036 adding spray balls in our reactors to clean our reactors instead 00:14:17.036 --> 00:14:18.956 of recycling solvents around. 00:14:19.256 --> 00:14:24.436 Putting timers on HVAC systems, putting in LED light bulbs monitoring 00:14:24.456 --> 00:14:28.296 flow through heat exchangers so that they will be more efficient. 00:14:28.656 --> 00:14:32.336 And these incremental wins really start to add up. 00:14:32.906 --> 00:14:34.546 And none of these are big money. 00:14:34.906 --> 00:14:40.486 and none of them have to wait for the Big Bang Sustainability program and we 00:14:40.486 --> 00:14:45.266 are really seeing that this is moving the company forward incrementally 00:14:45.346 --> 00:14:47.556 but sustainably and successfully. 00:14:47.586 --> 00:14:50.286 Victoria: Yeah, and what strikes me with that is, is one, you 00:14:50.286 --> 00:14:53.166 mentioned that it's not just the domain of big companies, right? 00:14:53.166 --> 00:14:56.336 There are things that people can do, but it also seems like it 00:14:56.376 --> 00:15:01.616 those are ideas that tie back to getting individuals involved, right? 00:15:01.616 --> 00:15:06.326 So it's not just the domain of a strategy group or an innovation group to figure 00:15:06.326 --> 00:15:08.346 out what the next sustainability story is. 00:15:08.746 --> 00:15:14.526 It's something that people can do in their everyday day roles anybody can 00:15:14.526 --> 00:15:16.796 identify incremental improvements. 00:15:16.978 --> 00:15:17.526 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Exactly. 00:15:17.526 --> 00:15:18.766 And be part of the solution, right? 00:15:18.786 --> 00:15:20.456 And everybody feels good about that, right? 00:15:20.456 --> 00:15:22.286 When you can be part of the solution. 00:15:22.356 --> 00:15:23.206 Victoria: Yeah, absolutely. 00:15:23.396 --> 00:15:26.006 So let's talk a little bit about career and leadership. 00:15:26.006 --> 00:15:29.476 You've obviously seen great success through your career. 00:15:30.126 --> 00:15:34.966 What leadership lessons and career lessons have you learned along the way? 00:15:36.416 --> 00:15:36.966 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: So. 00:15:37.666 --> 00:15:42.386 When I think about leadership in general as you move up the organization things 00:15:42.386 --> 00:15:44.236 just get more and more complicated. 00:15:44.246 --> 00:15:48.696 Things just get more and more difficult to manage. 00:15:49.096 --> 00:15:51.151 And that's just That's the way of the world. 00:15:51.211 --> 00:15:56.351 And what I found when I do see that, when it seems like things are getting quite 00:15:56.351 --> 00:16:01.551 complicated or too many topics, I just try to go back to kind of fundamental values. 00:16:01.571 --> 00:16:05.071 And one of those for me is the golden rule, treat others 00:16:05.081 --> 00:16:06.191 like you want to be treated. 00:16:06.201 --> 00:16:10.441 And whether I'm taking that into an HR issue, treat that employee like I 00:16:10.441 --> 00:16:14.291 want to be treated, or I'm taking it into a community topic, like treat. 00:16:14.691 --> 00:16:17.231 Our communities, like we want our communities treated. 00:16:17.541 --> 00:16:20.681 It's just a nice fundamental that you can go back to and 00:16:20.691 --> 00:16:23.051 has so many applicable cases. 00:16:23.291 --> 00:16:27.221 So, and anybody as you move up the organizational ladder, you know, it gets 00:16:27.221 --> 00:16:28.901 more and more complicated as you go up. 00:16:28.901 --> 00:16:31.461 So need some fundamental ideas to go back to. 00:16:32.101 --> 00:16:34.311 And then the other one being a woman leader. 00:16:35.091 --> 00:16:40.191 That I'd like to comment on is that sometimes I find women as they move 00:16:40.201 --> 00:16:44.841 into leadership roles, they are hesitant to put their ideas on the 00:16:44.841 --> 00:16:48.651 table, particularly if you're in a conference or a conference room. 00:16:48.971 --> 00:16:53.281 And I wish somebody had told me earlier in my career to not be 00:16:53.281 --> 00:16:55.301 hesitant, to get those ideas out there. 00:16:55.301 --> 00:16:57.351 There's a reason why I'm in the room. 00:16:57.351 --> 00:17:01.381 There's a reason why I'm at the table, and that is to share my opinions as well 00:17:01.621 --> 00:17:03.391 and bring those into the discussion. 00:17:03.701 --> 00:17:07.231 I know I was personally hesitant sometimes to bring those ideas forward. 00:17:07.501 --> 00:17:11.701 And I was lucky enough to have a very good leader who took me aside after 00:17:11.701 --> 00:17:13.711 a meeting where I had not spoken out. 00:17:14.201 --> 00:17:15.881 And he said Why didn't you say anything? 00:17:15.881 --> 00:17:18.591 I was like, well, I just, I don't know if my idea was perfect. 00:17:18.641 --> 00:17:21.151 I was, you know, I had to think about my words. 00:17:21.151 --> 00:17:21.821 I was choosing. 00:17:21.821 --> 00:17:24.511 And he said, you were in that room and you were at that table 00:17:24.511 --> 00:17:25.941 because we needed your opinion. 00:17:26.191 --> 00:17:27.451 Never hesitate. 00:17:27.451 --> 00:17:28.841 Never hold yourself back. 00:17:29.171 --> 00:17:30.641 Bring your opinion forward. 00:17:31.031 --> 00:17:31.661 We need it. 00:17:31.681 --> 00:17:32.201 We want it. 00:17:32.211 --> 00:17:33.841 There's a reason why you were in that room. 00:17:33.971 --> 00:17:36.931 And he really encouraged me and supported me. 00:17:37.396 --> 00:17:38.776 The, to do that going forward. 00:17:38.876 --> 00:17:39.626 Victoria: I think that's great. 00:17:39.636 --> 00:17:42.386 And I think that's a lesson that a lot of women have to learn, right? 00:17:42.396 --> 00:17:45.496 Cause we're often coached to be perfect. 00:17:45.916 --> 00:17:49.516 We're often coached to be you know, to let others speak first. 00:17:49.546 --> 00:17:54.106 And yet the reality is in order to get your idea forward, in order to 00:17:54.106 --> 00:17:57.456 take the next step, you have to be willing to speak up and you have to be 00:17:57.456 --> 00:17:59.116 willing to take that seat at the table. 00:17:59.336 --> 00:18:01.296 And when you've got the seat, use it.. 00:18:01.686 --> 00:18:02.456 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Absolutely. 00:18:02.499 --> 00:18:02.809 Victoria: Awesome. 00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:06.879 So what advice would you give to people that are early in their career that are 00:18:06.879 --> 00:18:12.149 really looking to have a career success and a career trajectory similar to yours? 00:18:12.984 --> 00:18:18.344 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: I think the best advice I can give is to take advantage 00:18:18.594 --> 00:18:20.884 of opportunities when they are offered. 00:18:21.254 --> 00:18:25.094 You never know what those opportunities are going to lead to. 00:18:25.154 --> 00:18:27.484 And sometimes these can be very small opportunities. 00:18:27.584 --> 00:18:32.394 You know, join that activities committee join that safety committee 00:18:32.444 --> 00:18:37.894 be on the community awareness committee And then because you never 00:18:37.894 --> 00:18:41.564 know who you're going to be working with on those type of committees. 00:18:41.834 --> 00:18:46.334 We were talking earlier about we at our activities committee at our site this 00:18:46.494 --> 00:18:48.594 allows people to work with me directly. 00:18:48.724 --> 00:18:51.494 And you would say, the activities committee, but you know, you're just 00:18:51.494 --> 00:18:55.204 deciding you're going to do, you know, you know, ice cream social Friday, right? 00:18:55.714 --> 00:18:56.824 You don't know. 00:18:56.824 --> 00:18:56.889 Cool. 00:18:57.029 --> 00:18:59.339 Who else is going to be in that room when you're deciding 00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:01.099 on ice cream social Friday? 00:19:01.099 --> 00:19:04.649 You're maybe working with some very high level managers and then they get to know 00:19:04.649 --> 00:19:09.279 you and you get to know them on a more personal level and boy, you just can start 00:19:09.289 --> 00:19:12.079 increasing your network by doing that. 00:19:12.099 --> 00:19:12.729 And then. 00:19:13.524 --> 00:19:17.464 On a bigger scale, if you get asked to take on opportunities like 00:19:17.464 --> 00:19:21.244 assignments you know, would you consider being the maintenance manager? 00:19:21.244 --> 00:19:22.864 Would you consider being the technical manager? 00:19:22.864 --> 00:19:26.054 Would you consider going running a plant in Singapore? 00:19:26.434 --> 00:19:29.864 More than likely, it's better if you say yes to those. 00:19:29.874 --> 00:19:34.634 It will really open up a wide variety of opportunities going forward for you. 00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:35.129 Victoria: Yeah. 00:19:35.189 --> 00:19:35.529 Love it. 00:19:35.529 --> 00:19:37.599 And you obviously said yes. 00:19:37.845 --> 00:19:38.269 I did. 00:19:38.286 --> 00:19:39.019 More than you said no. 00:19:39.165 --> 00:19:39.565 Correct. 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:40.159 Yeah. 00:19:40.249 --> 00:19:42.019 Which is one of the keys to success. 00:19:42.264 --> 00:19:42.568 Correct. 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:43.429 Yeah, absolutely. 00:19:43.429 --> 00:19:46.834 Well, Bonnie, thank you so much for joining me I appreciate 00:19:46.834 --> 00:19:50.544 you taking the time today and sharing your insights with us. 00:19:50.756 --> 00:19:51.556 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Thank you for having me. 00:19:52.516 --> 00:19:54.736 Thanks for joining us today on The Chemical Show. 00:19:55.066 --> 00:19:59.566 If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, 00:19:59.806 --> 00:20:03.196 and most importantly, share it with your friends and colleagues. 00:20:04.186 --> 00:20:07.516 For more insights, visit the Chemical show.com 00:20:07.996 --> 00:20:09.481 and connect with us on LinkedIn. 00:20:10.246 --> 00:20:14.206 You can find me at Victoria King Meyer on LinkedIn, and you can also 00:20:14.206 --> 00:20:16.366 find us at The Chemical Show Podcast. 00:20:16.546 --> 00:20:19.726 Join us next time for more conversations and strategies 00:20:20.026 --> 00:20:21.796 shaping the future of the industry. 00:20:22.186 --> 00:20:22.906 We'll see you soon.