WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:04.732 --> 00:00:07.522 voiceover: A key component of the modern world economy, the chemical 00:00:07.522 --> 00:00:11.072 industry delivers products and innovations to enhance everyday life. 00:00:11.592 --> 00:00:15.582 It is also an industry in transformation where chemical executives and 00:00:15.582 --> 00:00:19.202 workers are delivering growth and industry changing advancements while 00:00:19.202 --> 00:00:22.952 responding to pressures from investors, regulators, and public opinion. 00:00:23.502 --> 00:00:26.432 Discover how leading companies are approaching these challenges 00:00:26.442 --> 00:00:28.062 here on The Chemical Show. 00:00:28.512 --> 00:00:32.602 Join Victoria Meyer, president of Progressio Global and host of The 00:00:32.602 --> 00:00:36.587 Chemical Show, As she speaks with executives across the industry and 00:00:36.587 --> 00:00:40.857 learns how they are leading their companies to grow, transform, and push 00:00:40.887 --> 00:00:43.347 industry boundaries on all frontiers. 00:00:43.677 --> 00:00:45.937 Here's your host, Victoria Meyer. 00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:49.690 Victoria: Hi, this is Victoria Meyer. 00:00:49.880 --> 00:00:54.850 Welcome back to The Chemical Show where Chemicals Means Business Today. 00:00:54.850 --> 00:00:59.320 I'm bringing you a unique episode that we're recording during Women's History 00:00:59.320 --> 00:01:04.740 Month, and we're showcasing CEF, the Chemical Educational Foundation, and 00:01:04.750 --> 00:01:09.120 three of their female board members, Jennifer Jewson from Lyondell Basell. 00:01:09.330 --> 00:01:14.020 Joyce Marshall Johnson from Univar Solutions and Rene Whigham from Olin. 00:01:14.580 --> 00:01:18.910 So we're going to be talking about careers in chemicals, the importance 00:01:18.930 --> 00:01:23.320 of engaging students and especially girls early in their academic careers. 00:01:23.720 --> 00:01:28.450 And then also wrapping in a discussion about CEF's You Be the Chemist 00:01:28.450 --> 00:01:32.850 Challenge, which is reaching its 20th anniversary this year with a 00:01:32.970 --> 00:01:35.220 big celebration in Houston in June. 00:01:35.220 --> 00:01:37.250 So we'll be talking about that and more. 00:01:37.780 --> 00:01:39.640 Ladies, welcome to The Chemical Show. 00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:41.670 audioJoyceMarshallJoh41357743781: Thank you. 00:01:41.720 --> 00:01:41.850 audioJenJewson21357743781: you. 00:01:43.520 --> 00:01:48.530 Victoria: So, I'm going to start with, what sparked your interest in chemistry 00:01:48.820 --> 00:01:52.660 and led to a career in chemicals because you've all reached and developed 00:01:52.670 --> 00:01:54.470 some great careers in this industry. 00:01:55.030 --> 00:01:56.900 And it's always interesting how we got here. 00:01:56.900 --> 00:01:57.940 Jen, let's start with you. 00:01:58.630 --> 00:01:59.860 audioJenJewson21357743781: I am actually a chemist. 00:02:00.070 --> 00:02:04.350 I'm a chemist and I worked in catalyst design. 00:02:04.470 --> 00:02:06.250 So I worked in organic chemistry. 00:02:06.250 --> 00:02:09.820 And so I as a young girl, I always love math and science. 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:12.880 No 1 in my family is a math and science person. 00:02:12.950 --> 00:02:14.660 So I'm very unique. 00:02:15.050 --> 00:02:19.380 But I think the great thing about that is, I just had great support from my family. 00:02:19.400 --> 00:02:23.960 And then the reason I really love CEF is, it's always the engagement 00:02:23.960 --> 00:02:27.440 of a teacher that really helps to spark what you want to do. 00:02:27.540 --> 00:02:32.645 And when I got to college, I had a fantastic advisor that really encouraged 00:02:32.645 --> 00:02:37.615 me, not just to get a 4 year degree, but go even beyond that to get a PhD 00:02:37.615 --> 00:02:39.355 and I love working in the research area. 00:02:39.355 --> 00:02:42.495 And for me, that was my beginning part of my journey. 00:02:43.460 --> 00:02:43.780 Victoria: Yeah. 00:02:43.890 --> 00:02:44.470 That's great. 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:46.160 Rene, how about you? 00:02:46.220 --> 00:02:49.330 Cause you're also, chemicals all the way through your career. 00:02:49.940 --> 00:02:51.000 Rene Whigham: Yeah, that's right. 00:02:51.050 --> 00:02:54.250 So mine actually, my interest in chemistry and math. 00:02:55.210 --> 00:03:01.040 Started with a interaction with a fifth grade teacher that introduced me to 00:03:01.040 --> 00:03:07.920 chemistry and from that point forward, I realized how much I love chemistry and 00:03:07.920 --> 00:03:11.420 putting the math together with that and. 00:03:11.800 --> 00:03:16.600 Having the opportunities to, progress in that career path meant 00:03:17.200 --> 00:03:21.130 choosing a school that had a really good chemical engineering program. 00:03:21.130 --> 00:03:25.420 And I, too Jen went on to get advanced degrees in chemical engineering. 00:03:25.940 --> 00:03:31.680 But it all started with that initial interaction with the teacher, and I 00:03:31.690 --> 00:03:35.280 also had the support of parents who. 00:03:37.265 --> 00:03:40.345 During the time period I grew up, it wasn't conventional for women 00:03:40.345 --> 00:03:41.925 to be in chemical engineering. 00:03:42.445 --> 00:03:47.635 And so while I, you run into the naysayers that don't 00:03:47.635 --> 00:03:50.005 believe that's a woman's role. 00:03:50.435 --> 00:03:54.815 My parents were always so supportive and telling me you can do and be anything you 00:03:54.815 --> 00:03:57.625 want to be, just do what you love to do. 00:03:57.625 --> 00:03:59.645 And that's really how I ended up. 00:03:59.975 --> 00:04:03.765 I'm going to get my degrees in chemical engineering, and I've been 00:04:03.765 --> 00:04:05.235 in the chemical space ever since. 00:04:05.805 --> 00:04:08.875 And so a lot of great support and interaction, but it 00:04:08.905 --> 00:04:09.865 started with a teacher. 00:04:10.490 --> 00:04:10.850 Victoria: Yeah. 00:04:11.070 --> 00:04:11.830 That's really cool. 00:04:12.290 --> 00:04:12.800 And Joyce. 00:04:13.290 --> 00:04:17.320 You are not a chemist or a chemical engineer, right? 00:04:17.320 --> 00:04:21.710 So you've got a degree in industrial engineering and yet somehow we still got 00:04:21.710 --> 00:04:23.780 you roped into the chemical industry. 00:04:24.820 --> 00:04:28.490 audioJoyceMarshallJoh41357743781: I stumbled into the world of chemicals. 00:04:28.590 --> 00:04:31.480 For me, the journey began early on. 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:36.880 Very similar to Rene is a introduction from a great teacher. 00:04:37.190 --> 00:04:42.140 However, I really gravitated to biology and organisms and how they 00:04:42.140 --> 00:04:45.190 were formed and early on 4th 5th grade. 00:04:45.500 --> 00:04:48.895 And then as I entered the middle school years. 00:04:49.135 --> 00:04:51.465 I really began to advance in mathematics. 00:04:51.715 --> 00:04:58.995 I just loved gravitating to think solving problems and and just being adventurous 00:04:58.995 --> 00:05:00.215 with a lot of different things. 00:05:00.215 --> 00:05:06.095 Actually through my earlier years, it wasn't really until the end of high 00:05:06.095 --> 00:05:07.620 school where I realized, I, Yeah. 00:05:07.780 --> 00:05:11.640 I have a little bit of a limitation of exposure to chemistry. 00:05:11.940 --> 00:05:14.010 I dove in my senior year. 00:05:14.770 --> 00:05:20.640 I landed with an engineering scholarship in college, which was a bit unexpected. 00:05:20.640 --> 00:05:22.920 I was thinking, okay, I love biology. 00:05:22.920 --> 00:05:24.460 I'm going to pursue something there. 00:05:24.900 --> 00:05:28.880 But, once I got exposed to the world of Engineering. 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:33.150 And then I began to intern in the natural gas processing space. 00:05:33.440 --> 00:05:37.130 I became a processing engineer where chemistry became key. 00:05:37.590 --> 00:05:39.410 And it grew from there. 00:05:39.880 --> 00:05:43.570 So I do very much appreciate a lot of teachers along the way 00:05:43.570 --> 00:05:45.400 that were very influential. 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:47.370 My parents were very supportive. 00:05:47.740 --> 00:05:50.370 But really, it just, it was always there. 00:05:50.370 --> 00:05:54.580 Chemistry was always there that the love of learning. 00:05:54.580 --> 00:05:54.710 Engineering. 00:05:54.880 --> 00:05:58.270 And gravitating to math and sciences were there, but yeah, a little bit 00:05:58.270 --> 00:06:03.020 different journey in that in the world of chemistry and chemicals, it really, 00:06:03.140 --> 00:06:07.450 for me, took off once I committed to an engineering degree in college. 00:06:07.730 --> 00:06:08.990 So a little bit different journey. 00:06:09.390 --> 00:06:10.280 Victoria: Yeah, that's really cool. 00:06:10.280 --> 00:06:13.870 And I think what's interesting about all of it is how exposure 00:06:13.870 --> 00:06:15.140 was so critical, right? 00:06:15.140 --> 00:06:19.290 So whether it be exposure to chemistry in the first place, exposure to the 00:06:19.290 --> 00:06:22.360 opportunities in engineering and what you can do, because again, as you 00:06:22.360 --> 00:06:24.300 pointed out, Joyce, you don't know. 00:06:24.300 --> 00:06:24.950 None of us know. 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:30.170 I think we all went a little bit blindly in some cases into college and into 00:06:30.170 --> 00:06:34.250 our careers just because we're hampered by not having examples around us. 00:06:34.250 --> 00:06:38.175 And so that's where it's just so great to be able to expose students 00:06:38.175 --> 00:06:42.295 at a young age and other folks at a young age, my chemistry story. 00:06:42.295 --> 00:06:43.455 And I'm a chemical engineer. 00:06:43.765 --> 00:06:46.685 I have 3 older brothers and 3 younger sisters. 00:06:47.025 --> 00:06:53.445 So 1 of 7 and 1 of my brothers got a chemistry kit for Christmas one year, 00:06:53.445 --> 00:06:57.535 you guys might remember like the probably came out of the Sears catalog or, 00:06:57.575 --> 00:06:59.045 Kmart, wherever you bought this. 00:06:59.045 --> 00:07:04.025 stuff from we loved making doing the rockets there was a mix, 00:07:04.025 --> 00:07:05.525 the baking soda and vinegar and. 00:07:05.730 --> 00:07:08.410 Blowing up rockets in the backyard that was exciting. 00:07:08.510 --> 00:07:12.870 And I loved once I found the microscope, which is not really chemistry, but 00:07:12.870 --> 00:07:17.350 just the whole scientific there's more to it than what's on the surface. 00:07:17.440 --> 00:07:19.700 And then examples and great teachers as well. 00:07:19.710 --> 00:07:20.760 So I think that's all. 00:07:21.480 --> 00:07:25.580 It's so important that the exposure at a young age while you're still in 00:07:25.580 --> 00:07:27.600 the decision process is so critical. 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:30.070 It's women history, women's history month. 00:07:30.080 --> 00:07:34.110 And there's a lot of discussions in the workplace and items in the media about 00:07:34.130 --> 00:07:39.010 empowering women helping women achieve more workplace success and recognition 00:07:39.020 --> 00:07:40.970 and obviously the chemical industry. 00:07:41.630 --> 00:07:45.120 Like other really technical and process heavy industries 00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:46.900 has long been male dominated. 00:07:46.940 --> 00:07:50.190 In fact, if we look at engineering school, engineering schools are male dominated. 00:07:50.270 --> 00:07:55.800 And yet we see a lot of successful women, including yourselves across the industry. 00:07:56.180 --> 00:08:01.610 What has been really significant and helping you navigate a career? 00:08:01.785 --> 00:08:05.995 In chemicals and really career progression and feeling like you could 00:08:05.995 --> 00:08:07.745 stick with it throughout your career. 00:08:08.385 --> 00:08:09.885 Jen, can we start with you maybe? 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:14.320 audioJenJewson21357743781: Sure, so we actually had a discussion yesterday 00:08:14.320 --> 00:08:18.100 within our company about, career paths and how do you follow that? 00:08:18.100 --> 00:08:19.030 How do you stick with it? 00:08:19.400 --> 00:08:19.800 For me? 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:21.500 I'm going to tell you, it's all about mentors. 00:08:21.930 --> 00:08:25.690 And I had a mentor early in my career, and I have one today 00:08:26.030 --> 00:08:27.580 and they change over time. 00:08:27.580 --> 00:08:32.040 I think, depending on maybe where you are in your career, but without having a 00:08:32.070 --> 00:08:36.370 mentor, I think I wouldn't there's no way I would be as successful as I am today. 00:08:36.400 --> 00:08:38.040 And I think part of it is because. 00:08:38.730 --> 00:08:42.470 If you look at women in the workforce, we are more apt to be a little 00:08:42.470 --> 00:08:45.150 more reserved or more risk averse. 00:08:45.630 --> 00:08:47.680 We don't put ourselves out there as much. 00:08:47.750 --> 00:08:50.970 And, I've had mentors in my career that will say things to me. 00:08:50.970 --> 00:08:51.650 Why not you? 00:08:52.870 --> 00:08:53.850 Why can't you do it? 00:08:54.150 --> 00:08:57.250 And I love that because I think it helps you. 00:08:57.270 --> 00:09:00.890 It makes you a little more vulnerable, but it's forced me to 00:09:00.890 --> 00:09:02.570 candidly get out of my comfort zone. 00:09:02.570 --> 00:09:06.395 And, You get into a role, and you may be very nervous, but I will 00:09:06.395 --> 00:09:10.415 tell you within 30 days, you're like, yeah, I think I can do this. 00:09:11.225 --> 00:09:14.455 And you're not really sure about what you're capable of 00:09:14.735 --> 00:09:16.075 unless somebody pushes you. 00:09:16.105 --> 00:09:21.425 And so I will tell you that my mentors in my career have, I give them all the credit 00:09:21.425 --> 00:09:23.515 for helping me get to where I am today. 00:09:24.685 --> 00:09:25.905 Victoria: Yeah, that's really awesome. 00:09:26.095 --> 00:09:28.545 Rene or Joyce, you have anything to add on that? 00:09:29.675 --> 00:09:32.595 audioJoyceMarshallJoh41357743781: Yeah I think for me too, which was wonderful. 00:09:33.145 --> 00:09:37.595 Was that I didn't know what I didn't know and that I didn't realize I was in 00:09:37.595 --> 00:09:39.835 a space that was unique to be honest. 00:09:40.415 --> 00:09:45.375 Yes, I was many times the only female in the room, many times, sometimes 00:09:45.375 --> 00:09:47.065 the only minority in the room. 00:09:47.545 --> 00:09:53.075 And, but, I think just that the grit and I used that brute force method initially 00:09:53.085 --> 00:09:56.405 because I just didn't know I wasn't supposed to necessarily not be there. 00:09:56.845 --> 00:10:01.865 So I, Like what was also discussed, mentors don't always look like 00:10:01.875 --> 00:10:04.985 a mentor, like they don't call themselves a mentor, but I think 00:10:04.995 --> 00:10:06.265 that was really critical for me. 00:10:06.275 --> 00:10:11.155 There were people that believed in me and supported my progression and 00:10:11.155 --> 00:10:16.095 sometimes making moves in different levels of the organization and or 00:10:16.385 --> 00:10:21.515 different segments from sales to maybe procurement and supply chain. 00:10:21.515 --> 00:10:25.895 I made some jumps and moves, and I had the support of others, and I thought 00:10:25.895 --> 00:10:29.945 that was really critical, but they weren't necessarily per se my mentors. 00:10:30.445 --> 00:10:34.445 But in retrospect, when I look back, I was like, in a way, they really were 00:10:34.445 --> 00:10:39.525 mentors, but they were supporters of growth and development and showing 00:10:39.525 --> 00:10:42.765 what I could do for the organization, which I, was really critical. 00:10:43.415 --> 00:10:43.645 Victoria: Yeah. 00:10:43.645 --> 00:10:47.125 And in some ways it sounds like maybe they were sponsors even more so than 00:10:47.125 --> 00:10:52.355 mentors, like creating that opportunity that you may or may not have known about. 00:10:53.550 --> 00:10:54.100 audioJoyceMarshallJoh41357743781: Exactly. 00:10:54.465 --> 00:10:54.855 Victoria: Yeah. 00:10:55.245 --> 00:10:56.215 Rene Whigham: I would add both. 00:10:56.325 --> 00:10:58.065 Both of those comments are great. 00:10:58.165 --> 00:11:02.525 And for me, when I talk about mentors to my mentees. 00:11:03.095 --> 00:11:06.785 I let them know that a mentor is not someone that tells 00:11:06.785 --> 00:11:08.175 you what you want to hear. 00:11:08.815 --> 00:11:11.665 They tell you the things that you need to hear. 00:11:11.705 --> 00:11:12.615 And sometimes those. 00:11:13.535 --> 00:11:16.915 Strike us as different, or maybe we don't agree with them 00:11:16.935 --> 00:11:19.135 . Those are the people that are seen. 00:11:19.415 --> 00:11:23.835 Attributes in ourselves that maybe we don't see ourselves and that's that 00:11:23.835 --> 00:11:28.895 is so important to have that person that you could that sounding board 00:11:28.915 --> 00:11:33.625 really that can help you understand that self promotion is very important. 00:11:34.195 --> 00:11:38.525 I read a study once and I don't have the details behind it, 00:11:38.595 --> 00:11:42.935 but if you look at a, male and female engineer that starts at the same time, 00:11:43.345 --> 00:11:47.085 over the course of 10 years, the male is much further in his progression than the 00:11:47.085 --> 00:11:53.375 female and the data shows that's because females are more hesitant to talk about 00:11:53.385 --> 00:11:58.145 how good we are, because we're always a little bit second, guessing ourselves 00:11:58.145 --> 00:12:04.815 to joyce's point, I never noticed that I was the only woman in a room full of men. 00:12:05.425 --> 00:12:11.605 It never registered with me because I was just doing the job that I was meant to do. 00:12:11.835 --> 00:12:16.585 So I didn't look around the room and take an account of, the gender than 00:12:16.585 --> 00:12:21.945 the room, it was just, it was my job and that's who we, what I needed to do. 00:12:21.945 --> 00:12:28.345 And so that having that perspective and also being open to challenges, like Joyce 00:12:28.425 --> 00:12:34.445 said, moving outside of your functional area to completely different roles that 00:12:34.445 --> 00:12:36.045 you may not think you're ready for. 00:12:36.045 --> 00:12:38.335 But there's others that believe in you that think you're ready 00:12:38.665 --> 00:12:40.025 and it scares you to death. 00:12:40.945 --> 00:12:45.255 But that challenge is the energy that makes us go to the next step. 00:12:45.255 --> 00:12:48.575 And so many different things in my career that I'm thankful for and the 00:12:48.585 --> 00:12:54.265 people that helped me see what I could do that I wasn't aware that I could do. 00:12:54.855 --> 00:12:55.175 Victoria: Yeah. 00:12:55.185 --> 00:12:55.755 I think that's 00:12:55.755 --> 00:12:56.285 really great. 00:12:56.345 --> 00:13:00.165 And I think your point about career progression and men and women and not 00:13:00.185 --> 00:13:02.715 necessarily progressing at the same rate. 00:13:03.135 --> 00:13:06.925 I I actually do, I speak to corporate women's groups and to other groups about 00:13:06.925 --> 00:13:08.945 this topic called negotiate your success. 00:13:09.005 --> 00:13:10.205 If you don't, who will? 00:13:10.635 --> 00:13:15.655 And women have often have what I call the tiara syndrome. 00:13:15.655 --> 00:13:18.565 If I just put my head down and do a great job, they're going to see 00:13:18.565 --> 00:13:23.195 that tiara, my crown on top of my head and know that I'm awesome. 00:13:23.750 --> 00:13:26.850 And the reality is people don't know because we're all egocentric 00:13:26.850 --> 00:13:29.420 and we don't necessarily pay attention to everything else. 00:13:29.830 --> 00:13:35.755 And then studies also show that women negotiate much better on behalf of other 00:13:35.755 --> 00:13:38.835 people and not so well for themselves. 00:13:39.375 --> 00:13:44.305 And so figuring out number one, how to go back, go to bat for yourself is critical. 00:13:44.495 --> 00:13:46.795 And number two, who can you rely on? 00:13:46.915 --> 00:13:52.275 Whether it be a mentor, a peer, a sponsor to help you when you're not 00:13:52.275 --> 00:13:54.775 helping yourself is so important. 00:13:56.815 --> 00:13:59.905 So turning a little bit, obviously, everybody here on this call has 00:13:59.905 --> 00:14:01.405 developed a great career in chemicals. 00:14:01.975 --> 00:14:06.585 So what do you wish more people knew about and more women maybe knew about 00:14:06.585 --> 00:14:09.085 careers in the chemical industry? 00:14:09.335 --> 00:14:13.595 Cause there's so many opportunities, but how do we create those opportunities and 00:14:13.595 --> 00:14:15.285 what do you wish they knew about this? 00:14:16.460 --> 00:14:20.500 Rene Whigham: So I think from my perspective, I, in looking at our 00:14:20.510 --> 00:14:26.920 operations across the globe, I want women to know all of the different 00:14:26.920 --> 00:14:29.010 career opportunities that are available. 00:14:29.520 --> 00:14:33.110 It's not just engineering and it's not just chemistry. 00:14:33.430 --> 00:14:34.740 It is welding. 00:14:34.790 --> 00:14:36.370 It is instrumentation. 00:14:36.370 --> 00:14:37.600 It's electrical work. 00:14:37.660 --> 00:14:40.300 It's there's so many different career paths. 00:14:41.720 --> 00:14:48.270 Associated with the chemical industry that we need to communicate broadly to 00:14:48.270 --> 00:14:50.020 the students that we come in touch with. 00:14:50.880 --> 00:14:57.420 To young females that all of the different opportunities that exist that are related 00:14:57.430 --> 00:14:59.380 to the chemical industry are so important. 00:15:01.595 --> 00:15:03.035 audioJoyceMarshallJoh41357743781: And I think it's also very 00:15:03.035 --> 00:15:04.025 important to keep in mind. 00:15:04.025 --> 00:15:08.865 I think the average person doesn't think a lot about how chemicals are in everything. 00:15:09.385 --> 00:15:12.635 They're in everything we touch, everything we do, 00:15:12.945 --> 00:15:14.145 what we construct. 00:15:14.455 --> 00:15:18.325 And the chemical industry is in the interface with so many other 00:15:18.325 --> 00:15:23.425 segments of business, with STEM and chemistry being the core foundation 00:15:23.485 --> 00:15:24.955 of a lot of other industries. 00:15:25.335 --> 00:15:28.145 Healthcare, construction, it goes on and on. 00:15:28.475 --> 00:15:33.455 And just our global interface with other industry segments and just 00:15:33.735 --> 00:15:41.145 how stem and chemistry as a core can support so many different career 00:15:41.145 --> 00:15:43.435 paths that are possible to you. 00:15:43.455 --> 00:15:46.955 I think that's something that's very important for people to know and 00:15:46.955 --> 00:15:50.435 understand or for our young people to know and understand as well. 00:15:51.385 --> 00:15:53.275 audioJenJewson21357743781: But I think Victoria made a really good point 00:15:53.275 --> 00:15:57.745 earlier, and that is, I think women have a tendency to put their head down. 00:15:58.025 --> 00:15:59.145 They sit at their desk. 00:15:59.175 --> 00:16:00.515 They want to do a good job. 00:16:00.915 --> 00:16:04.265 For me, I think I talk about this often in our office and 00:16:04.365 --> 00:16:05.725 it's the power of the dialogue. 00:16:06.195 --> 00:16:09.015 Reach out to other people and ask what they do. 00:16:09.665 --> 00:16:13.185 I will tell you, people will always say yes, because they want to talk about 00:16:13.185 --> 00:16:17.905 their careers and you will see that people have very different multifaceted 00:16:17.905 --> 00:16:22.495 careers and they could have a job that you don't think you're interested in today. 00:16:22.725 --> 00:16:24.245 But the more you hear about it. 00:16:24.670 --> 00:16:28.110 The more you might, it might spark an interest, and it might be end up being 00:16:28.110 --> 00:16:29.620 your passion at the end of the day. 00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:33.410 But I think, for me, talking to a lot of people and understanding 00:16:33.410 --> 00:16:34.640 what else is out there. 00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:39.280 I think people will link you to other people and so having that broader network 00:16:39.310 --> 00:16:42.900 where you can talk to people to me, I wish I would have done that earlier. 00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:44.230 I love my career. 00:16:44.230 --> 00:16:46.540 I will tell you, I've done things I never thought I would have done, but 00:16:46.540 --> 00:16:48.530 I also hear about jobs every so often. 00:16:48.530 --> 00:16:50.470 Wow, I wish I would have done that earlier in my career 00:16:50.680 --> 00:16:51.730 because that sounds really cool. 00:16:51.750 --> 00:16:55.430 And so so, to me, I just feel like I talk about that all the time to people. 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:56.300 Who do you talk to? 00:16:56.740 --> 00:16:59.000 And it doesn't have to be somebody high up in an organization 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:00.000 to that's the other thing. 00:17:00.260 --> 00:17:03.750 It could just be reaching out to people across peers, or even people 00:17:03.750 --> 00:17:05.480 that are newer in their career. 00:17:05.490 --> 00:17:08.010 They can share with you a lot of really great opportunities. 00:17:09.600 --> 00:17:10.160 Victoria: I love that. 00:17:10.470 --> 00:17:11.020 I really do. 00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:14.800 Let's talk a little bit more about just education and chemistry, right? 00:17:14.800 --> 00:17:17.860 So chemistry is at the foundation of what we do. 00:17:17.860 --> 00:17:22.320 We've each talked about how we've gotten touched by chemistry and influenced by 00:17:22.320 --> 00:17:24.770 chemistry and education early our careers. 00:17:25.320 --> 00:17:28.300 Why is this so important from, from your perspective? 00:17:28.300 --> 00:17:31.780 And if we think about what CEF is doing, what's, why is it 00:17:31.780 --> 00:17:34.060 important to engage students early? 00:17:36.275 --> 00:17:38.505 audioJenJewson21357743781: I think you have to engage them early or you'll 00:17:38.505 --> 00:17:45.515 lose them because I think as you go up through school and I think kids don't 00:17:45.515 --> 00:17:48.685 worry about, perception of other things. 00:17:48.745 --> 00:17:50.675 They just enjoy learning at a young age. 00:17:50.675 --> 00:17:52.055 So I don't think they think about. 00:17:52.105 --> 00:17:55.105 Oh, I'm the smart kid or the sporty kid or that, they just 00:17:55.105 --> 00:17:57.425 want to be very open and explore. 00:17:57.600 --> 00:18:02.870 And observe, I think the thing I worry about, or if you don't catch them early 00:18:02.870 --> 00:18:07.190 enough as they go into high school girls aren't supposed to be good at math. 00:18:07.595 --> 00:18:09.665 Oh, it's not cool to be a math person. 00:18:09.665 --> 00:18:10.495 I loved math. 00:18:10.545 --> 00:18:15.375 And so I bucked it because I'm very stubborn, but I think you get into at 00:18:15.375 --> 00:18:19.285 the higher grades, you get into the perception of where you shouldn't be. 00:18:19.645 --> 00:18:22.445 And I do think people, they want to fit in. 00:18:22.945 --> 00:18:26.375 And so I think folks will have a tendency to say, yeah I'm not good at math. 00:18:26.435 --> 00:18:28.315 So I'm just not going to do it versus. 00:18:28.735 --> 00:18:29.735 I actually really enjoy it. 00:18:29.935 --> 00:18:31.415 And why wouldn't I want to do it? 00:18:31.515 --> 00:18:35.195 So I think there's, to me, it feels like catching them early. 00:18:35.455 --> 00:18:36.925 You catch a passion there. 00:18:36.945 --> 00:18:39.185 That is not doesn't have a bias to it. 00:18:40.195 --> 00:18:44.855 Rene Whigham: And you spark if the curiosity early that, kids today are 00:18:44.855 --> 00:18:50.515 under so much social pressure that if you can catch them early enough and 00:18:50.665 --> 00:18:52.925 spark that curiosity and let them know. 00:18:53.525 --> 00:18:57.835 That there are no preconceived notions about what you can do and how far you 00:18:57.835 --> 00:19:03.135 can go and what career path you take where I live is more of a rural area. 00:19:03.135 --> 00:19:07.175 And when I do career days at the local schools. 00:19:08.105 --> 00:19:12.545 There is a significant difference between the elementary schools and 00:19:12.555 --> 00:19:14.145 the attention that I get there. 00:19:14.895 --> 00:19:17.995 And in the high school, those decisions are already made by the 00:19:17.995 --> 00:19:19.805 women and girls in high school. 00:19:20.295 --> 00:19:20.595 Victoria: Wow. 00:19:21.175 --> 00:19:23.545 Rene Whigham: There's not an audience there, but when you go 00:19:23.545 --> 00:19:27.185 into an elementary school, there's an audience and they pay attention. 00:19:27.595 --> 00:19:32.655 And so it's just getting to them at that early age to let them understand the vast. 00:19:33.715 --> 00:19:37.085 Array of things that they can go do, and they're in their life. 00:19:37.655 --> 00:19:37.955 Victoria: Yeah. 00:19:38.075 --> 00:19:42.895 So this is a good segue to talk about CEF and the, you be the chemist challenge. 00:19:42.895 --> 00:19:48.175 So Kim, one of you guys just give us an overview of CEF and you be the chemist. 00:19:49.565 --> 00:19:51.095 Joyce, do you wanna jump in on this? 00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:53.250 audioJoyceMarshallJoh41357743781: Sure. 00:19:54.350 --> 00:20:00.880 , you know, CEF Is very much committed to engaging with students early and 00:20:01.070 --> 00:20:06.560 chemistry and STEM activities and the UB the chemist challenge focuses on 00:20:06.610 --> 00:20:11.210 students that are between the ages of the fifth grade and eighth grade and 00:20:11.350 --> 00:20:17.990 in providing a challenge activity for them to become a part of and to engauge 00:20:18.360 --> 00:20:24.200 and to build their relationship when it comes to chemistry and stem activity. 00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:33.430 So it is a very good program that happens annually and we just really enjoy or 00:20:33.490 --> 00:20:38.400 I personally enjoy that opportunity of even being hands on with the earlier 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:43.070 challenges that are set throughout the year for for CF, you be the chemist 00:20:43.510 --> 00:20:45.790 Victoria: So Kim, one of you guys talk about how it's structured 00:20:45.795 --> 00:20:48.460 'cause it is a national contest. 00:20:49.020 --> 00:20:51.360 And there's local challenges along the way. 00:20:51.360 --> 00:20:51.750 Is that right? 00:20:53.950 --> 00:20:56.230 Rene Whigham: so I can touch on it just a bit. 00:20:56.290 --> 00:21:01.950 So we start early, usually 4th, quarter of the year, setting 00:21:01.950 --> 00:21:03.900 up the regional challenges. 00:21:04.530 --> 00:21:08.890 Getting the teams in place, and then once they register, they get 00:21:08.890 --> 00:21:13.550 the materials, they start their plans to and how they participate. 00:21:13.890 --> 00:21:19.630 And there are teams of 4, 5th through 8th grade students, and they have real world. 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:23.010 Problems to solve and they're not easy problems. 00:21:23.050 --> 00:21:27.050 This is like building a company, in what type of workforce that 00:21:27.100 --> 00:21:28.740 you would have in your company. 00:21:29.080 --> 00:21:33.620 So it's not a typical 5th grade questions, but it's designed 00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:35.050 to challenge their thinking. 00:21:35.470 --> 00:21:38.010 And so the regional competitions happen. 00:21:38.345 --> 00:21:40.755 And then the top 5 teams from around the U. 00:21:40.755 --> 00:21:40.855 S. 00:21:40.945 --> 00:21:45.885 and Canada actually get to travel to Houston expense paid 00:21:46.445 --> 00:21:49.255 to compete live for scholarships. 00:21:49.635 --> 00:21:54.115 And they start on a Monday, June the 10th and with the. 00:21:54.705 --> 00:21:59.305 Award ceremony on June 11th and the thing that I like so much about the 00:21:59.425 --> 00:22:01.225 scholarships that are available. 00:22:01.875 --> 00:22:04.535 It's not just about scholarships for college. 00:22:05.445 --> 00:22:10.555 It is for other types of education, whether it's certifications for 00:22:10.945 --> 00:22:15.585 any type of, career paths, because when we look at this, maintaining a 00:22:15.755 --> 00:22:20.285 sustainable workforce in our chemical industry, it's not just about engineers. 00:22:20.785 --> 00:22:22.195 We need the technicians. 00:22:22.225 --> 00:22:25.585 We need the people that can work with their hands and perform. 00:22:25.605 --> 00:22:30.865 A chemical operator doesn't have to have a college education, but we 00:22:30.865 --> 00:22:32.665 can't run our plants without them. 00:22:32.975 --> 00:22:38.555 And so these scholarships go to promote not only the College education, but other 00:22:38.595 --> 00:22:42.095 types of stem related backgrounds as well. 00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:46.509 Victoria: And so this year is the 20th anniversary of UB the chemist. 00:22:46.529 --> 00:22:50.409 And as you ladies have articulated, the top five teams are coming from across 00:22:50.409 --> 00:22:54.619 the country to Houston in the beginning of June to compete for the title. 00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:57.199 And I think there's something like 50, 000 in scholarships. 00:22:57.679 --> 00:23:00.489 So each one of you have attended these events. 00:23:00.549 --> 00:23:01.719 What makes it special? 00:23:01.729 --> 00:23:05.889 What stands out for you when you've attended one of 00:23:05.889 --> 00:23:07.399 this UB the chemist finals? 00:23:09.184 --> 00:23:09.974 . Rene Whigham: I can start. 00:23:10.044 --> 00:23:15.034 You guys jump in, but it's the collaboration between these teams. 00:23:15.084 --> 00:23:19.004 Not only the members on a single team, but between the teams, 00:23:19.054 --> 00:23:23.504 these kids are just the energy and excitement in the room is contagious. 00:23:24.204 --> 00:23:30.534 And to see that flow in the parents and supporters that are there with their 00:23:30.534 --> 00:23:36.844 kids, it's just, it makes you want to, it just gives you the thought that you want 00:23:36.844 --> 00:23:42.404 to go and spread this throughout all the schools so that everybody can participate. 00:23:43.549 --> 00:23:46.749 audioJoyceMarshallJoh41357743781: I always enjoyed celebrating their 00:23:46.749 --> 00:23:50.299 achievements, really, whether it was a regional challenge and seeing them 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:56.669 engaging and seeing their curiosity just soar on solving all these different 00:23:56.669 --> 00:23:58.509 problems and answering these questions. 00:23:58.519 --> 00:24:01.249 But especially even at the finals, it's that. 00:24:01.629 --> 00:24:04.979 Celebrating their achievements and celebrating what they were able to 00:24:04.979 --> 00:24:09.289 accomplish and learn through the, through this process and through the challenges. 00:24:09.309 --> 00:24:13.149 I've always really enjoyed that, that part of it as well. 00:24:13.909 --> 00:24:16.169 audioJenJewson21357743781: And I will say, we just had a regional challenge 00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:22.339 here in Houston, and there is nothing better than watching these kids edify 00:24:22.389 --> 00:24:24.459 each other and get super excited. 00:24:24.469 --> 00:24:27.689 And so how you can not get wound up in that. 00:24:27.939 --> 00:24:29.299 It's just impossible to me. 00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:33.849 And and it's just the, to me, it's just the purest joy watching them excited 00:24:33.849 --> 00:24:35.629 about learning and doing different things. 00:24:35.669 --> 00:24:39.059 And, I will say the other comment that Rene made was a really good one. 00:24:39.479 --> 00:24:43.879 At San Jacinto College, we did the challenge and then we took all the kids 00:24:43.879 --> 00:24:46.369 to do a tour of the labs that are there. 00:24:46.919 --> 00:24:51.099 And it's so it's great for the kids to see what's possible. 00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:55.099 But the other thing that I think that's also very important, there are a lot 00:24:55.099 --> 00:24:58.979 of parents and teachers there, and I think it also helps to educate them 00:24:59.009 --> 00:25:00.809 a little bit about what's possible. 00:25:00.819 --> 00:25:04.509 When you talk about career, we talk about chemistry being foundational 00:25:04.529 --> 00:25:06.609 and it is, it's everything we touch. 00:25:07.049 --> 00:25:11.829 But chemistry touches and because of that, it touches so many different avenues. 00:25:12.119 --> 00:25:16.219 You can be an operator, you can be a truck driver, you can be an analytical chemist. 00:25:16.219 --> 00:25:19.549 There's all these different things and I think just getting 00:25:19.809 --> 00:25:22.779 first the kids exposure, but also the parents and the teachers. 00:25:22.829 --> 00:25:25.879 I think it helps to raise the floor when it comes to level 00:25:25.879 --> 00:25:27.219 of discussion with these kids. 00:25:27.804 --> 00:25:28.344 Victoria: I think it's great. 00:25:28.344 --> 00:25:32.954 And as you point out, and I was each one of these teams is working with a teacher. 00:25:32.954 --> 00:25:36.734 So we've got a teacher in middle school that is helping to sponsor 00:25:36.734 --> 00:25:38.384 the program for their schools. 00:25:38.384 --> 00:25:43.329 And again, back to the whole importance of having a mentor, a coach, a 00:25:43.329 --> 00:25:48.709 teacher engage and spark some of that interest really early is so critical. 00:25:49.469 --> 00:25:52.379 It's obviously also really critical to your companies, right? 00:25:52.379 --> 00:25:57.409 So your companies have each chosen to be sponsors, not just in money, but in time. 00:25:57.744 --> 00:26:03.404 Providing the resources, the people to go judge the competitions and support that. 00:26:04.194 --> 00:26:04.814 Why? 00:26:04.864 --> 00:26:08.044 There's always this wide array of things that you could be dedicating 00:26:08.044 --> 00:26:09.384 your time and your money to. 00:26:09.664 --> 00:26:11.344 Why is this important to your companies? 00:26:12.684 --> 00:26:15.034 audioJenJewson21357743781: I think we have to invest in tomorrow's workforce. 00:26:15.224 --> 00:26:17.064 We won't be successful without it. 00:26:17.064 --> 00:26:19.154 I think Rene said it very well earlier. 00:26:19.634 --> 00:26:23.624 I think, we're in this time where everybody feels like you need to go 00:26:23.624 --> 00:26:24.754 to college and get a college degree. 00:26:24.754 --> 00:26:28.944 You don't, you can have a really great career with certifications 00:26:28.944 --> 00:26:33.324 and accreditations from other things and find something you truly enjoy. 00:26:33.684 --> 00:26:38.744 For us, I think, Tomorrow's workforce is incredibly important now, more than ever. 00:26:38.744 --> 00:26:42.564 I think as we look at the chemical industry, continuing to change to be 00:26:42.564 --> 00:26:48.124 more sustainable over time, we all have projects that we are facilitating that 00:26:48.124 --> 00:26:50.114 will require people to execute them. 00:26:50.634 --> 00:26:54.014 And and, it's going to happen at a pretty fast pace in my mind. 00:26:54.024 --> 00:27:00.784 It has to happen at a fast pace because we have goals for 2030, 2040, 2050. 00:27:00.804 --> 00:27:03.054 and so those will be here before we know it. 00:27:03.054 --> 00:27:07.824 And so I think we need to start now to make sure that we have those 00:27:07.824 --> 00:27:11.634 folks in the future so that we can accomplish all of these goals. 00:27:12.514 --> 00:27:15.564 audioJoyceMarshallJoh41357743781: All right, and we also need we need the 00:27:15.564 --> 00:27:20.324 people we need the diversification of the people as well, because 00:27:20.584 --> 00:27:25.494 diversification drives innovation and different trains of thought. 00:27:25.504 --> 00:27:29.204 So we need all different types of people with different backgrounds 00:27:29.204 --> 00:27:30.634 and different trains of thought. 00:27:31.069 --> 00:27:33.509 To come in, come into our industry. 00:27:33.509 --> 00:27:39.069 And I think again, with all the different career paths and things that you can do 00:27:39.069 --> 00:27:43.709 within the chemical industry, we need to attract everyone to have that interest, 00:27:43.709 --> 00:27:49.229 whether it's girls having those interests early on diverse slate of different types 00:27:49.229 --> 00:27:53.809 of people from different backgrounds that's just going to do nothing but bring 00:27:54.069 --> 00:27:56.729 more innovation into our industry as well. 00:27:57.294 --> 00:27:57.534 Victoria: Yeah. 00:27:58.454 --> 00:28:02.814 Rene Whigham: And as an industry, if we don't step in and spark this 00:28:02.914 --> 00:28:09.364 interest for developing the workforces that we need, we won't have them. 00:28:09.694 --> 00:28:16.834 If we leave it to no one else to do this, then we will not have the workforce that 00:28:16.834 --> 00:28:18.894 we need to be sustainable in the future. 00:28:18.944 --> 00:28:24.384 So we have to step up and take the responsibility of making sure that we 00:28:24.384 --> 00:28:26.394 develop the workforce for the future. 00:28:27.399 --> 00:28:27.609 Victoria: Yeah. 00:28:28.249 --> 00:28:28.599 Love it. 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:32.289 My only comment I would add on that is that we also need to influence 00:28:32.329 --> 00:28:35.999 people to understand that chemicals are actually foundational for what we do. 00:28:36.349 --> 00:28:39.589 Even if they never work in the chemical industry to recognize, gee, 00:28:39.589 --> 00:28:42.039 the paint on the wall, the plastic of 00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:42.959 my phone. 00:28:43.494 --> 00:28:49.404 My computer, keyboard, everything around me is enhanced um, and supported by 00:28:49.404 --> 00:28:54.544 the chemical industry and so we need to be good stewards of that as well. 00:28:55.264 --> 00:28:59.144 This is a great time to encourage everybody who's listening to join 00:28:59.224 --> 00:29:04.434 us for the You Be The Chemist 20th Anniversary Challenge and Celebration, 00:29:04.724 --> 00:29:08.934 which is going to be held on June 10th and 11th here in Houston. 00:29:08.964 --> 00:29:10.444 So it's a great chance for you. 00:29:10.474 --> 00:29:14.064 If you're local, make the time to come visit the challenge and 00:29:14.064 --> 00:29:15.874 participate and join the celebration. 00:29:16.284 --> 00:29:20.674 And, um, If you're out of the Houston area, it's a great opportunity for a 00:29:20.674 --> 00:29:25.324 business trip, see some customers, come see the future generations in the chemical 00:29:25.324 --> 00:29:29.594 industry and experience the excitement of the You Be The Chemist Challenge. 00:29:30.224 --> 00:29:33.554 So thank you all for joining and sharing your insights today. 00:29:35.809 --> 00:29:36.319 audioJoyceMarshallJoh41357743781: Thank you. 00:29:36.569 --> 00:29:36.919 Thank 00:29:37.199 --> 00:29:37.559 you so much. 00:29:38.114 --> 00:29:39.074 Victoria: Yeah, absolutely. 00:29:39.074 --> 00:29:40.484 And thank you everyone for listening. 00:29:40.484 --> 00:29:44.284 Keep listening, keep following, keep sharing, and we will talk again soon. 00:29:47.874 --> 00:29:49.654 voiceover: We've come to the end of today's podcast. 00:29:50.054 --> 00:29:52.604 We hope you enjoyed your time with us and want to learn more. 00:29:53.024 --> 00:29:55.304 Simply visit thechemicalshow. 00:29:55.304 --> 00:29:58.054 com for additional information and helpful resources. 00:29:58.694 --> 00:30:02.684 Join us again next time here on The Chemical Show with Victoria Meyer.