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Welcome to Energy 101 with Julie McLelland and Jacob Stiller. Join us on our mission to help raise the world's energy IQ.
0:00 Let me introduce my guest who is Diana from Vinc Chemicals in Germany. It's a family run business, right? That's right. Cool. So I think, you know, for the sake of traveling and being in a new
0:12 place outside the studio, I want to just, I want to do what I did with another recording on this trip with Andrew Chan, Chan I had. And we we spent like half the episode just talking about
0:23 California and like why he's here, but involved in industry. So I think we could do the same approach So we'll get into chemicals, the one on one of that, you know, I hear like when I think of
0:35 chemicals, I don't think about oil and gas, but then for five years I've been around it and I hear the word chemicals come up a lot. And I'm like, I don't I don't even know what stage or that go
0:46 that's involved in. What does that have to do with it? Like it doesn't seem like it mixed, but it has literally everything to do with it and it's a part of vital part of it. But first, let's get
0:56 a little bit of your background. You're not even from here. You're not even from
1:03 the US or California. Like, what is your story? Where did you begin? And after seeing some things on LinkedIn, I'm very interested. So, yeah, so we're mixed. I would say, you know, it's the
1:15 thing of the world, but okay. I would say I'm German-Mexican, born and raised in Mexico, but I spent the last
1:23 around 17 years in Germany So, I would say in Mexico, maybe a couple of years more than Germany, but it's almost there, you know? So, I moved to US. three years ago
1:38 because of the business. And so, yeah, basically all my
1:44 adult life after college has been in Germany, all my work experience, all everything So, I kind of, I would say like I work as a German, but I'm still really Mexican, so. I would say in Mexico,
1:59 I'm to German, I'm to Mexican. But it's a fun mix
2:04 to integrate and then arriving here and finding how that mix works, right? So for me, my boss was like, just go to US, you know, and do your things, Mexican, yes, perfect. And I'm like,
2:19 well, it's another country, you know, like it's a whole new world. So especially in the oil and gas, you know, with a lot of people, they just have been working for many years together in the
2:32 different parts, like in Midland or Oklahoma or wherever, you know, and of course, a new experience, not just to be here in a new country and everything, but also to integrate myself into the
2:46 oil and gas. Hello, you know, I'm you. Do you need some chemicals, you know? Who are you? Like, what's the company? What are you doing?
2:57 but so far has been a really fun ride. I arrived, and then I got pregnant. So I was away for one year. German rules, thank God.
3:10 So I basically have been working full time for two years. So, yeah. In the US. In the US, in Germany, I started and so I did my masters in Germany, the engineering and the MBA. And I started
3:29 right away at the chemical company. Don't ask me why. It was just like, I landed there. It was a good opportunity in the middle of Hamburg, which is the city I was living for most part. Also
3:42 with a big port. And
3:46 then it was, you know, relationships. One colleague told me, Do you want to move to this other company? And then I started to work for chemicals for the oil and gas.
3:57 Totally new, totally, totally new.
4:01 And so the company there was not specialized in oil and gas. So it was a lot of chemical, like really gurus and chemistry, but without the breach to what really the chemical and the oil industry
4:15 needed. So it was a right to find that out little by little and make the connection between the chemical and the oil and gas. In a point of the time, the company sold that part of business to the
4:27 Vinc family. And
4:31 from 2019, there were like 30 employees. Now we are almost 150 organically, inorganically. So my boss bought some companies. Now we are building the biggest plant that we will have between
4:50 Humbert and Berlin, 50, 000 tons, which will be great with a carbon neutral energy, In Europe, it's a pretty big deal. And we are really happy when we are building step-by-step, you know, as a
5:05 small chemical company in newcomer. Yeah. So it started, it was part of this bigger chemical company that was like unrelated to oil and gas. And when they branch off to this family business, it's
5:18 strictly, is that the only customer, like the oil and gas and energy? No, we have different business lines. So one business line So the companies specialize in biocides. Biocides mean chemicals
5:31 that will kill bacteria. And bacteria you have in oil process related with water. So we are in the construction industry, painting industry, adhesive industry, metalworking industry, lubricants,
5:47 you name it. So that's one of the business units. The next is oil and gas, where, of course, biocytes are one of the main components. and then we have the H2S scavengers. Those are the two,
6:01 which I'm focusing in US, but then we have some other chemicals that go to Middle East, Africa, and Europe. And then we have the third business line, which is especially more like the trading
6:14 products.
6:17 So yeah, that will be the three business lines. And I'm focusing in North America in oil and gas, biocides and H2S scavengers Just because it's the
6:28 newest part, and we are the strongest market for us is Europe. And so we needed to start somewhere. And we said, you know, biocides and H2S is our strongest,
6:42 our strongest or the core of the company. So let's start with that. We can add some value to the industry. Great, okay. Well, we'll get into that in a little bit. Let's keep talking about this
6:53 background.
6:55 So you're just kind of like an engineer and into all this stuff, but you didn't really have the interest in oil and gas until, you know, just right before COVID, basically, we're saying, we're
7:06 saying. Yes, so I would say my soul is not an engineer. I'm a trained engineer. I decided to study engineering because I wanted to travel the world. And I was like, hmm, what can I study that I
7:20 can, you know, just go and work in whichever country I want and still be the same, you know? And I was like, well, okay, industrial engineering, kind of a general.
7:33 And I just decided to go for it. And I studied for eight years engineering. In Mexico. In Mexico and in Germany. So like, what made you go from Mexico to Germany? I mean, you said you wanted to
7:45 travel, so is that? As part of that, my big sister lives in Canada. So, you know, big sister, my role model So I wanted to go to Canada.
7:56 Then I went to Spain for like an exchange semester and I met their ex-boyfriend, you know, German. So that was kind of like the beginning of everything, you know. So it was not really in my plan.
8:11 I all the time wanted to be Canada or Italy or something like that, not in Germany. So that wasn't your choice. And then you were there for 17 years. 17 years. I never imagined that And I tell
8:24 you, because when I was there, the first time that I was in Europe, it was 2006. And it was the world championship in Germany, in the World Cup. And Italy won that year, I believe. Exactly.
8:36 Exactly. So. So hold on. Who do you root for? Mexico or Germans? At that time, because Germany, at that time Germany was not in my picture, right? So Mexico and then Italy. So I actually was
8:50 in Italy when Italy won Wow. I actually saw Del Piero
8:55 everybody on the bus with the World Cup in Rome, one of the best moments. Wow. And my camera was not working, so that was bad. But the Piedi Canavado, everybody, oh, my God, that was amazing.
9:09 I know, I used to know that whole roster, because my best friend was from Italy, and he's got me in a soccer. And he got me in a soccer in 2006.
9:20 And I was like, what a year for this Italian guy to get into, show his friend's soccer. It's so exciting. It's just like, good timing It was amazing. And so I was in Germany as well visiting,
9:29 you know, during the World Cup. And the weather was amazing. People were like partying the whole time. So my ex-boyfriend used that to convince me to go there. It's like, look, Germany, it's
9:42 amazing weather. People are happy. And I'm like, wow. So next, you know, I landed there in 2007, February. Different weather.
9:53 I didn't see the sound that year for like eight months. But you know, in a point of the time you get used to it and you start to see the good things. It was not easy 'cause it's a really different
10:06 culture of what I would use to it, you know, Mexico or Spain. We're more like family oriented like, loud, you know, this kind of stuff. So I just had the feeling in Germany where a lot of
10:19 non-spoken rules, which I didn't understand I was not able to speak the language at the beginning.
10:27 So at the beginning, it was tough. It was really tough. I would say until I got my spot in the university is when I started to like, okay, I feel like into it, you know? I remember I applied
10:41 for some jobs and it was like, okay, you're not able to speak German. And I thought at that time, Germany would be like, Sweden or Norway. you can speak English and it will be okay. That's it,
10:55 yeah, I've just seen that too. But
10:58 no, not everywhere, no. So it was tough, you know, and even though I was, I studied in Mexico for five years, they recognized like three years of that. So it put me a little bit behind some
11:12 others. So I needed to catch up and that's why I did the masters. And I won scholarship there from the industry So basically a company who paid for my studies, both private and public. Nice. So
11:29 you were already studying in Mexico and continued studying in Germany. Yes. And you said when you moved to Germany, what you had learned in Mexico had you behind? Yes, a little bit. I mean, in
11:42 the, getting a job for sure, you know, not even to speak language. They studied for bachelor and masters in five years. I got like, they recognized me like a bachelor in five years. So I was
11:58 already kind of behind on that.
12:02 Yeah, so there were a couple of things over there. So I needed to improve my level of language really fast. And so that
12:14 was hard. And so that's why I decided, you know what, let's apply for masters and then work at the same time. And it worked, it worked, you know, I won this scholarship and the masters were 90
12:30 in English, which made it a little bit easier. And at the same time I was working, so it kind of progressed and naturally. All right. That was the beginning. Was there an advantage to having
12:44 Spanish in Germany?
12:48 Not a lot of Spanish speakers there. There are a lot now, you know? It was then a wave where more Spanish people started to come, 2008, the crisis and stuff. There were more and more people
13:00 coming, also from Mexico and from other places.
13:05 I will say jazz, but not like maybe here. Right, of course. So you needed to be able to speak German. And also I believe when you really learn the language, you can understand also culturally in
13:20 another level, what they mean, because the language says also a lot about the culture. Yeah. Yes, so I was able then really to fully go in into the culture. All right, well, let's get into
13:36 what you were literally doing, you know, so when you first got your first job out of college in Germany, was it for this company that you're so with? No, it was for a company. That is like the
13:49 mother company, which is a huge company with creams, sunscreams, et cetera. And that family had other companies. One of these other companies is an adhesive company. No, adhesives can be found
14:02 in iPads, cars, walls. So it's not just, you know,
14:11 the tape, what we know for wrapping some presents. No, like, but anyways, I also didn't know about it. It's not like I wanted to go to an adhesive company, but that company belonged to this
14:24 other company, which I really like it. And it was in the middle of the city, you know? So the job was really appealing, and I started just there, you know? And I started first on supply chain,
14:39 controlling, and then I moved to marketing, which was, most of my career was a subject to be marketing, product management, market management, so on.
14:54 Yes. Like marketing as in like promoting and commercializing the product. But for B2B though. Okay, but like you're an engineer at this point with all this experience, is that being utilized?
15:02 Totally, 'cause it made you, that was for me exactly the best part because I did some internships in the plant and manufacturing and production and something was missing I really like to be more
15:18 like the selling part, I will say. So, it kind of, I missed that part. And marketing was B2V exactly what I was looking at that point because then you need the technical knowledge to understand
15:32 what you're selling and talking about and what the customer really are needing. And I was behind the supply chain, like also with the chemicals. We are not the operator, you know? So we are
15:45 behind. At that moment with the adhesive industry, we're also behind the supply chain. So I needed to understand what the OES and the OEMs wanted to do in order to make the channel towards that,
15:60 right? So it's a combination of both the business and technical. I collide, like we hire people from the industry. So when we're trying to sell our product,
16:15 they know what the hell they're talking about, and they can talk to these EP companies and people who work on site and understand the vocabulary, the acronyms, the jargon. I mean, our founder was
16:28 a rough neck in Midland. So like, that's kind of been like our secret sauce of being successful because as competitors kind of pop up doing the same thing we do, they don't have the experience and
16:41 it's like, it's easy to blow them out the water And how has been that for you, like, not coming? So I think at this moment, you already know a lot of the acronyms. I do, but that's why I'm not
16:51 selling anything or on any of the emails and just the video guy. And you know, that was also a challenge for me because I am not a chemical engineer or chemist, and I also not coming from an oil
17:05 and gas industry. So for me, it was like just going into a new world, you know, and trying to understand the basics so that I can talk to the persons about it, you know. And even though now I've
17:17 been in the doing this for around seven years, I still have my baseline where I need to pick up the phone and call my technical people, you know, some of them in Germany, like, hey, you know, I
17:34 got into my limit of what I'm able to understand Yeah. I mean, you guys have like acronyms and stuff, chemistry is like the craziest. I mean, the whole Bible of chemistry is the periodic table,
17:46 which is just a table of acronyms. I think that's in oil and gas, you know? Exactly. And I'm still, you know, having some issues with some
17:56 other parts of the oil and gas, which I'm not into it. I'm all the time like, Oh, what's that? You know, I saw some of the other episodes, you know, where you talk about with Masiel about the
18:09 wiring, I was like, Oh, man, that's how it works, you know, because that's, you know, I'm in my silo and since I'm not in the field, because we don't do the service, we just do the chemistry
18:24 in the molecule, sometimes you are missing those kind of, you know? Yeah. There's so much You
18:33 saidMossiel, it was theWireline episode, which is an industry you can describe in like one sentence, but we talked for an hour because there's so much, so it's the same thing what we're about to
18:42 do here. Um, I just, it's so beautiful here. It's like, I love the sun's beaming on me. And like, I feel like I'm inside of an air condition house, house right now. Um, I literally being
18:52 Houston later. So that's why I'm living here and I know Houston is amazing. I love Houston. My, uh, my friends in Houston are trying to convince me every single time why Houston is so amazing and
19:04 it is what we'll get to that. We'll talk about Houston, but sorry. I just had to just have to acknowledge that like it's literally perfect here I've been, you know, have been living in Mexico and
19:16 in Germany. This is a perfect middle. Yeah, that's not too hot. Not too cold. Exactly. It's just like sun every day. Like literally my son doesn't need that many toys is just go outside and
19:29 play. Oh, yeah. Uh, wrapping up the, what we just were talking about, you know, not only are you like learning all this stuff and memorizing it, whatever, but like it's also in different
19:40 languages, right? So you got Spanish, English, Germany.
19:44 Is there anything else mixed in there? Like how is working internationally, learning things outside your wheelhouse and also in other languages?
19:56 One of the best trainings I had, it was during my masters, 'cause we were like 35 people in one generation doing these two masters at the same time. So we were 35 students doing two masters full
20:10 time So one in the mornings, one in the evenings, and I don't know, maybe 18 nationalities or something like that. So you needed to, social activities, and we were studying work with them,
20:19 projects,
20:22 living
20:26 in a building together, 'cause they were also paying for our accommodation. So suddenly, China,
20:35 India, Turkey, Korea, Thailand, June 8th, you know?
20:43 Some classes
20:45 like ethics, you know? And then they will come a question like, is it ethical to eat meat or beef? And for me, we'll be like, yeah, you know, like it is, you know? And it was like two or
20:59 three hours discussion. So with this, I wanted to say, it's just like, I think during that time, it was so intense, the day by day, being with all these persons, different nationalities, that
21:13 you kind of start to integrate it. A lot of, and just learning my way is just my way. There are many ways, and they're also good ways, you know? Maybe for problem A, this other way is a better
21:27 way. Maybe for problem B, this is my way is maybe a better way. So kind of like a tolerance and respect is something that we really learn. But then also to integrate some of those other approaches
21:42 problems and how to see life. I think that was part of the training before jumping into the real world. And because after that, I was all the time in headquarters. This has been the first time
21:55 that I'm in affiliate and really a local market. I was in globally product management or business unit manager. And over there, you really need to be really conscious about where am I going, what
22:09 are the -
22:11 even when you say hello, or when you go to a restaurant, exactly, how to dress, how to
22:20 look, how to - even a discussion, sometimes in some cultures, it's a lot of small talk before going into the topic in other cultures. Like in Germany, it's 1, 2, 3. Go to the topic. So you
22:34 learn some of the things. And you start to learn more You also kind of make mistakes sometimes, you know. In Germany, for example, you have, like, in Spanish or some other cultures, a
22:45 difference between you polite and you more relaxed way, you know, in the US. In English, it's just Jew, and that's it, easy. In Mexico, it's how you use it, it's a little bit different, but
23:00 in Germany, it's really established, you know, how to use the formal and informal one. And I used to do a lot of mistakes with those two, you know, and those things you kind of start learning
23:14 sometimes in a good way, sometimes maybe in a tougher way when somebody's like, What do you call it, Mina? Non-formal way, like, I don't know you, you know? So, and these kind of small things
23:26 apply in every part of the world. I had these experiences in India, in China and Korea, and trying to keep being me, but integrating these other ways.
23:38 Wow, I mean, what? That's the skill, you know, like energy is universal. Like every country needs it, obviously. So I can only imagine if you throw some West Texas guy out in Korea or Germany
23:49 and how that'd go. So you seem to be really good at what you do and the right person for the job. Speaking of, you know, so we're still, we're doing a, we're talking about your story. We're
24:02 still in Germany and you're not even with the current company. So what moved you up to the next role? And is that the current role you're in? This went to this one, do you mean? Yeah, or is
24:11 anything interesting in between or? So the next one, from the first company to the second, I actually wanted to go somewhere, another country, another European country, and I ended up five
24:25 kilometers from my previous company.
24:29 Indeed was this chemical company. And I learned a lot because my first company was like, young Deanna from Deanna, and I learned that all those years of experience, I could translate them and do
24:43 something in this next company. There were less people. So the first company were like, I don't know, four or 5, 000 people. The next one was less than 2, 000 people. So it was already a
24:54 different dynamic.
24:57 And
24:59 I kind of established my, I had kind of like earn or win a lot of confidence over there. That, that step of leaving my first company, even though it felt really weird because a lot of my friends
25:13 were there. It was a good company, safe, you know, for me was like, no, I need to do something different, you know, and it was hard. But it was the best, one of the best decision I took.
25:27 And then two years after, then the news arrived, like they will sell the part. I was working and be responsible. you know, so it was kind of a mix of feelings, like, because they were like,
25:39 you're gonna be part of that project. You're gonna be part of the merchant acquisition project. So I was like, yeah, you know, 'cause that company also belonged to a much bigger company. So I
25:50 wasn't in this type of company, it's like
25:56 kind of like Sun and Mom Company, you know, like small and bigger company, which was really, really good Like, I learned a lot because you had the flexibility of the small company, but then the
26:08 structures and foundation of the big company. But I was going from big to medium company, you know, and then I didn't know. So I was part of this merchant acquisition project, which was amazing,
26:21 'cause lawyers and decent there, you know, but then of course it was also like, by the way, you're also part of the ones. The list of people who need to go, you know? And that part also was
26:34 like, oh man, you know? again, uncertainty, is it gonna be good? Finally, I was in a place I wanted to be, you know? And again, sometimes it's really just to go with the flow and grab the
26:49 opportunity. And for me again, that was another amazing move because when I went to think, which was way smaller, then I got way much more responsibility So I was kind of like the responsible of
27:05 oil and gas globally,
27:09 which was scary, you know? And I was in a room full of men at the beginning.
27:15 But yeah, you start to learn, you know? And it's also a beauty of being a small company because maybe you know that as well, you know? 'Cause everything what you do has an impact or what you
27:27 don't do. In big companies, sometimes you are like presentations, you know, and here and there, and then it goes into a drawer and. you know, next presentation. I haven't done presentations
27:38 now since I'm in US because it's like, go, go, go, you know? Focus on what is important. So I think in small company, you know, it helped me the experience that I had before for bigger
27:51 companies to make more structure, you know, in processes, but at the same time, it's like, you need to do what you need to do. It doesn't matter of your title. It's just like, you know, if
28:02 it's not, nobody else there is just, you need to do it. And that was also part of the learning and the beauty. And
28:11 yeah, so that was the first part, and then a couple of years later. And by the way, that happened right before COVID, when the merchant acquisition just like finalized, right? So we did kind of
28:26 this all the process or all the integration happened during COVID. And it
28:33 went really well. proud of that because everything happened mutually, you know, so the merge of different work cultures and a couple of years after, I was already dating my husband or newly dating
28:49 my husband when my boss asked me, Hey, do you want to go to US? and I was like, Yes, you know, yes, of course. I can be closer to my family, you know, my sister in Canada, the rest in
29:01 Mexico. My parents are getting older. Well, now my dad passed, but my mom, my nieces, you know, and I was like, Yes, let's do it. So it kind of, you know, it's the universal line. You
29:17 want to see it there. And I also wanted to have more sales experience because so far my whole experience has been on marketing and I was leading the sales and I had the feeling I needed more sales
29:31 experience.
29:34 I arrived to US. and yes, I got married, I got pregnant and then one year after I really fully started with that and it has been an amazing ride to really understand what's going on and just go,
29:50 you know, just go and
29:54 I just, not afraid like just being in midland and he's like, okay, first time in midland, what do I do and just knock it on the doors, grinding and link it in, making some calls, getting a lot
30:03 of notes and just show up and again and again and then you start building relationships, you know, and just you start to find really cool group of people, you know, that are not the way I
30:14 visualize the industry in US because you have this preconceived image of old fashion, kind of, you know, conservative industry
30:26 And then I found people like you or flipping the barrel or these conferences or that other women conference and you know.
30:34 Exactly. And it's like, oh, my God. So it's a lot is changing in the industry, you know, and
30:41 Yes, so it's been a really nice ride and That's cool that you you recognize the the shift because you know It isn't I don't think it was it has been like the way it is, you know, it's all this
30:54 change is kind of recent, right? but uh Yeah, you you got one of those classic stories where you know, do you stay with the comfortable position or do you Quit and you pursue something better. So
31:06 it seems like you really pulled that off Um, which I love to hear. I mean, I have a very similar story just in my own film career But uh, yeah, it looks like you made it here and yet did the
31:16 whole american dream married kid California, I mean, so you they wanted you to come here. You said hell. Yes Where did they want you houston houston houston of course, you know, the world
31:31 exactly Exactly. And I go there often, you know, but I was a small team in the US. because it's one of our newest markets. So real quick, were you when you came here, was this the first attempt
31:46 of things going to the US? No, no, no. We
31:50 one colleague of mine was already here. Just one person? One person. So one person was representing this family German company in the US. And where were they? He was in Philadelphia. He's still
31:60 in Philadelphia Well, Felly makes more sense because the whole Utica shell over there is huge. And he also came from the previous company, you know? So we were one. He was in Hamburg? No, no,
32:14 no, sorry. We were, like, on these cell and merchant acquisitions, you know? He also came with all these bunch of people that we came from the other company. So he was already, but he was
32:24 alone here. He was the only one moving from that company. And basically, my boss was like, go and support Could you do that? And I'm like. Yeah, yeah. But then he sent you to Philly first? No,
32:35 no. He was like Houston, and I'm like, no, sorry. My husband has been living in US, actually, in Marina Andre, so close to Venice. He was living, he's a musician. He does also a lot of
32:49 online marketing. So
32:56 he was all the time between Europe and, 'cause he's also Argentinian, German, American Okay. So he was already in US. and traveling between Germany and US. So living in Marina, right in a boat,
33:10 I love that. That's exactly the kind of person I picture when you talk about that area. Yes, that's exactly that. Sure for. Exactly. So when I talk to my husband, he was so excited about me
33:23 coming here, you know, perfect, all the stars align, But Houston, no, like. I need to sort of, I need the ocean there, you know? We have a big body water. Yeah, not the same, not the same.
33:36 I don't know if I would go into that water. Yeah, good ones. Yeah? Yeah, I mean, you wanna talk about chemicals.
33:46 No people, yeah, even the locals like the crap on that part of the Gulf of Mexico. If you want any part, you need to go down to Mexico, the Yucatan or Florida. But, you know, might've been a
33:58 couple of times summer already? Okay, I need to try that. But so far, I think for all the priority, we really like to live close to the ocean and have a simple life. And
34:14 I travel, you know, we are now growing the team, but we're still all really mobile. So one is in Louisiana, one is in Orange County, the other is in Pennsylvania, I'm here, one is in Houston.
34:27 So we start to. just travel and do what we need to do, 'cause we are not the ones being in the field, but we do need to go to the customers and try to advise them as much as we can. So I think
34:41 what I really like is just the accountability and the responsibility of, this is what I need to do, and I just do what I need to do in order to make things happen.
34:54 So why, so they wanted you and Houston, how come you're able to say no and choose here, I assume? I think one of the good things on this company is also the trust, you know? So when you earn
35:10 that trust, you know, it's like, okay, I trust you will do what you need to do, whatever you are, so. So you got the pick anywhere in the US to live and - And it was, my husband was already
35:23 here, so I was like, let's do it, you know? And it has work, you know, so it's. It's different, of course, because I need to travel maybe once a month. My colleagues even more,
35:35 but again, I think it's just, and I also support that vision of trusting and not asking also my team every time, hey, you know, show me where you are, show me what you're doing, show me, but
35:50 that the results speaks for themselves and
35:55 take accountability, you're responsible for your time and these are the KPIs, this is the goal, do it.
36:02 So I think that's one of the company mentality and it's one of the
36:11 things that made me really be happy and motivated every single day, you know, because then it's like, I do feel so responsible that I have the feeling is my company, you know, and
36:26 I've will do everything to just keep that trust, you know?
36:32 I love that. I mean, that's how I feel with collide. Like, I'm, I'm, you know, it's a startup. So I invested, you know, so if we ever sell, it is a nice payout. Uh, but, you know, it
36:43 isn't like I'm just an hourly employee or a salary employee. And I, I go in and work. And then when I go home and I'll think about it, you know, like I, I do, I'm thinking about collide at 247
36:55 as if it's my company that I own. And, you know, we're small. Everyone wears a lot of hats and it sounds like you're the same way, right? That's right. I mean, do you just, are you just that
37:05 passionate or do you have some kind of like, are you vested in the company some way or what, what, why are you giving them all this trust and effort? Um, just because you trust them equally back
37:20 or yes, I I think because. So my boss is the owner of the company. And I think that's has been the relationships since the beginning, you know? I mean, I think we start to get to know each other
37:37 after the transaction. And it kind of like grew from that, you know? That he was
37:45 giving the opportunities, the freedom
37:50 And I'm also really grateful for that, you know? So
37:56 I do value and I'm really grateful for that, you know? So I like the way they work. I like the way he gives me the freedom. I like the way he also take me accountable for what is happening. So
38:12 and make me sometimes do the decision if they are tough So I think what moves me is the type of job, you know, that I have because. it's flexible. I do what I just need to do. And it's in my
38:32 responsibility what I need to do. And I love that. I really love that. And I appreciate it. I never take it for granted. So I think that's why I'm so invested on that, you know, because I know
38:43 how the things that he has provided me, I'm also willing to give back everything, you know. You're just a good person. Sorry. You're just a good person. You just care. You just keep care of
38:57 speakers. No, I mean, it makes sense. Like when you work for a business and you know who the CEO is, you see their face every day, you talk to them casually. Of course, you're going to be more
39:08 interested in the company and when it's smaller, of course, too. And you know, that's just the best way to approach your work, you know, unless you're working like in an Amazon warehouse, like
39:20 you shouldn't have that mindset.
39:24 Yeah, like that's the beauty of working with a small team and a boss and leadership that cares. And you scratch their back, they scratch yours and stuff. And now here you are, almost 20 years in
39:36 with all this freedom and still, assumingly putting in the effort you've been putting and working forward to get to whatever goal you want, whether it's salary or promotion or whatever. And for me,
39:47 it's not that. I mean, of course, it's part of it, but. And maybe that's
39:52 another topic, but I used was in a conference for women's leaders in energy. And I did a talk, especially talking about what success is, you know? And for me, it's not just salary position and
40:08 whatever, a lot of followers, you know? It's nice to have it, but for, I think that's just individual, it's multi-dimensional and it changes with time. And for me, it's not even about,
40:21 I like the product, I like the industry, but it's more about the people, so who is working with me and the type of task or the challenges that I have and how I can do it, you know? So for me at
40:35 this time of life, it's perfect. It's perfect and that gives you the extra motivation because salary won't give you that, you know? It will give you that for a small period of time, you know?
40:48 And that's not going to be something intrinsic. So one that I really find out what success for me is, California, flexible, getting the responsibility of it, then you just have this intrinsic
41:03 motivation to just keep going, you know? Like, give me the notes and I'll, you know, I'll take them. I love that. If it isn't clear yet, we're not going to get into the chemical side of this
41:14 This is going to be more of a, we're going to be covering just like, we're going just cultural, just personal stuff. So I love it. I love it. I got another chemical guy. I'll hit him up. It is
41:26 one of my passions as well. You know, since I arrived in US, this I arrived, as I told you, then it was everything so fast, so many changes in my life. Like I got married, I got pregnant, you
41:39 know, and then I had a couple of months to set up everything, and I went to maternity leave. And again, by the way, that's also a huge topic, you know, maternity leave in US men. Compared to
41:51 Germany, we're like, yeah. But anyways, then I came back, I started to research about social media, and I found many different podcasts already, the OGGM, you know, a team and these and that,
42:08 and I'm like, oh my god, US is so like amazing in the social media, how they move, how they do, you know.
42:16 And I started to go also in. really awkwardly at the beginning 'cause I was like, you feel like
42:24 so weird, so exposed there, right? By posting, so I started also posting little by little. For me, it was first an experiment, but it's also
42:38 so like who relate people that
42:40 is behind thin chemicals, especially because we're still really small in US, you know? What kind of value was the person behind? What's the team doing? So for me, that's also a big part of it,
42:52 you know? To humanize. We are some individuals working behind and doing everything, you know, what we can and to build these relationships.
43:03 So for me, that changed also a lot of how I saw the industry, you know? Trying to also experiment with new campaigns, new advertising, more conferences,
43:17 I found out really, really amazing on what's happening here as well. Also, an extra motivation for me to
43:26 go in and try to be part of it, you know? Although, again, we are,
43:33 is operator, then it's the service company, which we're also not the service company, we're behind, you know, on the supply chain. So, sometimes you are trying to pick, you know, what's
43:42 happening, what's happening? And you need still to be able to understand what's happening in the industry and what's happening with the customer. And with so many amazing podcasts and information
43:56 going on, it's also,
43:60 it's easier and it's more relatable. So, yeah, going back to, you know, position, salary, whatever, you know, it's, you know, if you're living comfortably or somewhat there, you're not
44:12 drowning in debt or anything like that,
44:16 I don't think Americans know how to say no to a promotion and actually choose like their life over, you know, like everyone knows that like Americans, they were kind of obsessed with work. There
44:27 were the mollocks. And there's a healthy way of doing it. Does it an unhealthy way? But it's like, at some point, it's like, do you really need the salary or do you really want that position?
44:39 Like if you're getting moved up, it's probably gonna be harder, more stressful. Do you have kids? Are you trying to move? Like, what is actually worth it? Like, we don't know how to zoom out
44:50 and like, be like, okay, maybe I can just stay where I am and, you know, get other options. Like, choose to choose where I live and stuff like that. You know, just forgetting, like,
45:02 realizing how to actually love your job and not just clocking in, clocking out. And another thing that, man, you seem to have in common with our satisfaction and our jobs, you know, just really,
45:14 you know, for to love it a game. and that's what we define as success. You said you had like a whole speech at the woman's like dinner, what was it?
45:26 Women's, so it's a huge name, so I will get it wrong for sure. But it's the world, global leadership,
45:36 conference in energy for women. It was just a couple of weeks ago in Houston And so I was on demand video on a topic that I really, really advocate for, I think for the past two years, because
45:53 every time that I go, or every time that I went to a conference, like I keep hearing those questions, like kind of like, what do I need to do together? And in my head is all the time like, do
46:06 you really wanna get there? How do you know that these persons wants to be even there? or like he didn't have options, or he didn't think about it, or like you don't know. So, it's not a recipe
46:17 to one, two, three, I'm there, you know? There is no recipe for everybody. There is no guarantee that if you go to that level, you will be happy or successful, you know? So, for me, those
46:31 are amazing accomplishments in one specific part of your life, a professional life, because then you have different pillars in your life, right? The social, finance, family, you know? So for
46:46 me, it's like the mix of all of them, so you need to really find and really write it what's success for you, what's alliance for you, and with 20, it will be different than 30 or 40 or 50, you
47:01 know? And that's fine. You need to keep challenging yourself, but I just hope that sometimes it's just like The word success is not just going into the direction of money, title, reputation,
47:18 followers, because it starts to be confusing, especially for younger generations, what I see that, you know? And then everybody's like, oh, I need to work, I need to work. But it's like, is
47:28 that success for you, you know? If it is, and you like it, and you stay behind and go for it, but needs to be really, you need to be really aware of it, you know? Like a decision that you
47:42 really make And sometimes I have the feeling it's not happening that way, but there are a lot of external things moving us towards something. And yes, I do things in US. people work a lot. I
47:56 wouldn't say in Germany it's not that way, but it's different. Like here the more you work, the more you are like, oh my God, you work a lot, you're amazing. In Germany we'll be like, why do
48:06 you work more than eight hours? So you're not able to do your job in less than eight hours?
48:13 So, with snarky German. You know, so it would be
48:17 more like, Oh, so he's not efficient, or even in sickness, here in Mexico, it's like if you are like super sick and going to work, it's like, Oh, wow, he's so sick and coming to work. In
48:28 Germany, it would be like, Why are you coming sick to work? Are you gonna. I will be sick then, and it's even worse. Like, what are you doing? So it's just different mentalities, you know,
48:39 and I cannot merge those There's benefits in all the cultures, it's kind of peculiar. Definitely. I love entrepreneurship mindset here, you know, compared to the more long-term, less risk in
48:54 Germany, what I see.
48:57 But again, it's like there is no one recipe. So for me, it's just trying to work as modest as I can to do whatever I can do in this amount of time, because then I have a little kid, because then
49:12 I have, then I also want time and do sports and do this and do that, you know? So because if I don't have that, that will have an impact in my performance at work as well. Of course. So these
49:27 two extra hours will bring me, won't bring me what I think it will bring me just because there are two hours more, you know? So this is something that I really consciously do and try to be then
49:41 fully with my kid, you know? And when I travel, then it would be like two nights and I pack my schedule with six, seven meetings in one day, like do, do, do, do, do, do, go back, you know,
49:53 like. And that's, that's efficiency. That's the way it works for me at this moment in my life. And as you mentioned for me, success is just move. I mean, again, I think financial stability is,
50:09 of course, part of it, which you can gain with different things, you know, once you start maybe investing. and this and that, and maybe learning more about financial,
50:23 which we don't learn in school? The security and - But once you already arrived there, you know? It's like just wanting more for wanting more for things. It's a point what it's like. At least for
50:38 me at this time is, no, for me, it's time is
50:43 gold.
50:45 You know? So, and be calm and be okay. So, yeah. I think I put everything around that. Yeah. I mean, success is getting to do whatever the hell you want. That's a real success. So, is there
51:01 any like - What's your favorite talking points from the speech you gave? I mean, I feel like you kind of summed up what it maybe sounds like, but is there anything we left out? And he like - I
51:11 think, because of that pitch, I started asking the people like. Raise your hand if you think you're success, you know, and I'm like, okay, just give me five minutes to tell you, you know, to
51:23 think, to maybe give you a couple of points to think about and then I'll ask again at the end of the conversation, you know, and just trying to erase again this belief on what success is, you know,
51:35 on trying to put a perspective of have you thought about all these pillars in your life and they are balanced in this specific time for you, then you are successful,
51:48 like, don't listen to the external world, you know, what keeps you putting some pressure of buying things or being somebody, like, think for yourself if you really want to be there or accomplish
52:01 that, you know, like, if you are with this piece or, you know, waking up without being feel anxious or stressed every day, it's a very successful success.
52:13 So what else do you want? So I think that's basically my speech, especially for those who are like, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, without really stop and saying, why am I, is go, go, go,
52:26 without really think the reason or the purpose behind? I think that's the main thing, especially for everybody, but if I see the younger generation,
52:40 trying to see how they can accomplish some things is just to put the thought of think first, what do you want for
52:48 your life, you know? Beautiful. Wrapping up here, I think we need to bring up something I saw on LinkedIn. Basically, you met a rude guy in Germany who said something that kind of like you like
53:04 to reflect on. Oh, yes. And
53:10 what was it basically just say, say what it was. And we can kind of unpack it from there. Yes, I think that's a post that you're referring. I arrived in Germany and I was giving Spanish classes,
53:24 private Spanish classes, and this guy asked me like, so what did you have to study or what did you background because yes, I was studying in the public German school where a lot of the immigrants
53:42 are coming So basically a lot of people start to think okay, your boyfriend brought you to Germany and you know, this kind of mentality comes up and he asked me like, so did you study or what's
53:59 your background? And I'm like, well, I'm an engineer and he just look at me and he's like, oh, in Mexico. And I'm like, he hit me at that point of time but that was like many, many years ago
54:13 And I have to clarify, you know, like. Germans are not that way all the time. That guy had also a lot of issues. So compassion to that. But at that point, you know, I was young, insecure.
54:25 New in Germany. So you felt everything like so deep and personal.
54:32 So that pause was really,
54:36 for me was more about, even now when I hear some, maybe some of the things can happen again I don't feel it and I don't,
54:48 maybe I don't get that much anymore, you know? I think part of what that hurts so much is because I felt really insecure at that time, you know? And
54:60 so yeah, it was one of the many things that happened when you go some other place, you know? And it can happen here, it can happen in Spain, sometimes even in Mexico, you know? And you just
55:10 need to deal with it, But for me was not about. Oh, the Germans are like this, or, oh, I'm a poor Latino or Mexican, you know, let's go to war. No, for me it was just like, that happens.
55:25 Don't let that in. Become passionate for the other people, you know, that maybe they didn't have an intention, or if they do, they shouldn't affect you,
55:37 and let it go, you know, because that happens. And you just need to deal with it. And even if I'm in a room full of men, which happen really often, and they kind of like, men explaining me some
55:50 stuff, you know,
55:53 you cannot just be every time like, oh, you know, it's just like
55:59 trying to answer in a smart way, you know, like in compassionate way, because maybe they don't know a better way how to do it, and you need to show them, and that doesn't mean that you don't
56:13 speak up. You can do it just maybe in a polite way, you know,
56:19 which I've learned how to do it step by step. That's a good skill. So to not get just like, you know, I mean, you say you're surrounded by men. I mean, that's such a motif in this industry and
56:31 most industries, unfortunately. And we've we've here this discussion a million times about being a woman in STEM and then the industry and stuff like that But you know, I mean, whatever his
56:42 intention could have been that, but it was also just you know, phobia, racism, like, just like everything was just awful about his comment. And it's it's awesome to see you advocate and just,
56:53 you know, trump all
56:56 that and it sounds like you're you're motivating two other people in the industry and a mentor and it's like really cool It's I think it's just like, you know, like mel Robbins, let them fury is
57:09 like, let them you cannot change other people's minds, you know, and sometimes Everything what we get is gonna get to our filters. So sometimes maybe I'm getting something that is an attack for me
57:21 and maybe it's not. So
57:24 I wouldn't say just like, sometimes you need to speak up and make clear what you wanna say, you know? Especially me like in US or in Germany, sometimes I need to explain more because maybe some
57:36 vocabulary is not there. I'm not native, you know? Accent in German in English, some words are missing So I need sometimes to maybe do two, three rounds of clarifying what I wanna say, you know?
57:48 Like, even if it's Spanish can happen. But, you know, it's just different. Some slangs missing, some
57:57 mistakes, or, you know, and you just need to let that go, you know? At the beginning, that was also hard, you know? A lot of,
58:07 I was really self-conscious about my accent and the language, either in German or in English. when a point of the time is you're like, well, that's it. And about the women in STEM, yes, but I
58:22 also can say proudly, like in my company, and the oil and gas business unit is led by women. Yeah. Yeah. Oh yeah. The business unit, global manager, the technical lead,
58:42 the RD lead, all women. So that's also really good to see, you know? So, yeah, I love talking about Houston, and what better way to wrap it up with that, because you're working all around the
58:55 world, and you have this opportunity to work in Houston. You're choosing Long Beach over Houston, I don't think anyone has a question why, questioning that at all. But,
59:08 you know, as a foreigner and someone who's lived in multiple continents,
59:14 What do you, when you picture Houston, I mean, you said you've been there, you said you've been to Midland. Like, maybe like, what were you, what did you - I like Midland. Yeah. It's like my
59:22 hometown in Mexico, really similar. Awesome. That's a litmus test for people that collide. If you say good things about Midland, you find a way to enjoy that wasteland that we like you. So,
59:38 what was your perception on West Texas and Houston in general before and after? and what's your future of visiting or even living areas that you said even have friends there, right? Yes, so we're
59:49 because when I was in Germany, I used to manage from distance US. to the person that I was here.
59:56 Everything's, it was like smaller, you know, more generalized. Oh, US. market, US. market. And then when you arrive here, it's like, Oh, well, Houston, yes. Texas, Texas, you know,
1:00:10 and it's getting smaller. No, it's not Texas, you know? It's Midland, it's different than Austin, it's different than Houston, it's different than your go to North Dakota, which I've been in
1:00:23 North Dakota in Oklahoma, and you know, and you start to see like Zoom in. Oh my God, they're so different. And that has been the main experience from the Zoom out to the Zoom in, you know, to
1:00:40 really say like, this is Midland, this Oklahoma, which maybe for people that have been in the industry for a long time, in US is logic, you know? But for somebody coming in is like, I didn't
1:00:53 even know really about Midland, and it's such an important place, you know? And I didn't even know. So when I arrived here and I started to hear like, of course I need to be there, you know?
1:01:02 Like I need to be there. So, and honestly, because every part of the industry the industry works in a different way.
1:01:13 The energy, the people, you know, is different. But in Midland, I have developed such good relationships with some people there in such a short time because they are just really welcoming. And
1:01:28 of course, for a small company like us, we need partnerships. And I need people that I can trust because I cannot be in Midland every single day, right? So, and that has worked really good, you
1:01:41 know? These partnerships and people that really know the area because that won't work me coming there three, four times per year, you know? It's own world. Each time that I'm there, I'm learning
1:01:56 something, you know? Now it's there is also this series
1:02:02 of landmen over there. The second season is about to come out. Yeah, that's right So for me, just Midland, it reminds me to. to my home city in Mexico, but it's just, it's amazing how it has
1:02:16 been growing, what everybody's saying tells me. I love that everything is 15 minutes away. You know, when I go to Houston and do like around, it's like hours, and the middle one is just like,
1:02:28 Tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum. So I really like it. People are so open just to meet with a person who just wrote, perlingiting, Hello, I'm going to Midland. Can we
1:02:41 meet? You know, people that they are not buying from me, you know, and sometimes we just meet for a coffee and talk about the industry of what's happening. That for me also really has a lot of
1:02:52 value because they are providing me with information, you know, like market information, just political, geographical information that I don't get sometimes for not being there, even social
1:03:05 information of what's happening, you know, there And I think we just like, we just like talking. We just like talking we just like yeah, it's amazing really so you are from there like born there
1:03:17 I'm from Louisiana, and I spent like most my adult life in Houston and Austin but um, I mean, yeah, I that's that's something we don't even realize like we don't realize that we share and like We
1:03:31 exchange value for free, and like we just think that's normal But in other cultures, that's not something you do And it's also giving the time, you know, and I think that's because I value time so
1:03:43 much I don't take for granted that people just sit with you for a coffee When they don't know if you're gonna provide any value to them sometimes, you know Just because they want to be nice and open
1:03:56 and meet some people so um Every time I'm so grateful about it and every time I keep meeting new people, but That happens in in middle and more than in Houston. Maybe because you know, it's just
1:04:08 it's bigger company is bigger companies bigger city
1:04:13 but that also happens in Oklahoma, you know, a lot. I have to say, like, I also have a really good experience in Oklahoma. You know, sometimes I don't talk to the people and I just go there and
1:04:22 they're like, oh, good, you're coming down. Let's go for a coffee or meal or amazing, you know? So you start to build these relationships in the conferences, you know? And I have now my
1:04:35 friends, you know, in Houston where I, every time that I go there, then I meet them and it doesn't have to do anything from work, you know? Or, so it's just building the relationships and I
1:04:46 love that, you know, I love that part of my job. And I also think it's an important part
1:04:54 being part of the community, so. That's all it is. And you're paying it forward, you invited me to your home and we're just here doing something related to, you know, the industry just could be
1:05:05 helpful. You get to share it online, whatever. And with this whole connection we had is literally through LinkedIn, I just messaged you and you said pull up. Yeah, that's right. I love that. I
1:05:14 really love yeah, so you really understand and you're you're doing it yourself, you know So I love that
1:05:21 All right, well that pretty much covers everything just one more question though. Yeah Who has better Mexican food LA or Houston?
1:05:30 Man, you're putting in a really tough spot here. So they're both good. Is what you're saying? They are both really good I have more experience in LA and maybe my husband can say it more because he
1:05:40 has been living here for a long time Mm-hmm, but both are really good. I have more experience here So I will say maybe I tend to be towards LA and by the way, do you know
1:05:52 that LA is what I hear has most Mexicans after Mexico City I Believe it so if you count like the metropolitan or the count LA County for sure But I mean Mexican so there are a lot of trucks food like
1:06:05 you don't miss Mexico. No, I do, but you know, you know what I mean. Yeah, yeah, and that That's really cool, you know? So from me in Germany, which is totally different, it's just being
1:06:18 closer also to Mexico. And it's easier to visit my family both ways. So loving it, loving it. Yeah, all right. Well, thanks for coming on or thanks for inviting me. Thank you. Next time we
1:06:34 get to talk about chemicals. Yes, it sounds like you come to Houston. So I guess we'll just have you in a studio. Perfect, sounds amazing Thank you.