WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.250 Speaker: Hi, this is Victoria. 00:00:01.460 --> 00:00:07.789 This episode is the third in the series I recorded at ACC's Responsible 00:00:07.789 --> 00:00:09.750 Care and Sustainability Conference. 00:00:10.329 --> 00:00:13.679 This was my first time meeting Bonnie Tully, president of 00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:15.199 Evonik in North America. 00:00:15.239 --> 00:00:17.260 And wow, she's amazing. 00:00:17.269 --> 00:00:19.040 You are in for a real treat. 00:00:19.629 --> 00:00:21.979 Personally, I gained so many nuggets of wisdom. 00:00:22.379 --> 00:00:25.549 She is really inspirational and an amazing leader. 00:00:26.365 --> 00:00:30.334 One of the big things that I took away from Bonnie, we talked about the role of 00:00:30.334 --> 00:00:32.595 careers and how to create career success. 00:00:32.935 --> 00:00:36.364 And she talked about the importance of saying yes to new 00:00:36.364 --> 00:00:38.115 opportunities, big and small, 00:00:38.484 --> 00:00:42.954 because they can make the biggest impact on your life and your career. 00:00:43.224 --> 00:00:48.049 And one of the things I've always said is when opportunity knocks, Open the door. 00:00:48.429 --> 00:00:49.719 And I think Bonnie would agree. 00:00:50.129 --> 00:00:54.299 So Bonnie shares her career experience, the foundation that responsible care 00:00:54.359 --> 00:00:56.569 has created in her business experience. 00:00:56.569 --> 00:00:57.739 And that's an interesting one. 00:00:58.089 --> 00:01:02.339 Um, and the role that sustainability plays at Evonik, both in introducing 00:01:02.349 --> 00:01:07.129 new and novel technologies, as well as an identifying opportunities for 00:01:07.129 --> 00:01:09.479 improvement, both small and large. 00:01:09.779 --> 00:01:12.729 So I think you're really going to gain a lot out of this episode. 00:01:12.999 --> 00:01:13.529 Enjoy. 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:18.879 Speaker 2: A key component of the modern world economy, the chemical 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:22.329 industry delivers products and innovations to enhance everyday life. 00:01:22.944 --> 00:01:26.934 It is also an industry in transformation where chemical executives and 00:01:26.934 --> 00:01:30.554 workers are delivering growth and industry changing advancements while 00:01:30.554 --> 00:01:34.314 responding to pressures from investors, regulators, and public opinion. 00:01:34.854 --> 00:01:37.784 Discover how leading companies are approaching these challenges 00:01:37.794 --> 00:01:39.404 here on the chemical show. 00:01:39.864 --> 00:01:43.214 Join Victoria Meyer, president of Progressio Global and 00:01:43.224 --> 00:01:44.644 host of the chemical show. 00:01:44.914 --> 00:01:49.114 As she speaks with executives across the industry and learns how they are leading 00:01:49.114 --> 00:01:54.714 their companies to grow, transform, and push industry boundaries on all frontiers. 00:01:55.034 --> 00:01:57.284 Here's your host, Victoria Meyer. 00:01:59.987 --> 00:02:01.047 Victoria: This is Victoria Meyer. 00:02:01.057 --> 00:02:02.607 Welcome back to The Chemical Show. 00:02:02.787 --> 00:02:06.747 Today, I am speaking with Bonnie Tully, who is the North 00:02:06.747 --> 00:02:08.597 American president of EVONIC. 00:02:09.007 --> 00:02:13.517 We are at ACC's Responsible Care and Sustainability Conference, 00:02:13.797 --> 00:02:16.957 where Bonnie has been a panelist and a participant, and we're going 00:02:16.957 --> 00:02:20.827 to be talking about sustainability, responsible care, and more. 00:02:21.267 --> 00:02:22.557 Bonnie, thanks for joining me today. 00:02:22.789 --> 00:02:23.429 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Thanks for having me. 00:02:23.627 --> 00:02:24.137 Victoria: Absolutely. 00:02:24.197 --> 00:02:28.577 So let's just start with your career and your interest in chemicals How did 00:02:28.667 --> 00:02:31.137 you get into the chemical industry? 00:02:31.177 --> 00:02:32.777 And what led you to where you are today? 00:02:34.448 --> 00:02:38.847 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Yeah, so I grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas and 00:02:39.397 --> 00:02:45.277 in As you know, the that area has a lot of industrial companies there. 00:02:45.277 --> 00:02:47.557 So chemical petrochemical companies. 00:02:48.127 --> 00:02:52.357 And when I was growing up there, a lot of my friends, their families, 00:02:52.357 --> 00:02:55.497 their mothers, their fathers worked in the chemical industry. 00:02:55.677 --> 00:02:57.967 And so it seemed very normal that you could. 00:02:58.117 --> 00:02:59.937 That would be an industry to go into. 00:03:00.387 --> 00:03:05.317 I went to Texas A& M, graduated mechanical engineering degree, and thought I was 00:03:05.317 --> 00:03:08.287 going into the oil and gas industry. 00:03:08.487 --> 00:03:14.087 But I graduated during a time when there was an economic downturn, and so that made 00:03:14.087 --> 00:03:15.797 me really look at the chemical industry. 00:03:15.877 --> 00:03:19.637 And went in, I've been in the industry over 30 years, and have 00:03:19.737 --> 00:03:21.487 really found it very fulfilling. 00:03:21.667 --> 00:03:25.257 Career, you have a lot of opportunities within the industry. 00:03:25.587 --> 00:03:28.647 And if you, particularly if you go with larger companies you can have a lot of 00:03:28.647 --> 00:03:32.227 opportunities within that, in that company alone to really develop your career. 00:03:32.567 --> 00:03:37.027 I started my career with Roman Haas and that the business that 00:03:37.027 --> 00:03:38.917 I was in ultimately got acquired. 00:03:39.022 --> 00:03:42.682 By Evonik, and that's how I went over to working for a German multinational 00:03:42.682 --> 00:03:43.892 was through an acquisition. 00:03:44.372 --> 00:03:48.622 And that also opens a lot of opportunities when you move from a U 00:03:48.622 --> 00:03:50.482 S based company to a multinational. 00:03:51.642 --> 00:03:54.652 Victoria: And so you've, and you spent a big part of your career in. 00:03:55.292 --> 00:03:57.092 Manufacturing, am I right? 00:03:57.112 --> 00:04:00.172 And then now into leading the company. 00:04:00.562 --> 00:04:01.412 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Yeah, correct. 00:04:01.432 --> 00:04:06.162 So, I spent many years in the manufacturing part of the business. 00:04:06.592 --> 00:04:09.932 Started out as a project engineer, moved my way through production, 00:04:09.942 --> 00:04:12.162 maintenance technical manager. 00:04:12.472 --> 00:04:15.871 Then the company asked if I would go to Singapore. 00:04:15.921 --> 00:04:19.861 So I was there to build a plant and then I was the plant manager there. 00:04:20.261 --> 00:04:20.361 And. 00:04:20.501 --> 00:04:23.711 And then on to managing some of our larger facilities. 00:04:23.711 --> 00:04:27.121 I managed our facility in Mobile, Alabama, which is the largest 00:04:27.171 --> 00:04:28.721 Evonik facility in North America. 00:04:29.261 --> 00:04:34.321 And I can just say when you're managing large sites it really prepares you 00:04:34.321 --> 00:04:37.221 to run a company or run a region. 00:04:37.441 --> 00:04:41.441 You have P& L responsibilities you are dealing with lots of different 00:04:41.441 --> 00:04:44.101 functions lots of different HR topics. 00:04:44.431 --> 00:04:48.361 And It was actually kind of a smooth transition to running a business 00:04:48.381 --> 00:04:50.001 after you've run a very large site. 00:04:50.211 --> 00:04:50.651 Victoria: I bet. 00:04:50.681 --> 00:04:55.071 Yeah I mean as you say in most of For the chemical industry most of 00:04:55.071 --> 00:04:56.661 the employees are in manufacturing. 00:04:57.031 --> 00:04:59.321 And so when you're running a large site, you've got everything 00:04:59.321 --> 00:05:01.131 You've got people you've got HR. 00:05:01.141 --> 00:05:02.191 You've got policies. 00:05:02.191 --> 00:05:07.081 You've got systems and then you move into You know leadership of the region 00:05:07.101 --> 00:05:09.142 and you have all of that and more. 00:05:09.142 --> 00:05:09.732 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Exactly 00:05:10.012 --> 00:05:12.532 Victoria: Yeah, so we're here talking about responsible care 00:05:12.532 --> 00:05:16.547 You What is responsible care mean to Evonik and how does it look at 00:05:16.567 --> 00:05:17.967 Evonik when you think about that? 00:05:18.757 --> 00:05:18.987 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Yeah. 00:05:18.987 --> 00:05:22.107 So while I've been here at this conference one of the things I learned yesterday 00:05:22.117 --> 00:05:25.417 was responsible care started in 1988. 00:05:25.927 --> 00:05:28.957 So it started just a little bit before I entered the industry. 00:05:28.957 --> 00:05:33.587 So for me, responsible care has always been around and but hearing that this 00:05:33.597 --> 00:05:37.117 conference made me realize that was a step change that happened right at 00:05:37.117 --> 00:05:40.058 the very beginning of my career, but I've always known it to be there. 00:05:40.448 --> 00:05:45.368 But we like responsible care in EVONIC because it gives us some foundational 00:05:45.378 --> 00:05:49.928 principles that we can speak about that we all agree to whether we're 00:05:49.928 --> 00:05:53.148 talking about in our production facilities or with management. 00:05:53.508 --> 00:05:59.228 So, whether it's How important we take process hazard analysis or that we will 00:05:59.228 --> 00:06:04.928 participate in our community action panels or that we will stay on top 00:06:04.928 --> 00:06:06.638 of our mechanical integrity programs. 00:06:06.958 --> 00:06:09.558 It really becomes like a value proposition. 00:06:09.568 --> 00:06:12.008 What are our foundational principles? 00:06:12.188 --> 00:06:15.188 And responsible care gives you like I said, it gives you that 00:06:15.188 --> 00:06:18.296 good foundation that you can speak one language within the company. 00:06:18.503 --> 00:06:18.753 Victoria: Right. 00:06:18.913 --> 00:06:23.533 And I think for me, also, the other thing is because responsible care exists across 00:06:23.533 --> 00:06:28.753 the industry, it's a common platform and a common set of expectations across 00:06:28.753 --> 00:06:33.728 all the member companies and how they operate, interact and, you know, Execute. 00:06:33.828 --> 00:06:33.948 Right. 00:06:33.988 --> 00:06:34.712 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Absolutely. 00:06:34.988 --> 00:06:35.708 Absolutely. 00:06:35.718 --> 00:06:39.558 And you know, as a manufacturer, we know we're just one part 00:06:39.578 --> 00:06:41.108 of the whole supply chain. 00:06:41.118 --> 00:06:44.738 You've got the logistics providers, you've got the transporters, you've 00:06:44.738 --> 00:06:46.598 got the warehouses et cetera. 00:06:46.628 --> 00:06:49.418 And like you said, that we all kind of have a common platform that we all 00:06:49.418 --> 00:06:53.987 agree that we're going to be responsible care providers is very important. 00:06:54.035 --> 00:06:54.238 Victoria: Right. 00:06:54.338 --> 00:06:56.978 So the other part of this conference obviously is sustainability. 00:06:57.048 --> 00:07:00.328 And sustainability is such a critical topic in the industry. 00:07:00.328 --> 00:07:01.818 It probably always has been. 00:07:01.828 --> 00:07:06.358 It's certainly come to light much more and much more sharply 00:07:06.378 --> 00:07:07.978 in focus in the last five years. 00:07:08.658 --> 00:07:11.508 Can you talk about what sustainability means to Evonik? 00:07:12.496 --> 00:07:16.108 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Yeah, so we know that the topic sustainability 00:07:16.158 --> 00:07:17.988 can be very complicated. 00:07:17.988 --> 00:07:21.198 That word carries so much with it, right? 00:07:21.228 --> 00:07:24.158 And within Evonik, we realized we needed to. 00:07:24.658 --> 00:07:28.648 Take that topic and make it more understandable for our employees. 00:07:28.748 --> 00:07:31.968 So basically we have broken sustainability down to three pillars. 00:07:32.478 --> 00:07:36.238 We call it next generation solutions, next generation technology, 00:07:36.258 --> 00:07:37.648 and next generation culture. 00:07:38.108 --> 00:07:41.978 Next generation solutions are the products that we are manufacturing 00:07:42.228 --> 00:07:45.823 that help Our customers make more sustainable products and we have 00:07:45.883 --> 00:07:48.453 a goal that we want over by 2030. 00:07:48.483 --> 00:07:53.463 We want over 50 percent of our portfolio of products to be sustainable solutions 00:07:53.503 --> 00:07:54.983 and we're moving in that direction. 00:07:55.293 --> 00:07:59.623 Next generation technologies as the things that we do as a company to 00:07:59.623 --> 00:08:06.868 reduce our footprint So, less CO2 emissions better use of energy of 00:08:06.868 --> 00:08:11.698 water, of land and, you know, trying to make, we say, make as small of a 00:08:11.698 --> 00:08:13.938 footprint as possible on this earth. 00:08:14.328 --> 00:08:17.328 Our next generation solutions, we call that our handprint, and we want to 00:08:17.328 --> 00:08:21.218 make that the we want that to be the biggest handprint we can, be a helping 00:08:21.218 --> 00:08:25.417 hand to, To our customers and then next generation technologies focuses 00:08:25.417 --> 00:08:27.387 on that smallest footprint as possible. 00:08:27.407 --> 00:08:31.137 And then the third pillar of that is next generation culture because 00:08:31.197 --> 00:08:35.087 to get a whole organization to move forward on sustainability, 00:08:35.537 --> 00:08:36.997 that has to become cultural. 00:08:38.017 --> 00:08:38.497 Victoria: Makes sense. 00:08:38.867 --> 00:08:42.847 So, and when you think about the solutions, obviously, you know, I think 00:08:42.847 --> 00:08:45.907 probably a lot of the products that are already in, have traditionally 00:08:45.907 --> 00:08:50.127 been in place fall into that category of really supporting sustainability 00:08:50.127 --> 00:08:51.397 profiles for your customers. 00:08:51.792 --> 00:08:56.102 Is this something your customers are actively asking for and looking for 00:08:56.132 --> 00:08:58.102 is sustainable solutions from Evonik? 00:08:58.763 --> 00:09:00.162 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Yes, absolutely. 00:09:00.192 --> 00:09:02.412 And we see that we see that globally. 00:09:02.512 --> 00:09:07.632 We are a German headquartered company, so it definitely in the EU. 00:09:07.682 --> 00:09:11.622 There's a very big push that they want to start seeing sustainable solutions. 00:09:11.982 --> 00:09:14.312 And, but we also have it here in the U. 00:09:14.312 --> 00:09:14.502 S. 00:09:14.502 --> 00:09:16.282 as well, in North America as well. 00:09:16.332 --> 00:09:18.162 But yes, there is a request for it. 00:09:18.672 --> 00:09:23.777 And you're, You hit on a very interesting point that it, it's not only like kind 00:09:23.777 --> 00:09:29.637 of the new shiny solutions that companies can provide, but also going and using 00:09:29.717 --> 00:09:32.577 existing technology in sustainable ways. 00:09:32.607 --> 00:09:34.912 So, for example we have silica. 00:09:35.012 --> 00:09:38.602 Which is a product that's been around for quite a while, but they now are 00:09:38.602 --> 00:09:42.472 using that in tires because they make them, we call them green tires, they 00:09:42.522 --> 00:09:47.002 reduce the rolling resistance for better better fuel efficiency, as well as they 00:09:47.002 --> 00:09:50.742 allow longer life of those tires, so you don't have to replace them as much. 00:09:51.492 --> 00:09:53.812 Companies are also working on those new technologies. 00:09:54.632 --> 00:09:58.932 So, for example, we have membrane technology to separate biogas 00:09:59.232 --> 00:10:01.752 to get methane from the biogas. 00:10:02.192 --> 00:10:04.692 And it doesn't have to be on a very big scale anymore. 00:10:04.742 --> 00:10:06.602 It's something that farmers can use. 00:10:06.892 --> 00:10:11.772 Where you have any kind of waste manure or food waste, you can start capturing that 00:10:11.852 --> 00:10:15.252 using technology like these membranes, separate it, and then you have methane. 00:10:15.602 --> 00:10:18.342 And then we have some that are kind of really spectacular 00:10:18.372 --> 00:10:20.142 like our biosurfactants. 00:10:20.492 --> 00:10:26.272 So these are biorenewable, biodegradable, biobased and these are really kind 00:10:26.272 --> 00:10:28.332 of next generational solutions. 00:10:29.006 --> 00:10:29.687 Victoria: That's really cool. 00:10:29.687 --> 00:10:31.217 Requires a lot of innovation. 00:10:31.497 --> 00:10:32.227 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Absolutely. 00:10:33.187 --> 00:10:36.037 Victoria: So when you know, the other pillar that you talk about is culture. 00:10:36.357 --> 00:10:36.697 Right. 00:10:36.777 --> 00:10:42.417 And certainly I think the sustainability mindset has been a cultural shift 00:10:42.427 --> 00:10:47.167 for probably every company, certainly from, you know, our time starting 00:10:47.167 --> 00:10:50.637 in the industry, sustainability was not a conversation to today, 00:10:50.637 --> 00:10:52.887 it's really the conversation. 00:10:53.187 --> 00:10:56.017 Can you talk about what that culture looks like and what 00:10:56.017 --> 00:10:59.797 those expectations are around sustainability and culture for Evonik? 00:11:00.003 --> 00:11:00.387 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Yeah. 00:11:00.747 --> 00:11:04.357 So, I've been in the industry over 30 years, and I think if you look 00:11:04.357 --> 00:11:08.167 at the very beginning when I entered this, you even had, like, I'll 00:11:08.167 --> 00:11:10.237 say climate change deniers, right? 00:11:10.247 --> 00:11:15.317 You, there was really a pushback against, no, this is, we're not 00:11:15.317 --> 00:11:16.947 going to spend resources on this. 00:11:17.287 --> 00:11:22.607 And there has just been a monumental shift to now, where the chemical industry 00:11:22.658 --> 00:11:28.028 sees that this is real and that we're now part of the solution, that we're 00:11:28.048 --> 00:11:32.318 solution providers and that we're going to be, we're going to be part of the 00:11:32.318 --> 00:11:34.558 discussion now and part of the solution. 00:11:34.948 --> 00:11:37.168 So that has been a major change. 00:11:37.378 --> 00:11:42.018 But to be able to take a, an organization with you, you have 00:11:42.018 --> 00:11:43.568 to have a cultural part of that. 00:11:43.838 --> 00:11:48.928 And for us our next generation culture is that we see that sustainability 00:11:48.998 --> 00:11:52.808 is part of our business case as part of our business model. 00:11:53.268 --> 00:11:58.718 We as managers want to see sustainable solutions coming out and we want 00:11:58.788 --> 00:12:03.243 our employees to feel that they can bring opportunities forward as well. 00:12:03.263 --> 00:12:08.333 So it's really the employees seeing sustainable opportunities and bringing 00:12:08.333 --> 00:12:11.863 them forward and also knowing that management will support that and then 00:12:11.863 --> 00:12:16.693 management saying, hey, we see a business case here and pushing the organization 00:12:17.053 --> 00:12:21.003 to work towards sustainability, like I said, either in our plants or solutions. 00:12:21.023 --> 00:12:25.053 And you have to have both, you have to have the employees as well as management 00:12:25.063 --> 00:12:28.353 all saying like, yeah, this is the direction we're going and that's culture. 00:12:28.483 --> 00:12:31.003 Victoria: And have employees really embrace that shift. 00:12:31.211 --> 00:12:32.213 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Oh, absolutely. 00:12:32.243 --> 00:12:33.003 Absolutely. 00:12:33.053 --> 00:12:35.033 They like at the shop floor level. 00:12:35.183 --> 00:12:39.423 They really appreciate the opportunity to bring forward ideas that they have. 00:12:39.443 --> 00:12:43.113 Maybe they've seen them for a long time and to say like, I think if we do this, 00:12:43.113 --> 00:12:48.033 we can reduce this waste or could we put in led light bulbs in the plant. 00:12:48.253 --> 00:12:50.723 And when we say, yeah, that's a good idea. 00:12:50.853 --> 00:12:53.653 You know, it's just positive reinforcement, but they are ready. 00:12:53.828 --> 00:12:54.453 Victoria: That's exciting. 00:12:54.673 --> 00:12:59.348 And when you think about your future employees, do you find that having A 00:12:59.348 --> 00:13:03.278 strong sustainability profile is important to new employees coming into the industry. 00:13:04.444 --> 00:13:05.248 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Absolutely. 00:13:05.408 --> 00:13:06.108 Absolutely. 00:13:06.108 --> 00:13:11.508 I think every industry the new generations coming in have a 00:13:11.508 --> 00:13:14.338 newfound respect for the planet. 00:13:14.368 --> 00:13:18.698 And they realize that if they're going to have a planet that they want to live 00:13:18.698 --> 00:13:23.458 on in two or three generations, maybe even as, Early as these generations 00:13:23.798 --> 00:13:25.978 drastic changes have to happen. 00:13:25.988 --> 00:13:29.578 And I think they want to bring that into their workforce into 00:13:29.578 --> 00:13:31.628 their work life into the workforce. 00:13:31.728 --> 00:13:33.608 And they're really passionate about it. 00:13:33.798 --> 00:13:34.258 Victoria: That's cool. 00:13:34.598 --> 00:13:36.878 And well, and then you talk about big changes, but I think 00:13:36.878 --> 00:13:39.308 the other piece that struck me today when you were on the panel. 00:13:39.668 --> 00:13:44.398 You talked about really the importance of incremental improvements and the 00:13:44.428 --> 00:13:48.178 opportunity for incremental improvements that all companies can embrace. 00:13:48.438 --> 00:13:49.768 Can you talk about that a little bit? 00:13:50.109 --> 00:13:50.468 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Yeah. 00:13:50.578 --> 00:13:53.908 We all are limited on resources and I don't care if you're a small 00:13:53.908 --> 00:13:55.888 organization or a large organization. 00:13:56.208 --> 00:13:59.318 I think maybe small organizations look at large organizations and say, Hey, you've 00:13:59.318 --> 00:14:00.938 got 10 people working on sustainability. 00:14:00.968 --> 00:14:04.818 I can tell you large organizations wish they had a hundred people working on it. 00:14:04.818 --> 00:14:07.708 You just, you never have enough resources in this area. 00:14:08.728 --> 00:14:10.358 No matter the size of your organization. 00:14:10.838 --> 00:14:15.498 So every organization just needs to start with incremental improvements. 00:14:15.878 --> 00:14:20.478 And we have found some really great improvements on things like 00:14:20.498 --> 00:14:24.438 adding spray balls in our reactors to clean our reactors instead 00:14:24.438 --> 00:14:26.358 of recycling solvents around. 00:14:26.658 --> 00:14:31.838 Putting timers on HVAC systems, putting in LED light bulbs monitoring 00:14:31.858 --> 00:14:35.698 flow through heat exchangers so that they will be more efficient. 00:14:36.058 --> 00:14:39.738 And these incremental wins really start to add up. 00:14:40.308 --> 00:14:41.948 And none of these are big money. 00:14:42.308 --> 00:14:47.888 and none of them have to wait for the Big Bang Sustainability program and we 00:14:47.888 --> 00:14:52.668 are really seeing that this is moving the company forward incrementally 00:14:52.748 --> 00:14:54.958 but sustainably and successfully. 00:14:54.988 --> 00:14:57.688 Victoria: Yeah, and what strikes me with that is, is one, you 00:14:57.688 --> 00:15:00.568 mentioned that it's not just the domain of big companies, right? 00:15:00.568 --> 00:15:03.738 There are things that people can do, but it also seems like it 00:15:03.778 --> 00:15:09.018 those are ideas that tie back to getting individuals involved, right? 00:15:09.018 --> 00:15:13.728 So it's not just the domain of a strategy group or an innovation group to figure 00:15:13.728 --> 00:15:15.748 out what the next sustainability story is. 00:15:16.148 --> 00:15:21.928 It's something that people can do in their everyday day roles anybody can 00:15:21.928 --> 00:15:24.198 identify incremental improvements. 00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:24.928 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Exactly. 00:15:24.928 --> 00:15:26.168 And be part of the solution, right? 00:15:26.188 --> 00:15:27.858 And everybody feels good about that, right? 00:15:27.858 --> 00:15:29.688 When you can be part of the solution. 00:15:29.758 --> 00:15:30.608 Victoria: Yeah, absolutely. 00:15:30.798 --> 00:15:33.408 So let's talk a little bit about career and leadership. 00:15:33.408 --> 00:15:36.878 You've obviously seen great success through your career. 00:15:37.528 --> 00:15:42.368 What leadership lessons and career lessons have you learned along the way? 00:15:43.818 --> 00:15:44.368 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: So. 00:15:45.068 --> 00:15:49.788 When I think about leadership in general as you move up the organization things 00:15:49.788 --> 00:15:51.638 just get more and more complicated. 00:15:51.648 --> 00:15:56.098 Things just get more and more difficult to manage. 00:15:56.498 --> 00:15:58.553 And that's just That's the way of the world. 00:15:58.613 --> 00:16:03.753 And what I found when I do see that, when it seems like things are getting quite 00:16:03.753 --> 00:16:08.953 complicated or too many topics, I just try to go back to kind of fundamental values. 00:16:08.973 --> 00:16:12.473 And one of those for me is the golden rule, treat others 00:16:12.483 --> 00:16:13.593 like you want to be treated. 00:16:13.603 --> 00:16:17.843 And whether I'm taking that into an HR issue, treat that employee like I 00:16:17.843 --> 00:16:21.693 want to be treated, or I'm taking it into a community topic, like treat. 00:16:22.093 --> 00:16:24.633 Our communities, like we want our communities treated. 00:16:24.943 --> 00:16:28.083 It's just a nice fundamental that you can go back to and 00:16:28.093 --> 00:16:30.453 has so many applicable cases. 00:16:30.693 --> 00:16:34.623 So, and anybody as you move up the organizational ladder, you know, it gets 00:16:34.623 --> 00:16:36.303 more and more complicated as you go up. 00:16:36.303 --> 00:16:38.863 So need some fundamental ideas to go back to. 00:16:39.503 --> 00:16:41.713 And then the other one being a woman leader. 00:16:42.493 --> 00:16:47.593 That I'd like to comment on is that sometimes I find women as they move 00:16:47.603 --> 00:16:52.243 into leadership roles, they are hesitant to put their ideas on the 00:16:52.243 --> 00:16:56.053 table, particularly if you're in a conference or a conference room. 00:16:56.373 --> 00:17:00.683 And I wish somebody had told me earlier in my career to not be 00:17:00.683 --> 00:17:02.703 hesitant, to get those ideas out there. 00:17:02.703 --> 00:17:04.753 There's a reason why I'm in the room. 00:17:04.753 --> 00:17:08.783 There's a reason why I'm at the table, and that is to share my opinions as well 00:17:09.023 --> 00:17:10.793 and bring those into the discussion. 00:17:11.103 --> 00:17:14.633 I know I was personally hesitant sometimes to bring those ideas forward. 00:17:14.903 --> 00:17:19.103 And I was lucky enough to have a very good leader who took me aside after 00:17:19.103 --> 00:17:21.113 a meeting where I had not spoken out. 00:17:21.603 --> 00:17:23.283 And he said Why didn't you say anything? 00:17:23.283 --> 00:17:25.993 I was like, well, I just, I don't know if my idea was perfect. 00:17:26.043 --> 00:17:28.553 I was, you know, I had to think about my words. 00:17:28.553 --> 00:17:29.223 I was choosing. 00:17:29.223 --> 00:17:31.913 And he said, you were in that room and you were at that table 00:17:31.913 --> 00:17:33.343 because we needed your opinion. 00:17:33.593 --> 00:17:34.853 Never hesitate. 00:17:34.853 --> 00:17:36.243 Never hold yourself back. 00:17:36.573 --> 00:17:38.043 Bring your opinion forward. 00:17:38.433 --> 00:17:39.063 We need it. 00:17:39.083 --> 00:17:39.603 We want it. 00:17:39.613 --> 00:17:41.243 There's a reason why you were in that room. 00:17:41.373 --> 00:17:44.333 And he really encouraged me and supported me. 00:17:44.798 --> 00:17:46.178 The, to do that going forward. 00:17:46.278 --> 00:17:47.028 Victoria: I think that's great. 00:17:47.038 --> 00:17:49.788 And I think that's a lesson that a lot of women have to learn, right? 00:17:49.798 --> 00:17:52.898 Cause we're often coached to be perfect. 00:17:53.318 --> 00:17:56.918 We're often coached to be you know, to let others speak first. 00:17:56.948 --> 00:18:01.508 And yet the reality is in order to get your idea forward, in order to 00:18:01.508 --> 00:18:04.858 take the next step, you have to be willing to speak up and you have to be 00:18:04.858 --> 00:18:06.518 willing to take that seat at the table. 00:18:06.738 --> 00:18:08.698 And when you've got the seat, use it.. 00:18:09.088 --> 00:18:09.858 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Absolutely. 00:18:09.901 --> 00:18:10.211 Victoria: Awesome. 00:18:10.741 --> 00:18:14.281 So what advice would you give to people that are early in their career that are 00:18:14.281 --> 00:18:19.551 really looking to have a career success and a career trajectory similar to yours? 00:18:20.386 --> 00:18:25.746 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: I think the best advice I can give is to take advantage 00:18:25.996 --> 00:18:28.286 of opportunities when they are offered. 00:18:28.656 --> 00:18:32.496 You never know what those opportunities are going to lead to. 00:18:32.556 --> 00:18:34.886 And sometimes these can be very small opportunities. 00:18:34.986 --> 00:18:39.796 You know, join that activities committee join that safety committee 00:18:39.846 --> 00:18:45.296 be on the community awareness committee And then because you never 00:18:45.296 --> 00:18:48.966 know who you're going to be working with on those type of committees. 00:18:49.236 --> 00:18:53.736 We were talking earlier about we at our activities committee at our site this 00:18:53.896 --> 00:18:55.996 allows people to work with me directly. 00:18:56.126 --> 00:18:58.896 And you would say, the activities committee, but you know, you're just 00:18:58.896 --> 00:19:02.606 deciding you're going to do, you know, you know, ice cream social Friday, right? 00:19:03.116 --> 00:19:04.226 You don't know. 00:19:04.226 --> 00:19:04.291 Cool. 00:19:04.431 --> 00:19:06.741 Who else is going to be in that room when you're deciding 00:19:06.741 --> 00:19:08.501 on ice cream social Friday? 00:19:08.501 --> 00:19:12.051 You're maybe working with some very high level managers and then they get to know 00:19:12.051 --> 00:19:16.681 you and you get to know them on a more personal level and boy, you just can start 00:19:16.691 --> 00:19:19.481 increasing your network by doing that. 00:19:19.501 --> 00:19:20.131 And then. 00:19:20.926 --> 00:19:24.866 On a bigger scale, if you get asked to take on opportunities like 00:19:24.866 --> 00:19:28.646 assignments you know, would you consider being the maintenance manager? 00:19:28.646 --> 00:19:30.266 Would you consider being the technical manager? 00:19:30.266 --> 00:19:33.456 Would you consider going running a plant in Singapore? 00:19:33.836 --> 00:19:37.266 More than likely, it's better if you say yes to those. 00:19:37.276 --> 00:19:42.036 It will really open up a wide variety of opportunities going forward for you. 00:19:42.261 --> 00:19:42.531 Victoria: Yeah. 00:19:42.591 --> 00:19:42.931 Love it. 00:19:42.931 --> 00:19:45.001 And you obviously said yes. 00:19:45.247 --> 00:19:45.671 I did. 00:19:45.687 --> 00:19:46.421 More than you said no. 00:19:46.567 --> 00:19:46.967 Correct. 00:19:47.241 --> 00:19:47.561 Yeah. 00:19:47.651 --> 00:19:49.421 Which is one of the keys to success. 00:19:49.666 --> 00:19:49.970 Correct. 00:19:50.161 --> 00:19:50.831 Yeah, absolutely. 00:19:50.831 --> 00:19:54.010 Well, Bonnie, thank you so much for joining me twice. 00:19:54.091 --> 00:19:55.391 So here's the secret people. 00:19:55.391 --> 00:19:59.531 We had to record this twice because of a snafu but I appreciate you taking the time 00:19:59.531 --> 00:20:02.441 today and sharing your insights with us. 00:20:02.653 --> 00:20:03.453 Bonnie Tully - Take 2: Thank you for having me. 00:20:03.601 --> 00:20:03.901 Victoria: Awesome. 00:20:04.011 --> 00:20:04.411 Thank you. 00:20:04.781 --> 00:20:07.711 Speaker: Thank you for joining us on today's episode of The Chemical Show. 00:20:08.051 --> 00:20:11.081 Keep listening, keep following, keep sharing, and we'll 00:20:11.081 --> 00:20:12.051 talk with you again soon.