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The Director’s Cut
In the summer of 2020, we reconnected on a Zoom call. The world was in a weird place, and we were desperate for connection. That Zoom call was the catalyst for us trying to fill our desire for connection with the first iteration of Women in Chemicals. You have all heard our founding story plenty of times, so we’ll spare you here with those details, but we will let you in on one secret. Neither of us ever thought that Zoom call would lead to an organization that is now supporting 7,000 women globally.
February 1, 2026, marks the five-year anniversary of Women in Chemicals. Some days it feels like we are just getting started, and other days it feels like we have lived hundreds of lives in those five years. The world has changed. We have changed, and most importantly, WIC has changed. We’re so proud of what we, as a community, have accomplished with this platform, and we’re excited to celebrate with you throughout the year at our virtual events, cocktail receptions, and at our annual conference in Miami in September.
In the meantime, we thought we’d share the five most important things we’ve learned in the last five years:
1. Be Willing to Start
We always said we didn’t intend to start a non-profit organization, and we definitely never thought we’d be here five years later with a global organization and thousands of members. That all came step by step over the last five years. Kylie has always thought of herself as a perfectionist, avoidant of failing. Amelia never thought she was creative, reserving that word only for those talented at creating music and art. In these last five years, we’ve been forced to put ourselves out there, get uncomfortable, and operate in ambiguity in ways that have made us learn to question the beliefs we’ve carried through life about ourselves.
We’ve learned new parts of our personalities and discovered that we enjoy things we used to think we simply didn’t have the aptitude for and realized how much we truly didn’t know. This happened because we took a leap and started. We didn’t feel ready, and we definitely were not prepared. But if we had waited until we were ready or felt prepared, we’d never have taken that leap. It was a risk, but the reward of this community is so sweet, and we’re so thankful to have learned so much with all of you along the way.
2. You’ll Figure It Out, You Always Do
Anytime you start something new, you’re going to make mistakes. This realization can be crippling sometimes. Over the years, we’ve made plenty of mistakes, and many of them have been painful. There have been silly mistakes, like putting the wrong dates for our inaugural conference on a postcard we handed out at an event. We laugh about it now, but we definitely didn’t then. But there have also been extremely difficult mistakes, like waiting too long to address misalignment within our Leadership Team, which forced us to have hard conversations and look at ourselves more critically. Sometime in year three, we started reassuring each other with the simple phrase, “We’ll Figure It Out, We Always Do.” This was the first year of our expanded Leadership Team, and
we were still wrapping our heads around the complexity of managing this extremely engaged group of volunteers. With more people, programs, and impact came more problems. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it was a new challenge for us. We leaned into the concept of self-efficacy in our Leadership Team that year. Self-efficacy is your personal belief in your ability to accomplish your goals.
Every time you overcome a challenge, you build confidence that you can overcome future challenges. Year three forced our Leadership Team and us to build self-efficacy and to learn that, regardless of what we faced, we could figure it out. If you feel scared to start because you know you’ll make mistakes, embrace that. You’ll learn, you’ll grow, and you’ll develop the self-efficacy you need to overcome the next big challenge you’ll inevitably face. You’ll figure it out, you always do.
3. There’s Strength in Numbers
For the first two years, we operated with a very small team doing a few of our foundational activities – our mixer pairing, Woman of the Week, and a quarterly Generation Female webinar or panel. In the fall of 2022, we extended our Leadership Team to eight. Today, our team consists of 21 volunteers and a full-time Executive Director. With the growth of our Leadership Team, our programs have grown, and our organization has evolved.
Diverse perspectives have made our organization better and allowed us to scale the impact we can make, and we continue to be reminded of just how valuable our volunteers are to WIC. WIC is structured a lot like a corporation, with defined roles and responsibilities, strategic priorities, and KPIs, but WIC is powered almost entirely by volunteers. In the early years of WIC, we underestimated this as leaders. The time our team commits is valuable, and it is carved out of each of their full lives, careers, families, and personal responsibilities.
We’ve learned and continue to be reminded that our Leadership Team deserves the same level of clarity, support, intention, and care as a professional team does. We’ve learned that leading volunteers requires a unique kind of leadership, one that is fundamentally based on respect for each other. The energy that stems from our volunteers is a gift, and it feeds WIC’s members and our mission. Learning how to foster that has been and continues to be something we are so grateful for.
4. Every No Is Yes Somewhere Else
Saying no is something that we have really struggled with as an organization. Every member request for a program or resource is something we take extremely personally, and we want to serve as many members as possible with the programs that move the needle for their careers. This has led WIC to take on many new programs over the years while not paring back any of our legacy programming. More is more, right?
As we’ve continued to grow and expand our presence globally, we’ve realized that more is definitely not more. We have a very high standard for the quality of all of our programs and engagements, and that means holding our
teams to high standards to deliver. In trying to maintain the quality we expect while scaling the number of members we can support and adding new programs, we’ve found ourselves stretched for bandwidth time and again. We have continued
We know those programs are dear to some members who used them religiously since the beginning, but we saw a higher return on impact investment in some of our other programs. In saying no to those programs, we said yes to impacting more members, more personally, more consistently,
The most inspiring part of this entire journey has been seeing the growth of our community. We aren’t talking about the number of members or geographic expansion. We are talking about the collective progress that we are making as an organization. Every tough conversation that our members are having as a result of learning from a Generation Female Webinar. Every promotion of a woman in our community because she learned to position herself from her mentor. Every woman who stays in the industry because she knows intrinsically that she belongs here and sees other women in roles that she aspires to be in.
All of this progress adds up to a collective growth that is intangible, immeasurable, and impossible to report in an Impact Report, but it’s real. We see it in how you, our members, show up at events. We hear it in your stories of how you managed a difficult situation or raised your hand for a new opportunity, and we feel it personally in our own professional lives, knowing that we have a community of 7,000 women behind us. Every woman in our community is part of this collective growth and contributes to the continued empowerment and visibility of the women in our industry. We’re all an inspiration for one another, and we are all capable of far more than we realize.
As we celebrate five years of Women in Chemicals, we’re filled with gratitude for where this community started, for how far it’s come, and for the women who continue to show up with curiosity, courage, and conviction. We didn’t learn these lessons in isolation; they were learned with you. As we look ahead to what’s next, we know one thing for certain. The future of WIC will be built by and for women willing to start, willing to grow, and willing to lift one another as we go. Here’s to the next chapter, and to continuing to rise together.
Amelia Greene Co-Founder & Director of Corporate Partnerships Women in Chemicals
Kylie Wittl Co-Founder & Operations Director Women in Chemicals
“A great story to tell”
Five years ago, few would have expected Women in Chemicals to become the powerhouse it is today – with a membership exceeding 7,000 and the organization earning recognition across the globe
Since the inception of Women in Chemicals (WIC) in 2021, the non-profit organization has gained such momentum that even its co-founders have been a little surprised by its success.
WIC has now hosted 17 in-person events across four continents – including a regularly sold-out annual conference.
In five years, it has also facilitated 15 panel discussions and 34 webinars about personal and professional development, secured over 200 matches through its pioneering Mentorship Program, and produced 116 Woman of the Week podcasts and counting.
WIC has also now officially reached 20,000 followers on LinkedIn.
During February’s hour-long Conversation with the Co-Founders webinar, Amelia Greene, WIC’s Chairwoman of the Board, Co-Founder & Director of Corporate Partnerships, and
Kylie Wittl, Co-Founder & Operations Director, provided insight into the organization’s inner workings and reflected on their incredible journey.
“The numbers tell the story themselves,” said Wittl. “It’s a great, great story to tell.”
“When we ask our members the impact that Women in Chemicals has had on each of their journeys,” she continued, “a lot of folks respond about having an expanded network, as well as influences on decision-making and self-advocacy through our personal and professional development.”
“But what really stood out to me is we’ve also got folks that are getting promotions and new jobs thanks to the resources that Women in Chemicals has, and that mentorship relationship that’s happening as well. They are having life-changing moments, thanks to all the work that goes into Women in Chemicals.”
A time for celebration
There have been many memorable milestones over the past year. Among them was the appointment of WIC’s first-ever full-time employee, an Executive Director, in January 2025. Greene handed over the reins to Amber Thichangthong and became Director of Corporate Partnerships.
A few months later, WIC took part in its first in-person event in Asia Pacific at the APIC conference, further increasing its global presence. WIC is already a regular at AFPM in North America, EPCA in Europe, and at APLA in Latin America.
Other highlights included serving as a content provider for International Women and Girls in Science Day events in the Netherlands and Germany, as well as attending the Chemical Educational Foundation’s You Be The Chemist® Challenge competition.
WIC also participated in its first virtual
session with BASF in South Africa, a podcast interview with corporate sponsor Morgan Latif, and contributed to multiple media opportunities, with articles published by ChemManager and ICIS.
“We’ve really focused on expanding our global reach,” said Greene, “and I’m really proud of our team for taking more of a global perspective and hope to see more of our community come from outside North America as we continue to grow.”
From November 6-9, 2025, the annual Leadership Team offsite in Atlanta, Georgia, took place and provided a rare opportunity for everyone to come together and discuss achievements, successes, and future plans. It was also the chance to present this year’s Most
Woman Award and recognize colleagues whose contributions best capture WIC’s core values.
The Serve Selflessly Award was presented to Jessica Quearry, Finance Chair; the Act with Courage & Conviction Award went to Vera-Maria Pitot de la Beaujardière, Sponsorship Chair; and Kasia Jankowska, Mentorship Chair, received the Inspire & Empower Award. Christie Luna, WIC’s Membership Chair, was named 2025 Most Valuable Woman.
“Christie has been with us since the very beginning as one of our early founding members,” said Wittl. “She’s grown up with WIC in the last five years in many ways, and she’s been immeasurably flexible to the asks that Women in Chemicals has put forth in her
I’m really proud of our team for taking more of a global perspective
Amelia Greene Chairwoman of the Board, Co-Founder & Director of Corporate Partnerships, WIC
path, taking on and wearing just as many hats as Amelia and I have over the years and doing them in such a graceful way.”
Last November, WIC was also proud to launch the Myers-Greene Family STEM Scholarship Fund, a new initiative sponsored by Greene’s family that awards a $10,000 annual scholarship to a woman pursuing a STEM education as a pathway to a meaningful career in the chemical industry. Applications for the first scholarship close on March 31, 2026, with the chosen recipient to be honored at the 2026 Women in Chemicals Conference on September 14-16.
The scholarship marks a key step in the next phase of the Careers in Chemicals program, helping build a robust pipeline of women entering the industry.
Wrapping up the year, WIC published its 2025 Impact Report – a snapshot of recent achievements and how the organization is affecting change in the chemical industry (read the Report at www.womeninchemicals.com/2025impact-report).
“The Impact Report is truly a testament to everybody on our Leadership Team, on our Advisory Boards, our Ally Boards, and those who sit on our committees. It is truly a collective effort in terms of everything that Women and Chemicals is able to accomplish,” said Greene.
Early 2026 saw another important first – the expansion of the global partnership with Brenntag, one of WIC’s key supporters from the very beginning. The deal sees Brenntag become Title
Valuable
Corporate Sponsor, which includes corporate sponsorship; conference sponsorship; joint participation at major industry events; and helping WIC deliver virtual panel discussions, webinars, and in-person programs throughout the year.
Team additions
WIC was pleased to announce several new faces on its Leadership Team in recent months: Elizabeth Kincheloe, Sponsorship Coordinator; Kayla Kordish, Sponsorship Coordinator; Rose Harper, Partnerships Coordinator; Kate Nagle, Education Chair; Dinora Rosas, Membership Chair; Jamie Alley, Finance Coordinator; and Melissa Ripperger, Marketing Coordinator.
“We’re a Leadership Team of more than 20 at this point, which, from a personal standpoint, kind of blows my mind as it was just the two of us five years ago,” continued Wittl. “We’ve got global representation across our Leadership Team and so much talent, passion, and drive.”
A new Executive Director, Katie Hess, joined on January 1, 2026. Hess, based in the Midwest, has 20-plus years of management experience, has held Executive Director roles at the Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin, as well as supporting a youth mentoring organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin.
The discussion was soon opened up to questions from some of the new team members who asked Greene and Wittl about their standout moments of the
last five years, the toughest decisions they had made along the way, and their favorite initiatives.
Claire McGahan, WIC Programs Chair and Account Executive, Global Consumer Products at Stepan Company, even introduced some familiar faces –individuals who have been involved with WIC from the beginning and had helped forge the leadership and the community that continues to support growth.
Among them was Silke Fuchs, Sales and Product Manager at Novasol Chemicals – essentially the third founding member of Women in Chemicals, and Christi Farr – one of the original 38 members at the first mixer pairing in February 2021.
Tony Gazich, Procurement Manager at
3M, also joined the session. Not only was he one of WIC’s original Allies, but he was also referred to as WIC’s “Founding Father” – responsible for introducing his 3M colleague Wittl to Greene, who was then his only female sales contact in a very male-dominated field, in 2018.
“I’ll never forget when Kylie and Amelia first met, two very dynamic personalities that both really wanted to make a difference,” he said.
“For me, an ‘aha moment’ was Amelia talking about being surrounded by men all the time and seeing this massive gap that she wanted to address in the chemicals industry. She has that inspirational mindset and Kylie was the perfect fit to start that ride and journey.”
“I’m stunned at what has become of Women in Chemicals: over 19,000 followers on LinkedIn and over 7,000 active members,” said Gazich. “I’m just really happy to have been a small part of the initial journey and then served as an Ally Advisory Board Member for the last three years.”
More to come…
Looking to the future, Greene and Wittl were asked how they imagined WIC would look in another five years.
“To me, success in 2030 means that WIC has a sustainable operating model, that we have financial stability, and that we can continue providing our resources to women free of charge regardless of seniority or opportunity,” said Greene.
“I think a big part of that is really trying to understand how we can continue scaling and what that means from a financial resource perspective, from a human resource perspective.”
“We definitely do not have a void of
We’ve got global representation across our Leadership Team and so much talent, passion, and drive
Kylie Wittl Co-Founder & Operations Director, WIC
ideas,” she added. “One of the most amazing things about continuing to expand our Leadership Team is that every person comes in with ideas and new opportunities for us to expand our impact. We have so many things that we still want to do.”
“I want to continue to expand globally and expand thoughtfully, without diluting the member experience,” continued Wittl. “We’re at this really challenging but exciting turning point at year five to be super thoughtful and strategic about how we have a strong foundation to take us into 2030 and far beyond.”
Greene then outlined several priorities for the organization. These included wanting WIC to help stem the flow of women leaving senior leadership roles, particularly with recent statistics showing that this is happening at higher rates than ever before. The solution? To consider the specific benefits, opportunities, and resources that can be provided by WIC so women really feel they can remain in the workforce and thrive.
“The industry is going to have a huge talent shortage in the next 10 years because such a significant percentage of the chemical industry workforce will be eligible for retirement,” Greene continued. “I want to make sure we have women well prepared to fill that talent void and that we are attracting women to our industry and they are aware of all of the opportunities.”
Strong community
“Women in Chemicals has given me a sense of belonging, and that’s what we strive for every member of Women in
Chemicals,” said Wittl.
“It’s also a space where I don’t feel like I need to explain myself in an environment where we often probably experience that; it’s a safe haven.”
“Women in Chemicals has given me a mindset that not only focuses on where I am in my career but also reminds me that the choices that Women in Chemicals is making today shape the future.”
“I hope that every time our members interact with Women in Chemicals, they feel they’ve found home or a sense of belonging,” added Wittl.
“For me, it’s that they believe that they have the capacity to reach their full potential and achieve everything that they aspire to.”
“We never intended to start a nonprofit or a business,” said Greene. “What we were really intending to do was solve our own problem; we were looking for a peer network. We were looking to get access to more senior female leaders that we could aspire to be.”
“Women in Chemicals has been a really strong grounding force for me, something that I can come back to, where I have this community that’s surrounding me, that’s putting their arms around me.
“I have this sense of my limitless potential from all of the women that we feature on our podcasts, our panels, and through all of our various initiatives like Careers in Chemicals.”
“And then I also have our incredible Leadership Team who are colleagues, but more importantly, they’re friends.”
Andy Brice
Nominate your Woman of the Year
Every day, we are surrounded by incredible women who shape our industry in powerful, lasting ways. These are the women who show up with intention, lead with purpose, and act with heart. They champion the success of strategic initiatives, create opportunities where none existed before, and uplift the voices of visionaries around them. Their impact does not just influence the present – it helps build the foundation for the future.
Now, we have the opportunity to honor them.
We invite you to nominate and vote for our Woman of the Year, beginning May 4, 2026 – a woman who goes above and beyond to invest in the growth of our industry. She is someone who not only inspires change, but actively drives it. Someone who advocates for others, leads with integrity, and consistently works to elevate the people and the profession she cares about.
This award celebrates more than achievement – it celebrates commitment, courage, leadership, and the power to make a meaningful difference. By submitting a nomination and casting your vote, you help shine a spotlight on the women whose contributions deserve to be recognized and amplified. Take a moment to reflect on the women who inspire you. The mentors. The innovators. The advocates. The quiet heroes. The bold change-makers.
Find out more at www.womeninchemicals. com/woty-1
Calendar dates
March 10, 2026
Live Woman of the Week interview with Eria Young, Supply Chain Manager at Koppers – published March 23
March 12, 2026
Careers in Chemicals panel
virtual event with Stony Brook University PhD students in collaboration with Lisa Ospitale, the Program Manager for Stony Brook’s Center for Inclusive Education.
March 31, 2026
Scholarship applications close. Recipients will be notified in July and recognized at conference in September.
April 4-29, 2026
Woman of the Year nominations open
April 21, 2026
The Gift of Feedback: Turning Insight into Impact (panel), 10:00-11:00am, New York
May 5, 2026
ACS Cocktail Reception in partnership with Morgan Latif, 5:30-7:30pm, Spoke & Steel, Le Meridien, Indianapolis
June 24, 2026
¡Introducción a Mujeres en Químicos! 12:00-1:00pm
June 29 – July 31, 2026
Woman of the Year winner voting open
August 19, 2026
Intro to Women in Chemicals –Virtual Lunch & Learn, 12:00-1:00pm
September 14-16, 2026
Women in Chemicals 2026
Annual Conference in Miami Beach, Florida at the Loews Miami
September 15, 2026
Woman of the Year interview live from the Annual Conference
October 5, 2026
EPCA Cocktail Reception in Partnership with Brenntag, Vienna, Austria
(All times are EST)
Find out more about upcoming online and in-person events by visiting the www. womeninchemicals.com/events or scanning the QR code.
Celebrating our Women of the Week
Our ever-growing community has been at the very center of Women in Chemicals’ growth and success these past five years – and we thank you all for your continued support!
Through the bi-monthly Women of the Week podcasts, we take the opportunity to share some of your stories and explore your journeys, experiences, and achievements – and hope that it inspires others on their paths. The next few pages provide a snapshot of all the amazing women who contributed over the past year. You can listen to the full interviews by scanning the QR code beside each entry.
Women of the Week
Year 2025
Dr. Priti Pharkya
Senior Vice President of Business Operations, Future Origins
With quiet confidence and technical mastery, Women in Chemicals’ Woman of the Year 2025 is leading one of the most important conversations in the chemical industry today: how to meet global supply chain needs without compromising environmental integrity.
From Dr. Priti Pharkya’s early days as a research scientist at Geno, when the company was focused on computational tools, to her current leadership role overseeing commercial activities at Future Origins, she has spent over two decades transforming ambitious ideas into scalable, market-ready solutions. As a senior leader in the team that developed and commercialized Bio-BDO, she helped earn the prestigious EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award in 2011. Today, she’s driving innovation in palm oil alternatives, pioneering a biosynthetic process that could redefine ingredient sourcing across the industry.
Priti is named on over 50 patents covering metabolic engineering, biosynthetic chemical pathways, and feedstock utilization. Her rare combination of deep technical expertise and sharp business strategy has made her a force in sustainable chemistry.
Beyond her work at Future Origins and Geno, Priti contributes to the broader scientific and business communities as a board member of the Society for Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology and as a member of Chief, a private network advancing women into leadership roles. Priti’s influence on women in science and business is profound. She is celebrated as a trailblazer and role model, deeply committed to creating pathways for women in STEM.
Priti’s career is a testament to the transformative power of curiosity, collaboration, and quiet leadership. Her strategic vision and unwavering commitment to sustainable advancement make her an outstanding winner of the Women in Chemicals Woman of the Year Award.
Pooja Aggarwal
Conference Marketing Coordinator, Women in Chemicals
Pooja Aggarwal is Conference Marketing Coordinator for Women in Chemicals and has built a career that bridges scientific expertise and strategic storytelling, turning complex chemistry into conversations that matter.
Pooja’s career path wasn’t a straight line. A daughter of Indian immigrants, she had a deep interest in chemistry, which led her to pursue a Ph.D.
She soon transitioned into marketing roles where she could translate technical concepts into meaningful narratives.
A cornerstone of Pooja’s professional life is her commitment to mentorship. As a proud alumna of Villanova University, she stays connected through the BRIDGE
Society, a student-run program that links alumni with undergraduates exploring their career paths. Pooja tailors her approach based on the needs of each student, whether offering a sounding board, brainstorming next steps, or simply sharing
Linda Armitage
North America Business and Product Manager, Arkema
Linda Armitage, North America Business and Product Manager at Arkema, has built an impressive 17-year career within the same company.
Growing up in a military family, Linda learned early on how to navigate change and uncertainty. Moving frequently and adjusting to new environments instilled in her a strong sense of adaptability and the ability to connect with people from all backgrounds.
Linda has thrived at Arkema by continuously seeking new challenges and
lessons learned from her own
From lab work to sales and marketing, and from the U.S. to the UK, Pooja’s professional journey has been shaped by change. Relocating internationally, balancing family life, and pivoting to new roles taught her the importance of strategic planning and maintaining a strong support system. Pooja credits her adaptability to a combination of scientific training, personal resilience, and advice from her grandmother: “Take life as it comes.” Her advice to others? She encourages women to carve out time for themselves, resist the urge to compare, and focus instead on personal growth.
opportunities. She has transitioned across roles every two to three years, gaining
transformed her career. Ultimately, she reflected that sometimes Arkema had more confidence in her than she had in herself. Though the transition was daunting, it opened new opportunities and strengthened her leadership skills. She now encourages others to embrace challenges, take risks, and trust in their abilities, even when the path ahead feels uncertain.
As a working mother of two young daughters, Linda understands the delicate balance between career and family. Despite a demanding travel schedule, she prioritizes being present for her daughters, reinforcing values of confidence, inclusion, and kindness.
Commercial Roseanna Bennett
Business Manager, Harcros
Roseanna Bennett’s professional journey is one shaped by curiosity, courage, and an unwavering commitment to people. As the oldest of eight children growing up on a crop farm in rural Kansas, Roseanna learned early what it meant to be responsible, responsive, and deeply connected to the needs of others. Those foundational values carried her through a career that spans interior design, hospitality, and now chemical manufacturing, where she serves as a Business Manager at Harcros.
Growing up in a large family taught her the power of having people you can rely on, and that lesson remained
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central throughout her career. Within the workplace, she encourages building strong relationships, staying connected, and openly seeking guidance when needed. Roseanna believes that no one should navigate their career alone. Community, collaboration, and willingness to reach out are all important foundations for personal and professional growth. She believes that at the heart of every role, regardless of field, is the ability to listen, understand people, and solve problems. Her experience in interior design and
Mihaela Iordanova
Regional Sales Manager, Jungbunzlauer
Membodies resilience, reinvention, and a deep belief in living with purpose. Her story spans continents and career pivots, motherhood and migration, loss and leadership.
Born in Bulgaria and now based in the U.S., Mihaela began her academic journey in agricultural engineering and later studied molecular biology and tissue
hospitality taught her valuable lessons in attention to detail, communication, and customer care, all of which she carries into her work in chemical manufacturing. She sees versatility as a powerful asset and discomfort as a signal that growth is
role in quality assurance, which ultimately led her back to her passion for sales.
Mihaela has also overcome incredible personal trials, enduring a five-year divorce and the unimaginable loss of her son in a hiking accident.
Today, Mihaela brings a holistic view to her work and life, starting each day with intention and seeking joy even amid uncertainty. To her, leadership means showing up authentically, staying curious, and empowering others to do the same. She encourages women in science and sales to trust their journeys, even when they do not look the way they imagined – and to use setbacks as fuel for transformation.
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Sandeep Kaur
Sales Engineer, Henkel
Sandeep Kaur grew up in Punjab, India, and went on to pursue advanced degrees abroad, ultimately pivoting from R&D to a customer-facing career in sales.
As one of the first in her family to pursue higher education internationally, Sandeep moved to South Korea for her postdoctoral work and eventually immigrated to Canada.
While pursuing her academic journey, Sandeep started her career in chemistry and found her true passion in surface preparation and treatment chemistry, a specialty that would eventually anchor her career in industrial R&D and technical services.
Val Mosher
Senior Manager, Program Management, Univar Solutions
Val Mosher has over 20 years of experience in the chemical industry. She began her career as a plant process engineer,
which helped her quickly understand plant operations, problem-solving under pressure, and how to translate technical knowledge into business value.
interest in the business side of chemistry
Chemicals began with a Virtual organization’s leadership team as Mentorship Program Coordinator.
(Society for Canadian Women in
After a brief departure from the chemical industry to work in dairy flavor ingredients, Val returned when Univar Solutions reached out, marking the beginning of a two-decade journey with the company.
She has held a range of roles, including commercial sales, project management, and now senior program management. From a young age, she was encouraged to embrace challenges and ask questions. Her early exposure to STEM shaped her academic and career path, fostering a mindset of curiosity and resilience. During her time at Univar Solutions, Val has embraced a wide range of roles across different functions. She was
also one of the founding members of Univar Solutions Women’s Inclusion Network (WIN), launching this initiative before employee resource groups were commonplace.
She is an active supporter of You Be The Chemist, a program hosted by the CEF that introduces middle school students to chemistry through quiz competitions and sustainability projects.
In addition to sponsoring local events, Val participates in the Univar Solutions Center Open House for the finalists, giving students a tangible connection to the science behind everyday products and industries.
ture
Vera-Maria Pitot
Commercial Excellence Leader, LyondellBasell
Kaitlyn Ray
Vera-Maria Pitot has had a career that has spanned Europe, Africa, Asia, and the U.S.
She has over 16 years of experience in business development, sales, and commercial excellence, and currently serves as Commercial Excellence Leader at LyondellBasell and Sponsorship Chair for Women in Chemicals.
On her journey, Vera has learned that success looks different in every culture – and what works in one region does not always translate to another.
Speaking four languages, German, Spanish, French, and English has allowed her to build meaningful relationships
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across borders, strengthen trust, and create inclusive teams.
After starting in consulting at Boston Consulting Group, she entered the chemical industry equipped with strategic insight but limited technical expertise. Instead of viewing this as a setback, she treated it as an opportunity to learn.
Through persistence and curiosity, she immersed herself in the technical and commercial sides of the business, asking questions and seeking to understand how things worked.
Her journey is proof that expertise can be built through engagement and a genuine willingness to learn.
Throughout her career, Vera has often been one of the few women in the room, sometimes the only one. Rather than seeing that as a challenge, she has used it as motivation to create more inclusive spaces for others.
Business Director – Base Oils and Extracts, American Refining Group, Inc.
Kaitlyn Ray is the Business Director of Base Oils and Extracts at American Refining Group, Inc.
In a sector where women are still underrepresented, especially in sales and business leadership roles, Kaitlyn knew she would have to work twice as hard to earn her place. Early in her career, she committed to learning everything she could about her field.
When asked about the evolving state of the chemical industry, Kaitlyn is quick to reframe common concerns as opportunities. Whether it is the aging workforce, supply chain disruptions, or changing customer expectations, she sees these shifts as a call to action, not a reason for concern. She sees the knowledge gap in the industry as a chance to build something stronger, to rethink how we train, mentor, and lead. She emphasizes that younger professionals shouldn’t
shy away from these challenges. Instead, they should view them as a chance to make their mark and influence the future of the field.
Mentorship has been a recurring theme in Kaitlyn’s story, and it is something she now prioritizes in her own leadership approach. She acknowledges the professors, coworkers, and industry mentors who have pushed her forward, offered guidance, and created space for her to grow. Now, she pays it forward by doing the same for others.
Kaitlyn reminds us that confidence is not about perfection, it is about being brave enough to show up and try.
Commercial Julie Roberts
Director, Supplier Growth, ChemPoint
With over two decades of experience in sales and distribution, Julie Roberts has built a career defined by transformation, both personal and professional. As Global Director of Supplier Growth at ChemPoint, Julie leads with a passion for innovation, mentorship, and intentional living that inspires everyone around her.
After earning her degree in chemical engineering, she took a leap of faith into a new city and a new company, trusting her ability to learn and adapt. Over the past 20 years at ChemPoint, that mindset has driven her growth from an individual contributor to a global leader, helping
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shape the company’s evolution through with change.
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Melissa Rus
Vice President, Garland Industries, Inc
With an impressive career spanning over 30 years, Melissa Rus started as an intern and rose through the ranks. With a background rooted in science and innovation, Melissa has played a vital role in shaping Garland’s product development and company culture.
Melissa’s career began with an internship at Garland. She emphasizes that internships provide young professionals with hands-on industry exposure while also offering companies insight into the next generation’s expectations. Now, as a leader, she remains dedicated to mentorship, believing in the power of fresh perspectives.
She attributes her success to staying engaged, constantly learning, and building meaningful relationships across the company. For Melissa, Garland’s customer-first approach and innovative mindset have kept her inspired and driven. A natural problem solver, she sees
innovation beyond product development – it is about improving everyday processes. She believes innovation is a team effort and encourages collaboration.
One of Melissa’s greatest challenges and achievements has been balancing a career while raising three children. She credits her success to a strong support system, including a balanced partnership with her husband and a company culture that values work-life integration.
She encourages young professionals to stay curious, embrace learning, and find passion in their work. She stresses the importance of communication, building relationships, and seeking mentorship to accelerate professional growth.
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Mentorship has played a powerful role in Julie’s development. She believes in leading with empathy, recognizing strengths in others, and celebrating wins along the
Beyond the workplace,
community involvement and Her philosophy centers
advocate while also serving as a champion for those around you, creating an environment where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to succeed.
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Sasha Calder
Founder, Resilience
Sasha Calder is the Founder of Resilience, a strategic advisory firm that helps executives, investors, and founders navigate operational risk, growth strategy, and long-range value creation.
She has managed a $100m+ impact fund, advised on manufacturing and supply chain strategy across both consumer and industrial sectors, and held senior roles inside fastscaling startups and Fortune 500s. As former Head of Impact at Geno, she led the company’s sustainability, government affairs, corporate communications, and product marketing functions.
Her portfolio includes co-leading breakthrough
campaigns with lululemon, supporting Hyosung’s $1bn investment to transition from fossil-based to planet-based spandex, and leading impact
Unilever, Kao, and L’Oréal to scale biotechnology in beauty and personal
began with studies in cultural anthropology
education equipped behavioral
economic perspective –understanding not just what decisions are made, but why, and with what consequences.
Early in her career, she worked in impact investing and later in risk strategy for private equity and brands.
While managing a large-scale impact fund, Sasha realized that many risk models were reactive rather than predictive.
She saw the need for a more dynamic and values-driven approach. That insight led to the founding of Resilience, a company built to help C-suite leaders anticipate and navigate systemic risk in a changing world.
Brenda Kelly
President, Materials Technologies, Grace
From her early days as an intern in the chemical industry to leading global teams at one of the most respected names in materials science, Brenda Kelly’s journey reflects a deep commitment to personal and professional growth.
Brenda believes that change is a powerful catalyst for growth. Over the years, she has taken on new roles, industries, and even continents, viewing each transition as an opportunity to learn and evolve.
Having relocated multiple times and worked across different sectors, Brenda credits her adaptability as one of her greatest strengths. Each move brought new challenges, but also fresh perspectives that shaped her leadership approach. These experiences taught her the importance of agility, knowing when to adjust, listen, and act decisively to move teams and organizations forward.
A cornerstone of Brenda’s leadership
philosophy is creating high-performing teams rooted in trust, collaboration, and authenticity. She focuses on fostering psychological safety, encouraging open dialogue, and ensuring every voice is heard. For Brenda, success comes not from individual achievements, but from collective strength and shared purpose.
Brenda prioritizes time for herself and her family, understanding that true success requires both professional fulfillment and personal well-being. She believes that confidence begins from within and when individuals feel supported and valued, their best work naturally follows.
Leadership Jessica Quearry
CFO, Suffolk Sales & Service Corporation
Jessica Quearry began her career in public accounting at KPMG, where she built a strong foundation in project management, organization, and client service. After a decade, she reassessed her priorities as a mother of young children and made the decision to return to her family’s chemical business, which dates back to 1939.
Jessica and her cousins represent the next generation of leadership, including the first women to take active leadership roles. For her, continuing this legacy is both personal and purposeful, offering a powerful example for her daughters.
The skills Jessica gained in public accounting still guide her approach today. Whether mapping out complex financial workflows or preparing leadership presentations, she focuses on clarity, stakeholder needs, and cross-functional alignment. She is a firm believer that finance works best when every part of the organization communicates openly.
This enables her team to price effectively, manage costs, and make the right decisions for long-term profitability.
Her leadership approach centers on empathy. She strives to understand what motivates different team members and adapts her communication style accordingly while staying true to who she is. Her genuine interest in supporting others and breaking challenges into manageable steps has proven essential as she navigates both company leadership and family dynamics within the business.
Transitioning from a large organization with established women’s networks to a smaller, male-dominated company was initially a culture shock. This shift made the
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Amber Thichangthong
Former Executive Director, Women in Chemicals
Amber Thichangthong held her role as Executive Director
2026 and brought a wealth of experience in non-profits and association management to this important leadership role. With a deep commitment to inclusivity and sustainable action-driven results, Amber quickly became a driving force in shaping the future of Women in Chemicals.
Amber’s firstgeneration Asian American upbringing instilled a strong work ethic and a relentless drive to seize
external community even more meaningful. Jessica values the Women in Chemicals network for the support, connection, and sense of belonging it provides.
opportunities. Her parents emphasized the value of curiosity, problem-solving,
As
Executive Director,
support Women in Chemicals’ rapid
Her leadership philosophy emphasizes inclusivity, ensuring that every voice is heard while building systems that foster organizational longevity.
Her professional success is rooted in her ability to form authentic and lasting relationships. She values respect and inclusivity, making people feel heard and included. This approach has allowed her to develop a robust network that she continues to leverage for growth and collaboration.
Amber prioritizes intentional reflection, using moments of pause to appreciate her achievements and refocus her goals. Her mantra, “Be bold. Complain, but do something to fix it.”
Human Resources
Els Duffhues
Global Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Officer and Global Learning Director, ICL Group
With an academic background spanning psychology, sociology, law, and economics, Els Duffhues is driven by making the world better and brings a deeply human lens to leadership, learning, and inclusion.
As one of seven children, her mother was a teacher and a strong role model, and instilled the belief that people deserve to be valued for who they are, without needing full understanding to offer respect or care. This helped shape Els’ lifelong commitment to learning and development, and her belief that diverse
teams, perspectives, and experiences are essential to strong organizations. Her mindset is rooted in curiosity and courage: asking “why not,” learning new languages – both literal and professional – and embracing the idea that failure is not a setback, but a lesson. Els’ career has taken her from the Netherlands to Germany, Austria, and Spain, often without speaking the local language. These experiences taught her to take change step by step, to acknowledge discomfort, and to remain open to asking for help. For her, effective
leadership starts with understanding how people build relationships, communicate, and feel safe to contribute.
At ICL Group, she approaches her DIB work with authenticity and practicality. She focuses on building belief before structure, encouraging bottom-up learning, and removing barriers that prevent people, especially women, from fully participating. She believes progress comes from honest conversations, and environments where people feel seen and empowered to be themselves.
Sneh Pandey
Manager of HR and Administration, Clean Air’s SBU,
Sneh Pandey has built a career dedicated to aligning people and business strategies. As the eldest daughter from Northern India, she was the first in her family to pursue higher education, breaking barriers and redefining expectations along the way.
She initially intended to become a doctor but pivoted to management with her father’s encouragement. Over time, she realized that her true passion lay in people development.
Early in her career at an automotive OEM, Sneh realized that theoretical knowledge
Johnson Matthey
from school did not always translate
challenges. She adopted two key strategies: observing more and speaking less, and securing early buy-in from decision-makers. Within just two years,
leading an HR function with over 1,000 indirect reports and four direct
As a senior leader,
Sneh developed the Shameless Pitch Method to advocate for ideas and drive meaningful change. In a traditionally male-dominated industry, she challenged biases by hiring more women in manufacturing roles, pushing for gender diversity in leadership, and proving that women could succeed in any function.
Sneh has been a strong advocate for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB) throughout her career, recognizing unconscious biases in the workplace and taking intentional steps to create opportunities for women in nontraditional roles. She also acknowledges the importance of mental well-being and professional support.
Claire Brendel, Senior Operations Manager at Twin Rivers Technologies, has built an impressive career in chemical engineering, rising quickly through the ranks.
Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, Claire always had a passion for science and math, which led her to chemical engineering. Though she initially had little knowledge of the field, a college co-op experience opened her eyes to its possibilities.
After starting her career in the oil and gas industry, she took a leap of faith and moved to Boston without a job, which ultimately led her to Twin Rivers
Technologies, where she quickly advanced into leadership.
As a former NCAA Division II volleyball player, Claire credits team sports with teaching her discipline, teamwork, and time management – skills that have been invaluable in her career. She also emphasizes the importance of saying “yes” to opportunities, even when they push you out of your comfort zone.
Transitioning into leadership at just 28, Claire had to prove herself while managing a team of experienced technicians. Navigating imposter
Debora Costa
Vice President, EHS, Bakelite
Debora Costa has built her career by embracing handson problem-solving, prioritizing safety, and leading with authenticity.
Her career began with a dream of global recognition in science. After turning down an MBA to pursue a role in R&D, she quickly realized her true passion lay in hands-on work, which led her to production as a process engineer.
One of Debora’s strongest convictions is that safety is not just a policy, but the culture. She advocates for leaders to take accountability for safety, setting the tone for their
syndrome, she embraced a “milewide, inch-deep” approach –understanding a broad range of topics while relying on her team’s expertise.
With STEM fields still heavily male-dominated – especially in operations – Claire is a strong advocate for increasing female representation. She highlights that diversity fosters innovation, as women bring unique strengths like organization, attention to detail, and strong follow-through.
teams to follow. This physical well-being to include psychological safety and open communication. Her career has not been without its challenges. For example, she became a site leader while raising a one-year-old. For Debora, balance is about embracing
recognizing the value of support systems.
Throughout her career, Debora has championed the development of young engineers and technical experts. She urges employees to take ownership of their growth through feedback, mentorship, and exposure to global perspectives. By engaging with different cultures and leadership styles, she believes organizations can foster innovation and create long-term value.
She encourages women in the chemical industry to embrace challenges with confidence and curiosity, and believes growth comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone, asking for help when you need it, and leaning on your support system.
Sanja Magdeburg
Vice President Supply Chain EMEA Brenntag Specialties, Brenntag
With a career spanning commercial leadership, supply chain transformation, and industry advocacy, Sanja Magdeburg’s journey highlights the power of selfawareness, curiosity, and courage in taking ownership of complex challenges.
She began her career at Helm AG, a family-owned chemical distributor, where she spent over a decade in commercial roles, including managing the European business of ethylene glycol, before transitioning into supply chain leadership. She now leads Brenntag’s specialtyfocused supply chain team.
Pivotal moments in her early career
helped shape her leadership style, teaching her to approach challenges strategically, present well-rounded solutions to leadership, and build the confidence to voice her perspective in complex situations.
Sanja has long been a champion for diversity in the chemical industry, helping to establish employee resource groups (ERGs). She believes these communities are essential for creating mentorship opportunities, sparking inspiration, and offering a
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Alessandra Pradella
Financial Controller, Wego
Alessandra Pradella currently serves as Financial Controller for Latam South at Wego Chemical and has navigated a unique path from biology to accounting while overcoming personal challenges and inspiring others along the way.
She began her professional career in diverse roles, from government and research to education and eventually multinational corporations. With a background in biological sciences, she initially pursued a career in research but soon realized her true passion was elsewhere.
Following a degree in Biological Sciences, Alessandra shifted gears to pursue accounting. Today, she views this transition as proof that it is never too late to realign with your passions and build a successful future. Alessandra believes that careers are not fixed and that change should be embraced rather than
sense of belonging for women and underrepresented groups in the
Sanja stresses the value of stepping outside your comfort zone, approaching networking with authenticity, and remembering to celebrate small successes along the way. Her philosophy is simple yet powerful: find your passion, follow it fearlessly, and use it to create meaningful change in your career and your organization.
feared. She encourages others not to feel limited by early career decisions, emphasizing that life is long enough to try new paths, pause when necessary, and continue growing. Her story reflects the power of perseverance and selfbelief, even in moments of hesitation or insecurity.
For her, leadership begins with emotional intelligence. She emphasizes the importance of empathy, organization, and composure in decision-making, especially in high-pressure environments. Looking ahead, she aspires to one day become a CFO, continuing to grow her knowledge and expertise while respecting the right timing for each career step.
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Kaoni Rhodes
Director of Quality, Safety, Health, and Environment, Brenntag
Kaoni Rhodes’ journey in the chemical industry reflects a dynamic blend of resilience, leadership, and forward-thinking innovation.
Beyond her corporate role, Kaoni is also an entrepreneur and advocate for the ethical use of AI, continuously pushing the boundaries of technology and leadership.
Growing up as the youngest of seven children, Kaoni learned the value of resilience, independence, and compartmentalization early in life. Inspired by her older sisters, whom she describes as her first mentors, she embraced challenges with unwavering confidence.
In her role at Brenntag, Kaoni oversees a diverse and ever-evolving range of responsibilities in quality, safety, health, and environmental compliance. She emphasizes the importance of building a cohesive team rooted in collaboration and agility.
As an entrepreneur, she explores AI’s potential in improving efficiency and driving innovation. From developing web apps to utilizing AI for predictive analytics and quality control, she sees technology as a critical tool for transformation.
A pivotal moment in her career came through a piece of mentorship advice: prioritize what matters most. By focusing on her “buckets” of family, education, and career, she was able to accomplish more while remaining present and intentional.
Kaoni encourages women to embrace progress over perfection, enter conversations about technology, and be advocates for knowledge and diversity.
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Women make up 54.4% of our workforce
Proud leading the way. to be
At Azelis, we’re driven by our people. Their ideas shape our innovations. Their diversity drives our culture. Their energy inspires our progress. Above all, it’s their expertise, ambition and experience that helps us to make the world a better place. And in a world where equality is everything, we’re proud to celebrate the pioneering women helping to forge the future of Azelis.
In 2025, women represented 33.3% of our senior leadership team
This gender balance is something we are protecting as part of our Impact 2030 disclosure
Discover more at azelis.com or scan the QR code.
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Technical
Suzie Douglas
Regional Manufacturing Manager, Chemtrade
Suzie Douglas started her career at BMW in the UK before taking on international challenges in China, and finally making the leap to Canada.
Throughout her career, Suzie’s willingness to step outside her comfort zone has been pivotal.
While working at BMW, she accepted a one-year assignment in China which was an unfamiliar role in a new country.
Despite her initial nerves, she seized the opportunity, which helped her hone her leadership skills, adapt to cultural differences, and build confidence in managing diverse teams.
Her time in China taught her the
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Rashda Khan, Ph.D
Senior Director of Product Innovation, Barentz
As Senior Director of Product Innovation at Barentz, Rashda Khan has built a career that bridges academic research, product manufacturing, and chemical distribution, all while balancing family, international moves, and a commitment to personal and professional growth.
Rashda’s passion for science was sparked in high school through a coop program at a hospital pharmacy in Canada. There, she learned firsthand the importance of precision, responsibility, and patient care. Originally set on becoming a pharmacist, her academic path evolved when she moved from Canada to California in 1998 to pursue an
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the UK to Canada. Without a job or guaranteed security, she took a leap of faith and her gamble paid off.
After securing a maintenance manager role at a power plant, she eventually found her place at Chemtrade, where she has thrived for
Suzie has continually broken barriers in a male-dominated field. Starting at BMW straight out of high school, she quickly worked her way up, becoming a supervisor by the age of 23.
She led by example, earning respect through authenticity, hard work, and equal treatment of her peers.
undergraduate degree in Biochemistry. Along the way, research and product formulation captured her interest and set her on a different path.
Raised as the eldest of five in a family of entrepreneurs, Rashda credits her upbringing with instilling essential business skills, resilience, and a relentless work ethic. She has built a career grounded in both scientific rigor and creative problem-solving.
Supporting her on this journey is what Rashda calls her personal Board of Directors, a circle of trusted family, mentors, and friends who provide perspective, challenge her thinking, and offer honest feedback.
Rashda’s diverse career path has been driven by a love of new challenges and a desire to broaden her perspective. She credits her academic foundation for solidifying her technical depth, which became the backbone of her problemsolving approach in every role since.
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Karen Winkowski
Vice President – Innovation, Innophos
Karen Winkowski has a Ph.D. in Food Science and decades of experience spanning continents, product categories, and industry sectors.
Karen’s formative years were anything but conventional. Growing and living in different countries and continents (Uruguay, Peru, Kenya, Israel, Mexico, and the U.S.), she experienced life through different cultural, social, and educational lenses. This international experience exposed her to diverse management styles, cultural norms, and regulatory landscapes, influencing her leadership style today.
While her academic background was in food microbiology and natural preservation systems, her first role took her into the world of Industrial Specialties.
A consistent passion throughout Karen’s career has been sustainability. In her current role at Innophos, she integrates this commitment through a sustainability-by-design approach. Her team considers a product’s entire lifecycle from raw material sourcing and production efficiencies to product use
and end-of-life impact when developing new solutions.
Karen’s philosophy is rooted in customer-centric innovation, where understanding unmet needs is as important as the technical work behind the solutions. She fosters environments where curiosity leads, encouraging teams to ask bold, sometimes uncomfortable questions that drive breakthroughs.
Karen believes leadership is as much about emotional resilience as it is about technical expertise. Her career has taught her that the only constant in business and in life is change. Rather than fearing it, she encourages others to see change as an opportunity for professional growth.
Spotlight on this year’s WIC Conference
From September 14-16, 2026, the oceanfront
Loews Miami Hotel in Florida will open its doors to hundreds of Women in Chemicals members for the biggest and best conference yet
Set against a spectacular backdrop of South Beach in Miami, Florida, the 2026 Women in Chemicals Conference will provide an unforgettable few days of presentations from leading keynote speakers, panel discussions dissecting the biggest news and issues affecting the industry, and plenty of time for networking.
What makes this year’s meeting even more unmissable is that it marks a very significant anniversary.
Since its inception in 2021, Women in Chemicals has been a platform for women working across the chemical sector and has become a thriving community. This year’s conference marks the fifth year of a globally recognized organization that continues to grow, thrive, and inspire.
“The next conference is going to be extra special and full of fun, energy, and excitement,” says Stephanie Folkmire, Women in Chemicals’ Conference Chair. “It will be a real celebration of how far we’ve come over the past five years and
what’s to come in the next five.”
The always sold-out annual conference has quickly become a mainstay of the chemical industry’s calendar, cementing its place as a mustattend event, says Folkmire.
Created by women for women, it is quite unlike anything else in the chemical sector – bringing together like-minded women in varied roles and at different stages of their careers and providing them with a safe space to further their personal and professional development.
“Our annual conference has become the main in-person event in the industry for women to gather from across the world,” she says. “What makes it great is the opportunity to connect with women who may not get to interact with each other otherwise. They get to feel a sense of camaraderie and ‘be seen’, which is just so important. This is a place where women can be heard; it’s somewhere they can feel comfortable being open, honest, and transparent – and that’s where the true growth really happens.”
Registration is now open...
Registration for the Women in Chemicals Conference 2026, taking place from September 14-16, 2026, is now open.
To see the latest updates, visit www.womeninchemicals.com/conference. Discounted tickets are available if you book before June 27 at www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-women-in-chemicals-conference
Regardless of your place in the industry, the event is a truly inclusive space with many opportunities to share experiences and learn. “Each year, we carefully tailor the programming so there is always something to match your interests and career goals – so it’s perfect if you’re a woman working in a chemical plant or if you’re a C-suite executive.”
“For me personally, there have been many times where I’ve been working in a chemical plant and have been the only woman. You get so used to feeling alone and isolated,” she says. “Bringing all these strong and incredible women together and helping them realize that others are dealing with the same issues is so valuable.”
Registration is now open and places are going fast. More than 400 people attended last year’s event in Chicago, Illinois, but an even larger turnout of 500-600 is expected this September.
Conveniently located on the south coast and easily accessible from major airports, Folkmire hopes September’s meeting will give even more people the opportunity to enjoy the experience.
“For me, the keynote presentations
are always a highlight. Last year, they really resonated with attendees,” says Folkmire. “Our opening keynote then was Lisa Sun, founder and CEO of GRAVITAS, and she inspired everyone to strive and achieve. As everyone walked out of that session, you could feel the energy and enthusiasm.”
“Closing last year’s conference, Bonnie Tully, Chief Operations Officer at Evonik Corporation, was also candid about the path she took towards her COO role. She was so transparent about the lessons she learned throughout her career and how you could grow and accomplish anything you wanted to.”
The 2026 program is now being finalized and should be every bit as inspiring. Keep checking the Women in Chemicals website at www. womeninchemicals.com/conference regularly for updates.
From developing essential skills and transitioning between jobs to learning how to lead teams more effectively, the keynotes and educational resources offer practical takeaways tailored specifically to attendees’ interests.
This year’s Women of the Year
winner will also take to the stage to be interviewed by Women in Chemicals’ Programs Chair, Claire McGahan, and Programs Coordinator, Jordan Riddle.
“We have lots of exciting topics planned, and there really will be something for everyone,” says Folkmire. “We’ve again tried to identify a variety of professional, personal, and industryrelated topics, so you can choose those that are most relevant to you – creating your own pathway based on what meets your needs.”
Spread over three days, the training, workshops, and 16 carefully curated concurrent sessions will focus on three distinct phases of your career journey (Early Career, Mid-Career, and Executive).
“It’s also exciting to be able to touch on topics that are maybe a little bit taboo and something that isn’t really talked about in the workplace,” says Folkmire. “The conference gives us a voice and a forum to discuss things that so many women go through in their professional careers.”
Among the many highlights will be a presentation looking at how to navigate “invisible tasks” in the workplace – the non-promotable work that women are disproportionately expected to take on that helps keep organizations running smoothly but receives little or no recognition or advancement.
Other sessions will look at real-world strategies to help build emotional
resilience during high-pressure moments; the transformational nature of artificial intelligence and how to harness its – and your – potential; how to advocate for one another and break down the barriers of underrepresentation; and how best to overcome the emotional and practical challenges of the silent and often overlooked stages of women’s careers, from fertility to menopause, and everything in between.
“I’m very excited about one particular presentation that focuses on being pregnant at the chemical plant and highlights the unique challenges women face,” says Folkmire. “We’ll be walking through different policies, procedures, and best practices and providing lots of opportunities for people to share their own experiences as well.”
“There have been a lot of pushbacks with DEI and equitable practices in recent years, and although these are obviously challenging times, this organization and our community continue to push forward,” says Folkmire.
“There’s an overwhelming sense of community and growth within Women in Chemicals. Every woman needs to feel seen and heard in the chemical industry and things do seem to be changing for the better. Our conference is helping to make that happen.”
Andy Brice
A year in pictures
It has been another packed year, full of many happy memories, personal growth, and professional development
Book Club: Top five
Each quarter, Women in Chemicals hosts a virtual Book Club for our community to gather and delve into books that focus on personal and professional development. Here, in honor of our five year anniversary, we take a look back at our top five favorite titles since the Book Club began in 2022. Scan the QR codes to read reviews or to buy a copy.
#5 Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Our inaugural WIC Book Club pick in Q4 2022 was the bestselling novel Lessons in Chemistry. The story follows Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant 1960s chemist, whose sidelined career, due to sexism, leads her to an unexpected role as the host of a hit TV cooking show, where she uses science to empower women to defy expectations. This engaging read sparked a meaningful conversation about women’s experiences in STEM.
#4 Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High, Third Edition by Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, Emily Gregory
We kicked off our first full year of Book Club in Q1 2023 with Crucial Conversations, a standout guide to navigating high stakes dialogue. It taught us how to stay persuasive, not abrasive, and how to keep conversations productive when emotions run high. Every chapter offers practical, memorable tools that apply to everyday interactions.
#3 Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brené Brown
AtWIC’s inaugural 2024 conference, we hosted our firstever in - person Book Club session featuring Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead This transformative read challenged us to lead with courage, embracing vulnerability, empathy, and tough conversations as the foundation of authentic leadership, and it left a lasting impression on participants.
#2 Gravitas: The 8 Strengths That Redefine Confidence by Lisa Sun
Our Q2 2025 pick, Gravitas, redefined what confidence means. Sun shows that confidence isn’t a single trait but a set of eight strengths we all carry within
us. This book helped our Book Club members uncover their own confidence language and set the stage for Sun’s unforgettable keynote at WIC’s 2025 conference in Chicago.
#1 Tranquility by Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters by Laura Vanderkam We kicked off 2025 with Tranquility by Tuesday, and members are still raving about it – some even calling it our best pick yet! This straightforward read outlines nine practical, easy to implement strategies for creating a calmer, more intentional life through smarter time management and resilient (not perfect) schedules that make room for what matters most.
Meet the team...
Board of Directors
KATIE HESS Executive Director
AMELIA GREENE Chairwoman of the Board, Co-Founder & Director of Corporate Partnerships
