Wondering how venture capital firms support the clean tech startup ecosystem?

Explore the intricacies of sustainable investing and leadership dynamics in the chemical industry with Rob van der Meij, a partner at Capricorn Partners in part 1 of this 2 part series. Host Victoria Meyer delves into Rob's expertise on ESG and impact investing, the vital role of leadership throughout a company's life cycle, and the emotional challenges founders face in relinquishing control.

Hear about Capricorn Partners' unique approach to venture capital investment in cleantech and chemistry sectors, highlighting the importance of diversified investments and the innovation hurdles startups encounter.

Join us this week as Victoria and Rob discuss the following topics:

• Sustainable Investing
• Transitioning skills from big to small companies
• The role of venture capital in chemicals and clean tech
• Venture capital versus private equity
• Derisking and business development

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Behavioral economics is revolutionizing the business world with Melina Palmer, CEO of The Brainy Business, and Victoria Meyer on The Chemical Show®. Melina delves into the importance of social proof in influencing consumer decisions, showcasing how psychological principles can dramatically shape pricing strategies. Highlighting examples from luxury goods like the Birkin bag to New York City's $214 grilled cheese sandwich, she explains how scarcity, identity, and well-framed messaging can alter purchasing behavior irrespective of functionality.

Melina will be a speaker at The Chemical Summit on October 8-9, 2024 in Spring, Texas. For details and tickets, visit thechemicalsummit.com.

Victoria and Melina discuss the profound impact language and framing have on decision-making, emphasizing the value of thoughtful communication in reducing stress and improving organizational efficiency. They share actionable insights on leveraging behavioral economics principles in B2B settings, experimenting with small focused tests, and leading teams with an openness to change and human-centric strategies.

Tune in to hear Victoria and Eric discuss the following topics:

• Life as a series of micro moments and micro decisions
• Communicating with customers and getting them to buy your products
• The Truth About Pricing and the rest of the story
• Applying behavioral economics to B2B markets
• Linguistics as a part of value, pricing, and negotiations
• Aligning your business' communication and messaging
• Effective leadership in turning the tide more toward behavior centricity

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Discover why methanol has become the number one alternative fuel for ships ordered in 2023 and how the race for environmentally improved methanol is shaping the future of the chemical industry. Eric Bober, Senior VP at NexantECA, joins host Victoria Meyer on The Chemical Show® to dive into the evolution of green chemicals, the urgent demand for sustainable methanol as marine fuel, and the gap between innovation and infrastructure.

Victoria and Eric explore the groundbreaking advancements and the hurdles companies face in project development and market segmentation, all while highlighting the critical role of consortiums and government incentives in driving progress. Further discussing the importance of balancing traditional technology with innovative solutions, Victoria and Eric shed light on carbon capture and the strategies to mitigate risks and propel the industry forward. As the push for decarbonization intensifies, hear how methanol’s journey from commodity to green powerhouse is poised to reshape the chemical and shipping industries.

Tune in to hear Victoria and Eric discuss the following topics:

• Green Methanol: the revolution continues and the evolution is currently "bogged down"
• Methanol as a shipping fuel
• Decarbonization: Who's paying for it?
• Leveraging the strengths and advantages of methanol
• Solutions to speeding up environmentally improved methanol
• Methanol's future outlook

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Wondering how a unicorn startup in the chemical industry is changing the business of chemicals? Join host Victoria Meyer as she speaks with Gaurab Chakrabarti, co-founder and CEO of Solugen, to explore innovative approaches that challenge the traditional paradigms of bigger, more efficient assets. Their conversation delves into alternative solutions for reducing carbon intensity, emphasizing the importance of local supply chains and circular feedstocks.

Gaurab Chakrabarti is a force in the chemical industry, renowned for his unique journey from aspiring medical doctor to pioneering entrepreneur. A Forbes 30 under 30 honoree, Gaurab's passion for studying pancreatic cancer led him to uncover parallels between cancer biology and chemical processing, ultimately inspiring him to co-found Solugen. Alongside his best friend Sean Hunt, Gaurab is committed to decarbonizing the chemical industry through innovative enzymatic catalysts and scalable, high-yield processes.

Learn more as Victoria and Gaurab discuss the following topics:

• An unconventional start to a career: from physician to scientist to Forbes 30 under 30
• Solugen's framework of decarbonization
• Growing into a 2 billion company and the expectations that arise
• How receiving a DOE loan creates an inflection point in growth
• Workforce and cultural evolution of Solugen
• Gaurab's career insights and advice

–Gaurab Chakrabarti

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How essential are strong business relationships and how can geopolitical tensions shape chemical industry business strategies? Host Victoria Meyer sits down with Franklin Fisher, founder and CEO of South Carolina Chemical, and a seasoned expert in international sourcing, contract manufacturing, and supply chain management this week on The Chemical Show®.

Frank shares his insights on the pressing issues affecting the chemical industry today, from the impact of geopolitical tensions on global supply chains to the practical and ethical considerations of reshoring operations. The conversation also navigates through his career journey, spotlighting the role of empathy in leadership and the unexpected freedom of running his own business.

Be sure to tune in to learn more about the following topics this week:

• How Frank continued seeking challenges to develop academic and professional success
• A new company born in retirement: South Carolina Chemical
• Assessing a company’s competitiveness in a global marketplace
• Is regionalization a trend or a long-term solution?
• Leading a big enterprise versus leading a small enterprise
• The importance of empathy in leadership

– Frank Fisher

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Ep 167 Show Notes - Carbon Capture and Sustainability with Kevin Norfleet of Celanese

Get an insider's view of sustainability in the chemical industry with Kevin Norfleet, Global Sustainability Director at Celanese, as he joins Victoria Meyer on The Chemical Show®. Kevin shares his journey from chemical engineering to spearheading sustainability efforts at Celanese, including the company's innovative initiatives like the large-scale carbon capture and utilization project for methanol production in Texas.

Victoria and Kevin delve into the evolving demands for sustainable products, discussing which market segments are leading the charge and how companies can offer competitive and impactful eco-friendly solutions. Additionally, Kevin touches on the importance of sustainability in talent recruitment and career development within the chemical industry, offering valuable advice for aspiring professionals.

This episode was recorded at the American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care® and Sustainability Conference.

Don’t miss the following topics this week:

• Methanol as a scalable building block for sustainability
• Investing in Carbon Capture & Utilization (CCU) to reduce carbon footprint
• Viewing sustainability through a customer's lens
• Sustainability as an employee value proposition
• The importance of agility in career success

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Wondering how we produce our podcast?

• We use Transistor to publish our podcast. Check it out here: https://transistor.fm/?via=victoria
• We use CastMagic.io to create ShowNotes, Newsletters, Social Media posts and more. Check it out here: https://get.castmagic.io/ean5etivmzi1
  
  

We use Descript to edit and transcribe each podcast episode. Follow this link to learn more: https://get.descript.com/j0hyfup4gm0t

Ep 166 Show Notes

Explore the pivotal role data and AI are playing in transforming safety and sustainability at DuPont with Daryl Roberts, Chief Engineering and Operations Officer. At ACC's Responsible Care® and Sustainability Conference, Daryl shares his journey in the chemical industry, fueled by a family heritage of engineering, and his career progression through various roles in notable companies like Eastman Kodak, Arkema, and DuPont.

Daryl highlights DuPont's unwavering commitment to Responsible Care and sustainability, detailing innovative approaches ranging from electric vehicle components to water filtration systems. The discussion delves into how DuPont leverages data and AI for predictive maintenance and operational safety, ultimately aiming to foster a sustainable and safe work environment. Aspiring leaders can glean invaluable advice on taking risks and the importance of continuous learning in advancing their careers.

This episode was recorded at the American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care® and Sustainability Conference.

Be sure to explore the following topics this week:

• Career in chemicals... a family legacy
• Harnessing Responsible Care as a measure of trust and community value
• DuPont's 3 Pillars of Sustainability
• Developing Products that Drive Safe Living
• How Data and AI drive sustainability and operations
• Key Skills in the Future Workforce
• Lifelong learning to drive career success

***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player.
***Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review.
***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com

Wondering how we produce our podcast?

• We use Transistor to publish our podcast. Check it out here: https://transistor.fm/?via=victoria
• We use CastMagic.io to create ShowNotes, Newsletters, Social Media posts and more. Check it out here: https://get.castmagic.io/ean5etivmzi1
• We use Descript to edit and transcribe each podcast episode. Follow this link to learn more: https://get.descript.com/j0hyfup4gm0t
  
  

Ep 165 Show Notes - Achieving Success in Chemicals: Sustainability and Leadership with Bonnie Tully of Evonik

Bonnie Tully, North American President of Evonik, joins host Victoria Meyer to tackle Responsible Care®, the ambitious strides in sustainability, and the transformative shifts in industry culture. Bonnie shares compelling insights and actionable strategies this week on The Chemical Show.

This episode is a masterclass in leadership, sustainability, and making big impacts through small steps, all while navigating the ever-evolving demands of the chemical industry. Don't miss Bonnie's take on fostering an innovative culture and her empowering advice for the next generation of industry leaders!

This episode was recorded at the American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care® and Sustainability Conference.

Victoria and Bonnie discuss the following:

• Responsible Care principles at Evonik
• Evonik's sustainability pillars: next-generation solutions, technology, and culture.
• Customer demand for sustainable solutions
• Cultural shift towards sustainability within Evonik and employee engagement.
• Women in leadership roles & Bonnie's career advice

Killer Quote: "It's really the employees seeing sustainable opportunities and bringing them forward... and then management saying, hey, we see a business case here and pushing the organization to work towards sustainability." - Bonnie Tulley

***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player.
***Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review.
***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com

Wondering how we produce our podcast?

• We use Transistor to publish our podcast. Check it out here: https://transistor.fm/?via=victoria
• We use CastMagic.io to create ShowNotes, Newsletters, Social Media posts and more. Check it out here: https://get.castmagic.io/ean5etivmzi1
• We use Descript to edit and transcribe each podcast episode. Follow this link to learn more: https://get.descript.com/j0hyfup4gm0t