Creating a Culture of
Rapid Innovation
Session Summary: The chemical industry is the backbone of modern civilization, shaping every facet of our lives. Yet, it often grapples with the challenge of adapting swiftly to change. Join us as we unravel the power of innovation in meeting dynamic market demands and driving transformative change.
This panel brings together a mix of experts spanning R&D, engineering, and product development from one of today’s most promising startups. Through their diverse experiences, we'll explore the strategies and mindsets essential to cultivating a culture of rapid innovation.
Our discussion will delve into practical examples and case studies, including:
· Feedback Loops: How fostering continuous dialogue with end customers and creators fuels innovation and enhances product development.
· Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Unleashing the creative potential by breaking down silos and fostering collaboration between diverse teams.
· Agile Methodologies: Embracing flexibility and iteration to accelerate the pace of innovation and adapt to changing market dynamics.
· Technology Integration: Leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as AI, IoT, and data analytics to drive innovation and optimize processes.
· Sustainability Initiatives: Exploring how innovative approaches to sustainability can not only drive environmental stewardship but also unlock new business opportunities.
Our panelists will share actionable insights and real-world lessons, empowering both established players and newcomers to embrace innovation as a catalyst for growth. Join us as we navigate the intersection of technology, customer-centricity, and sustainability, and chart a course towards a brighter future for the chemicals industry.
This Session is Sponsored By:
Solugen
Speakers
Anika Gupta
Anika leads R&D Operations at Solugen, where she focuses on standing up new processes to support R&D, translating R&D-speak to business-speak, and tackling the other unpredictable questions and challenges that face Solugen. Prior to joining Solugen, Anika provided management consulting at the Boston Consulting Group and private equity operations at KKR. She received her SB from MIT in Materials Science and Engineering and her MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Anika lives in San Francisco with her husband where they enjoy outdoor adventures and cooking together.
Jihye Kim, Ph.D.
Jihye is a Director of Product at Solugen, bringing over 15 years of experience in new technology development, commercialization, project management, and high-tech research across Clean Tech, Energy, Agriculture, and Microfluidics sectors. Prior to joining Solugen, Jihye was a lead engineer at Baker Hughes and part of the CULTIVATE STEM women's leadership program. Known for her adeptness in crafting innovative solutions, Jihye has played a pivotal role in the development of Solugen's Agriculture Solutions product line, showcasing her ability to navigate technical challenges with finesse. Jihye earned her Doctorate in Chemical Engineering from Texas Tech University and has published over 20 patents and papers. She is a reviewer for the Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering (Elsevier). Outside of work, Jihye is a mother of two and dedicates her time to teaching pre-K students at her church’s Sunday school, New Life Fellowship.
Sarah Tutt
Sarah has been a Process Engineer at Solugen for the past three years, where she played a pivotal role in commissioning the company’s first manufacturing plant, the Bioforge, and continues to support scale-up efforts out of the Pilot Plant for new chemistries. Prior to joining Solugen, Sarah earned her BS in Chemical Engineering from Texas Tech University, where she was President of the Whitacre College of Engineering Outreach Raiders, a program where engineering students teach STEM/STEAM related curriculum to local elementary school students. She also participated in undergraduate research focused on the development of sensor technologies for early diagnosis of infection, high-throughput drug screening, and rapid identification of environmental toxins. Sarah interned at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM in the Ion Beam Laboratory where she worked alongside scientists to study and modify materials systems using ion and electron accelerators, specifically TEM and SEM systems. In her spare time, Sarah likes to practice yoga and learn new recipes.