Claire is a remarkable London-based individual who embarked on an unconventional career journey, transforming her path from education to leadership in media and publishing. This is a story of determination, courage, and a commitment to balance work and family life, and it is a story that resonates with many working mothers striving for professional growth while raising a family. Claire spent seven years in the media and publishing industry, an unexpected transition from her initial foray into education. Seeking a better work-life balance, she explored ways to apply her skills in the media world. The "a-ha" moment came when she and her husband realized the toll their busy lives were taking on their family. This realization prompted a gradual shift in their priorities, leading her to embark on a journey of volunteering and skill diversification. Her leadership role in a charity marked a turning point, cementing her path toward a career in leadership.

Business Development at Mission Chemical, Jennifer’s story is truly inspirational. Her journey has been shaped by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and commitment, resulting in a well-rounded skill set and deep understanding of what it takes to excel in today's dynamic business environment. She also shares several key takeaways for working mothers and professionals in any industry.

Operations Engineer at BASF, Jordan is a highly motivated individual with a diverse educational and professional background. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Auburn University and is currently pursuing an MBA, also at Auburn University. Her unique combination of engineering and business education reflects her strong desire to understand the intricate connections between various business functions, particularly in the context of manufacturing.

Kasia joined us from Poland, where she was born and raised. Though her journey in Human Resources (HR) and her current role as Talent & Diversity Manager at Air Liquide might seem unconventional, it's a testament to her tenacity and adaptability. She initially graduated with a degree in economics and stumbled into HR shortly before completing her studies. Her early career path took her through various HR roles in six different companies across different industries. However, she encountered a turning point when she realized that she needed something more meaningful in her professional life, and that is when she found her passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I).

While Vanessa’s professional journey is impressive, Vanessa believes that her family is the most vital aspect of her life. She proudly identifies as an older mom with a ninth grader, offering a playful plea for luck in navigating the challenges of raising a teenage girl. Vanessa's interests are as diverse as her career, encompassing art, motorcycle riding, and rock climbing. She humorously describes herself as a "recovering physics major" who still revels in the joys of science and occasionally "geeks out." This love for science has been a driving force behind her career trajectory through various technical and highly capital-intensive organizations. Her career began in corporate America, and she made a brief stop at a law firm before embarking on a path that led her to organizations where she could see her impact firsthand. Vanessa's professional odyssey includes roles at MCI Worldcom, Altria, and a fascinating detour into the federal government.

With a background in Chemical Engineering, Terri has had a remarkable journey within the company, spanning 32 years. Terri's fascination with science began at a young age, where she enjoyed experimenting and creating in various aspects of her life. Ultimately, her love for math and chemistry led her to pursue a degree in chemical engineering after realizing it was her true passion. Throughout her career at Amway, Terri attributes her success to having excellent mentors who recognized her potential, even when she didn't see it herself. She has worked on high-profile projects, earned a patent, and had the opportunity to work overseas in India and Belgium during her tenure. Recently, she made the transition into management, a challenge that she embraced and navigated by strengthening the relationship with her team and with the support of her mentors.

Dr. Starks is a remarkable educator with a 26-year career in teaching and a passion for STEM education. Her journey began in 1998 when she became a teacher, working with at-risk youth. She attended Texas A&M University with the dream of becoming a zoologist, but her experience working with kids in a maximum-security prison ignited her passion for education. As a first-generation college student, Dr. Starks defied expectations and pursued her true calling. Dr. Starks's shift into chemistry and her drive for teaching stem from her exposure to physics and chemistry during her career, and various collaborative outreach opportunities at NASA solidified her passion for STEM education. Recognizing that chemistry is the foundation for all sciences, she became determined to introduce children to this subject at an early age. Dr. Starks believes that the natural sciences have taken a backseat to technology-focused fields, and she aims to rekindle interest in these subjects.

Caitlin is a remarkable individual with a diverse background and a successful career in the chemical engineering industry. Caitlin grew up in a small town in Texas, located 50 miles west of Houston. She pursued her education at the University of South Carolina, where she studied Chemical Engineering. After completing her degree, Caitlin embarked on her professional journey, joining ExxonMobil and working in offshore operations. Following her tenure at ExxonMobil, Caitlin transitioned to a role at Motiv, where she gained valuable experience in her field. Through her extensive professional network, Caitlin was then recruited by a startup called Solugen. At Solugen, she started as the third employee and witnessed the company's growth, which now boasts around 200 employees. Caitlin attributes her career progression to her involvement in high-profile and high-risk projects. She has managed several intense projects throughout her career, including one with a remarkably quick turnaround of just six months. From these experiences, Caitlin has learned valuable lessons in managing such demanding endeavors. Despite the high-stress nature of her projects, Caitlin has developed strategies to maintain her composure and keep her team calm. Her personality plays a role, as she is known for remaining level-headed and composed even in challenging situations.

Heather is an account manager for Harcros Chemicals for Southeast Georgia and North & Central Florida. Heather originally went to school to become a teacher, and she taught for ten years after graduating. Heather was the first to graduate in her family, and her ultimate goal was to make more money to help her kids, so she went into pharmaceutical sales for three years. She found pharmaceutical sales to lack stability, so she made another jump in her career to chemical sales. Heather is the youngest of six children and she has two children of her own. Heather credits her mother with instilling her with strong Christian values and stated that this impacted every facet of her life, and it specifically taught her the value of a strong work ethic, integrity, honesty and good character. Heather believes that she acquired skillsets through teaching that were transferrable and helpful for her transition and success in sales. Skillsets of particular note included pre-planning, differentiated your approach, and disaggregating data to determine needs.

Agatha is an Account Manager at BASF, and she joined the interview from Nigeria, making her our first Woman of the Week interview from Africa. Agatha came from a large family and was one of eight siblings, and this is where she learned her parental values which she applies to her own family as a mom of four daughters. Growing up, Agatha wanted to be a microbiologist, and her first career was as a laboratory scientist focusing on quality assurance and quality control. After four years, Agatha decided to move onto a new role after a contact told her that she had the right skill set and right personality for a career in sales, so without sales experience, Agatha took a leap of faith and moved into a career in sales. After almost nine years, Agatha took a role at BASF which is where she is currently employed. Agatha truly has a passion for sales and the industry in which she sells into, and believes that as a female, it is always important to drive towards success. Thinking back to early in her career, Agatha never knew she would have a career in sales and she had different career aspirations to fix the world, but after being offered an opportunity, she pushed herself to be successful.

Sandra received her degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin then went on to build a "back of the house career" where she focused on functions such as quality, R&D, operations, and project management. She was urged by a sponsor to obtain her executive MBA, which she received from Kellogg School of Management, and subsequently, she moved to a "front of house career" holding various commercial roles in the medical device and pharmaceutical industries.  Throughout her career tenure, Sandra remains inspired at the opportunity to drive positive business performance through high-performing teams and cross-functional collaboration. In 2017, she landed in her current role at W. R.  Grace & Co. (Grace) as President of their Materials Technologies business.

Claire is currently an account executive at The Stepan Company and she is a member of their surfactants division. She has been at Stepan for 13 years, and she started her career at Stepan straight out of college. Claire has a business degree with a chemistry minor, and she was first introduced to Stepan through seminars that her college offered from chemical companies. Throughout her tenure with Stepan, Claire has had a variety of roles include sales trainee, market focused (HI&I) direct accounts, consumer national accounts, geography based territory, and now global consumer products.