The Chemical Show: Where Leaders Talk Business

Real decisions. Trusted peers. The Chemical Executive Mastermind. Learn more and apply.

Fresh from NYSCC Suppliers' Day, host Victoria Meyer shares key updates on the changes shaping personal care. This episode covers top takeaways for chemical suppliers, manufacturers, and value chain partners—featuring on-the-floor conversations with Neslihan Utkan of Croda and Syensqo’s Jennifer Zientek and Tom Brophy. 
Victoria highlights how companies are responding to demands for better performance, more sustainable products, and resilient supply chains. Insights from Neslihan, Jennifer, and Tom show where the industry is headed: multifunctionality, sensory impact, local sourcing, and the rising influence of global innovation. The episode also covers regulatory breakthroughs, such as approval of the first new US sunscreen filter in 25 years, and what faster ingredient approvals mean for suppliers and brands. 
 
Listen in for insights on: 
Product innovation: Multifunctional, sensory-focused, and bio-based ingredients 
Realigning supply chains for resilience and local sourcing 
New regulatory approvals and their impact on market opportunities 
 
Killer Quote:  "It’s all about innovation and we need to focus on really innovating to meet the unmet customer requirements and needs." — Neslihan Utkan, Croda  
Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player. Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review. 
*Get more insights—join our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com

Real decisions. Trusted peers. The Chemical Executive Mastermind. Learn more and apply.

Turning groundbreaking ideas into real market value is more challenging than most realize. Victoria Meyer and Cameron Begley, host of Tech Transfer Talk (sponsored by Spiegare), explore the pitfalls and successes of technology transfer, innovation, and commercialization within the chemical industry. They draw on years of experience to reveal why many innovations face roadblocks and what companies need to do differently to bring new products to market. 
Their conversation covers the crucial role of leadership in setting risk tolerance, the human factors at the heart of business change, and how digital and regulatory shifts are redefining value and sustainability. This episode offers practical insight for industry professionals on navigating today’s complex innovation landscape. 
 
Tune in to hear more about: 
What Technology Transfer Really Means: Moving innovation from lab to real-world impact 
Why Great Ideas Often Don’t Make It: Commercial hurdles, market fit, and the overvaluation of early-stage IP 
Operational Excellence vs. Innovation: Why large companies often struggle with disruptive change 
The Shift from Efficiency to Resilience: Implications for asset strategy, supply chain, and business model design 
People, Not Just Processes: The human dynamic in successful integration, M&A, and organizational change 
The Board, the C-Suite, and Risk Appetite: How leadership perspective shapes what gets funded—and what gets killed 
Measuring Value in Innovation: The unique challenge of quantifying digital investment and other non-traditional initiatives 
Regulation and Social License: Balancing necessary oversight with the need to accelerate safer, greener technologies 
Sustainability—Big S vs. Little S: Pragmatic approaches to long-term business health and environmental responsibility 
 
Killer Quote: " Companies don’t do tech transfer—people do tech transfer. Success comes down to culture, communication, and clear incentives at every level. " — Cameron Begley 
More Links:
www.techtransfertalk.com
www.spiegare.com.au
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-begley-9138bb/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/spiegare-consulting/

Real decisions. Trusted peers. The Chemical Executive Mastermind. Learn more and apply.

Examining Q1 2026 earnings in the chemical industry, Victoria Meyer, host of The Chemical Show, breaks down what company reports really reveal about demand, pricing, and outlook for the rest of the year. Victoria focuses on the critical signals from Q1 and what business leaders should watch as market disruptions continue.
This episode tackles the nuanced difference between stabilization and true recovery, drawing from public earnings calls and direct conversations at recent industry events. Victoria explains that while some companies have seen volume and pricing lift, much of the activity reflects inventory pre-buying rather than fundamental demand. North American petrochemical producers are benefiting from feedstock advantages, whereas Asian and European producers are facing unique challenges, from feedstock constraints to lingering regulatory issues. The episode also highlights how defensive management remains the norm, with a strong emphasis on cost discipline, restructuring, and risk management as companies look to navigate ongoing geopolitical uncertainties and regionally diverse market conditions.

Join us to learn more about the following topics this week:
Q1 2026 Earnings: What the numbers actually show about recovery versus stabilization
Demand Signals: Inventory rebuild or genuine end-market momentum?
Pricing Trends: Where pricing power exists, and why North American producers are “winning”
Regional Differences: Contrasting scenarios in North America, Europe, and Asia
Distributor and Specialty Market Performance: Who’s passing on costs and maintaining margin?
The Management Playbook: How leaders are prioritizing cash generation, cost-cutting, and strategic readiness
What’s Next: Key risks to watch in Q2 and beyond—including the threat of inventory hangover and profit margin compression
 
Killer Quote: “The biggest risk as we go forward into 2026 isn’t weak demand or tepid margins. It’s making decisions and assumptions as if recovery has already arrived, as if the rest of the year is painting itself with clarity—because the old way is not coming back.”  - Victoria Meyer
Other Links:
Subscribe to The Chemical Show for weekly insights and analysis from chemical industry leaders.
Want more? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com
Like the show? Leave us a rating or review.

Real decisions. Trusted peers. The Chemical Executive Mastermind. Learn more and apply.

Five years of volatility have reshaped how chemical businesses define advantage. On this 5th anniversary episode of The Chemical Show, Victoria King Meyer uncovers the industry's most significant shifts since 2021, including the normalization of disruption, the move from efficiency to resilience in supply chains, and the new balance between global and local strategies. She shares how AI is transitioning from a side project to a core business driver, even as the industry lags behind, and why bold promises around sustainability are giving way to more disciplined action.
*****
Ready to reshape your advantage in the chemical industry? Join Victoria Meyer and top leaders at this year’s Chemical Summit, happening September 29th and 30th in Houston, Texas. The theme:  Reshaping Advantage – with insights tools & discussions on how leaders gaining the upper hand through technology, leadership, talent, and more.
Join the waitlist. Seats are limited, with priority for sponsors, past attendees, and those on the waitlist. Don’t miss your chance to be first in line when tickets become available—join the waitlist now at thechemicalsummit.com.
***** 
Victoria outlines the traits of future winners in the chemical sector: those who act early, build operational resilience, and invest in new talent and digital transformation. Discover what it takes to not just respond to change, but to reshape your business and thrive in an environment where disruption has become business as usual.

Real decisions. Trusted peers. The Chemical Executive Mastermind. Learn more and apply.

Once considered a back-office function, supply chain management has become crucial to business strategy as disruptions and geopolitical events reshape the chemical industry. Host Victoria Meyer is joined by Jennifer Jewson (LyondellBasell), Claudia Moshiri (Brenntag), and Chad Burke (Economic Alliance Houston Port Region) live from AFPM International Petrochemical Conference to discuss how companies are adapting—emphasizing flexibility, optionality, and visibility to stay resilient and competitive. 
The panel shares practical approaches to risk management, compliance, and digitization, while examining the challenges of infrastructure constraints and the rapid evolution of the global landscape. With insights on real-time disruptions like the Strait of Hormuz, the conversation offers valuable takeaways for industry professionals looking to strengthen supply chain resilience and capability for the future. 
Subscribe to The Chemical Show on YouTube 
 
Listen in this week as Victoria and the Supply Chains Under Stress Panel discuss the following: 
 Supply chain moves to boardroom priority  
 Navigating real-time global disruptions  
 AI and data in decision making  
 Infrastructure and workforce under pressure  
 Building resilience and flexibility forward
 
Killer Quote: "Supply chains aren’t just operational; they're not just back office. They're really strategic. They're really a strategic part of our businesses and the ability to make those tradeoffs, understand constraints, and really understand those consequences." — Victoria Meyer