(191h) Fostering Innovation: Embracing Diversity in My Career

This presentation delves into my recent technical accomplishments in the context of the catalysis career journey which led me to my current roles. It conveys how catalysis has been the heart and inspiration, and driving force of my work for, as John Armor noted in 2008, “catalysis is the key to both life and lifestyle.” Echoing this sentiment, this talk covers both the technical elements of a catalysis career and the social aspects of catalyzing innovation.

This talk relives my career-spanning international journey from Poznan in Poland to Lyon in France, to Berkeley in California, to my current position with The Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan. It discusses how, each step of the way, while adding new technical skills to my portfolio, I also discovered how to work with different types of teams and cultures and vastly different environments. From synthesis, to characterization, to reactor design and mechanistic studies, it illustrates how a wide variety of skills obtained in a wide variety of projects can come together to speed innovation as a catalyst speeds a reaction. It also highlights my commitment to diversity and inclusion, particularly of women, in catalysis and engineering.

As an example of diversity in action, this talk reviews the collaboration that I lead for Dow with Northwestern University on development of a C₂ carbonylation catalyst. Bridging this gap, from academic invention to industrial innovation, is of singular importance in highlighting the impact of basic research breakthroughs on catalysis science. Notably, my diverse skill mix, combined with Dow’s commitment to inclusion, empowered me to lead this diverse team.

In conclusion, this talk aims to promote actionable practices for scientists of all backgrounds—male, female, young, and old—to create a vibrant future for our profession. By embracing diverse perspectives, we can catalyze innovation.