Listen to This Episode with Bonnie Tully Here:
In this classic replay episode of The Chemical Show, 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 Tully
Watch Victoria and Bonnie’s Conversation on Youtube Here:
Classic Replay: Sustainability and Leadership with Bonnie Tully of Evonik
In the ever-evolving landscape of the chemical industry, sustainability has emerged as a vital focus area, demonstrating both environmental responsibility and innovative potential. Recently at the ACC’s Responsible Care and Sustainability Conference, The Chemical Show had the privilege of speaking with Bonnie Tully, the North American President of Evonik. The discourse spanned her fascinating career journey, the implications of Responsible Care, and Evonik’s strategic approach to sustainability. These insights offer a window into the forward-thinking and responsible practices shaping the future of the chemical industry.
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From Corpus Christi to Corporate Leadership
Career Pathways and Opportunities
Bonnie Tully’s journey into the chemical industry is a testament to the power of adaptability and opportunity. Growing up in Corpus Christi, Texas—a hub for industrial and petrochemical companies—Tully was naturally inclined towards the sector. After earning a mechanical engineering degree from Texas A&M, she initially aimed for the oil and gas industry. However, a downturn led her to explore the chemical industry instead. Starting her career at Roman Haas, she experienced numerous roles, transitioning through engineering, production, maintenance, and technical management.
Her career trajectory took a significant turn when Roman Haas was acquired by Evonik, a multinational company headquartered in Germany. This move opened doors for Tully, offering her opportunities to manage large manufacturing sites, including a complex in Singapore and the largest Evonik facility in North America, located in Mobile, Alabama.
Embracing Responsible Care
Foundational Principles and Industry-Wide Commitment
Responsible Care, the global initiative launched in 1988, has been a cornerstone of Evonik’s operations. This initiative offers a unified framework of safety, health, and environmental protocols that member companies adhere to. “It gives us some foundational principles that we can speak about, whether we’re talking about our facilities or with management,” Tully explained. For Evonik, process hazard analysis, community action panels, and mechanical integrity programs are integral parts of this foundational framework.
Responsible Care not only strengthens intra-company consistency but also fosters broader industry-wide alignment. Tully emphasized how crucial it is for all stakeholders in the supply chain, including logistics providers, transporters, and warehouses, to adhere to these shared principles. This common platform enhances collaboration and ensures a higher standard of operations across the industry.
Next Generation Sustainability at Evonik
Three Pillars for a Sustainable Future
Sustainability at Evonik is structured around three pivotal pillars: Next Generation Solutions, Next Generation Technology, and Next Generation Culture. Each represents a different facet of their holistic approach to reducing environmental impact.
- Next Generation Solutions: This pillar focuses on products that enable customers to create more sustainable outcomes. By 2030, Evonik aims for over 50% of its product portfolio to consist of sustainable solutions. From silica-enhanced green tires to biogas separation membranes and innovative biosurfactants, Evonik’s products are designed to support a more sustainable economy.
- Next Generation Technology: Internally, Evonik is committed to minimizing its environmental footprint. Initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions, increase energy efficiency, and conserve water and land resources exemplify this pursuit.
- Next Generation Culture: Ensuring sustainability is embedded in the company’s culture involves garnering active participation from all employees. Tully pointed out that a cultural shift towards sustainability is imperative, with both management and employees driving initiatives forward.
Driving Innovation through Culture and Collaboration
Engaging Employees and Encouraging Creativity
Evonik’s sustainability ethos extends beyond managerial decisions to include ideas from employees at all levels. The shop floor employees are encouraged to propose innovative ideas such as the installation of LED light bulbs or new waste reduction methods. Empowering employees to contribute to sustainability fosters a collective sense of purpose and drives continuous improvement across operations.
Leadership Lessons for Aspiring Professionals
Career Advice and Personal Insights
Beyond sustainability, Tully shared invaluable leadership insights derived from her extensive experience. She stressed the importance of fundamental values like the golden rule—treat others as you would want to be treated. For women in leadership roles, she advised against hesitating to voice opinions, underscoring the significance of contributing ideas confidently.
Tully also emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities, no matter how small they appear. Engaging in committees or accepting assignments can significantly enhance one’s network and open up career advancements. Her advice is clear: say yes to opportunities, and let them pave the way to success.
The discourse with Bonnie Tully highlighted not only the importance of sustainability in today’s chemical industry but also the leadership and cultural shifts needed to drive these changes. Evonik’s structured approach to sustainability through innovative products, efficient technologies, and a strong cultural foundation serves as a model for other companies. Tully’s career journey and leadership insights offer valuable lessons for anyone aspiring to make impactful contributions in their field. As the industry continues to evolve, leaders like Tully and forward-thinking companies like Evonik are setting the stage for a sustainable and responsible future.
About Bonnie Tully:
Bonnie Tully began her career in 1993 with Rohm & Haas as a project engineer before becoming materials manager and technical manager at Evonik’s Oil Additives (Rohmax) in Houston, Texas. In 2006, she transferred to Singapore and served as plant manager Asia-Pacific until her relocation to Mobile, AL in 2011 to become head of the Mobile Site. Prior to her role as President in 2020, she served as the CFO for the North American region. Bonnie Tully holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University.