Speciality Sessions

Natasha Klymczuk
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Chemistry
  • Updated Biweekly

Speciality Sessions is a podcast by Kelham Partners, the executive search and talent advisory firm for the global Specialty Chemicals & Ingredients sector. Hosted by Natasha Klymczuk, it explores the people, ideas, and trends shaping the industry; from transformation and sustainability to innovation, culture, and careers. Conversations that connect science, leadership, and the people driving change.

  1. Session #14 | Curiosity, Courage & Confidence: Premal Desai on India, Innovation and Growth

    2d ago

    Session #14 | Curiosity, Courage & Confidence: Premal Desai on India, Innovation and Growth

    In this episode of Speciality Sessions, Natasha speaks to Premal Desai, CEO of hubergroup. Known for its heritage in printing inks and packaging solutions, hubergroup is evolving into a broader specialty chemicals business. Premal shares how the company is navigating that transformation, what it means to lead through change, and why he believes India will play an increasingly important role in the future of global manufacturing and innovation. The conversation explores leadership, supply chain resilience, talent, and the realities of managing a business through periods of significant transition. From a personal story that brings Premal's career full circle, to practical lessons on transformation and growth, this episode offers valuable insights for leaders across the chemicals and manufacturing sectors. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Premal Desai and hubergroup 01:20 - From Printing Inks to Specialty Chemicals 03:25 - Career Journey: From BCG and Steel to Chemicals 06:03 - A Personal Connection to India 08:16 - India's Growing Role in Global Manufacturing 11:13 - What Makes Europe-India Partnerships Work 12:48 - Talent, Innovation and Global Capability Centres 17:07 - Leading Through Transformation and Change 19:29 - What Leaders Need to Get Right During Change 21:42 - Growth in a Challenging Chemicals Market 22:28 - The One Huber Philosophy 23:10 - Supply Chain Resilience and Procurement Strategy 24:34 - Why Chemical Supply Chains Are Often Misunderstood 26:40 - Advice for the Next Generation of Industry Leaders 28:36 - From Being Right to Being Responsible 30:20 - Closing Remarks

    31 min
  2. Session #13 | Building For the Long Term: Thoralf Gliese on Leadership, Innovation & Private Ownership

    Jun 2

    Session #13 | Building For the Long Term: Thoralf Gliese on Leadership, Innovation & Private Ownership

    In this episode of Speciality Sessions, Natasha speaks to Thoralf Gliese, Chief Commercial Officer at Omya. With more than 20 years inside one of the world’s leading specialty materials businesses, Thoralf shares his perspective on transferable skills, innovation, leadership, customer intimacy, and why long-term thinking matters more than ever in today’s market environment. The conversation explores the evolution of chemical distribution, the value of adjacent sector experience, how innovation creates resilience during downturns, and the differences between privately owned and publicly listed businesses when it comes to decision-making and strategy. Thoralf also reflects on his own career journey from the paper industry into specialty materials, the importance of staying connected to academia and science, and why some of the best opportunities come from stepping outside your comfort zone. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction00:21 - From Paper Industry to Omya01:41 - Moving Beyond One Industry02:24 - Staying Connected to Academia & Science03:16 - Attracting Young Talent into Chemicals05:24 - Why Customer Proximity Matters07:03 - Moving from Technical to Commercial Roles08:09 - Transferable Skills & Adjacent Sector Hiring10:54 - How to Successfully Onboard Cross-Industry Talent12:32 - Omya’s Evolution into Distribution14:17 - Changing Market Perception & Strategic Focus17:49 - Innovation & Technical Credibility19:29 - Innovation During Market Downturns20:59 - Long-Term Thinking in Difficult Markets21:33 - Private Ownership & Thinking in Generations23:01 - Strategic Decision-Making in Private Businesses25:03 - Leadership During Challenging Markets25:30 - What Good Leadership Actually Looks Like26:44 - Why Communication Is Critical in Leadership27:12 - Career Change, Risk & Leaving Your Comfort Zone28:29 - Final Reflections on Leadership & Communication

    30 min
  3. Session #12 | Beyond Compliance: Chris Brown on Sustainability & Commercial Value

    May 19

    Session #12 | Beyond Compliance: Chris Brown on Sustainability & Commercial Value

    In this episode of Speciality Sessions, Natasha speaks to Chris Brown, VP ESG at Synthomer. From starting his career in environmental engineering to leading ESG strategy at one of the world’s leading specialty polymer businesses, Chris shares a commercially grounded perspective on sustainability, innovation and the future direction of the chemical industry. This conversation goes beyond compliance and reporting - into how sustainability creates competitive advantage, why commercial teams are central to innovation, and how chemistry underpins almost every aspect of modern life. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction & Chris Brown’s Background 02:00 - Perceptions of the Chemical Industry 05:40 - Why Chemistry Has a Branding Problem 09:15 - Why Chemistry Underpins Modern Life 10:00 - Sustainability as Long-Term Strategy 12:15 - Why Sustainability Must Be Embedded Into Business Strategy 14:10 - Reframing Sustainability Around Commercial Value 15:30 - The Role of Commercial Teams in Sustainable Innovation 18:20 - Building Customer Relationships Through Sustainability 21:25 - Innovation Timing & Market Readiness 24:15 - Who Really Drives Innovation in the Value Chain? 25:55 - Reasons for Optimism in the Chemicals Sector 26:30 - China’s Five-Year Plan & Global Competition 28:00 - How Chemistry Enables Sustainable Outcomes 31:30 - Advice for Sustainability Leaders 33:45 - Changing Perspectives on Sustainability & Leadership

    36 min
  4. Session #11 | Leadership Without All The Answers: Anna Bertona on Judgement, Complexity and Building Teams

    May 5

    Session #11 | Leadership Without All The Answers: Anna Bertona on Judgement, Complexity and Building Teams

    In the first episode of Season 2 of Speciality Sessions, Natasha speaks to Anna Bertona, CEO of Azelis. From entering the chemicals industry without a traditional background, to leading one of the world’s top distribution businesses, Anna shares a candid view on leadership, decision-making, and what it really takes to operate in a complex, high-performance environment. This conversation goes beyond the headlines - into how leaders actually think, hire, and make decisions when the stakes are high. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction & About Azelis 02:00 - Breaking Misconceptions in Chemical Distribution 03:45 - What Makes the Distribution Model So Powerful 05:00 - Manufacturing vs Distribution: Why Transitions Are Hard 06:45 - Leadership Style: Empowerment vs Accountability 08:20 - How Leadership Evolves Over Time 09:10 - The Behaviours That Destroy High-Performing Teams 10:05 - Scaling Culture in a Global Business 11:50 - Hiring for ‘Why’, Not Just Job Specs 12:50 - Consulting vs Industry Thinking14:40 - Decision-Making Without Perfect Information 16:00 - Women in Leadership & Industry Progress 19:40 - The Real Challenge: Retaining Talent 21:00 - What Makes a Great Leadership Team 23:00 - The Toughest Career Moments 24:15 - Letting Go of the ‘Super Specialist’ Mindset 25:20 - Advice for First-Time Senior Leaders 26:30 - Navigating a Challenging Market 29:40 - What Anna Changed Her Mind About

    31 min
  5. Session #10 | Stay Calm and Carry On: Christian Kohlpaintner on Resilience in Leadership

    Apr 14

    Session #10 | Stay Calm and Carry On: Christian Kohlpaintner on Resilience in Leadership

    In this final episode of the first series of "Speciality Sessions," host Natasha Klymczuk sits down with Christian Kohlpaintner, a seasoned leader in the chemical industry, to discuss the art of resilience and leadership. Christian shares insights from his extensive career, including his transition from CEO at Brenntag to a supervisory role at Evonik. They explore the challenges and opportunities within the European chemical sector, the importance of building resilient business models, and the role of mentorship and coaching in personal and professional growth. Christian also offers valuable advice for leaders at all levels on fostering team resilience and navigating career transitions. Chapters: [00:10] Introduction and Welcome[01:28] Opportunities in the European Chemical Sector[03:07] Building Resilient Business Models[06:43] Leadership and Team Resilience[09:59] Career Transitions and Taking Risks[14:02] Mentorship and Coaching[19:11] Leadership Challenges and Adjustments[21:19] Innovation in Distribution[25:25] Final Thoughts and Advice

    26 min
  6. Session #9 | Mistakes Can Change the Course of History: Jenn Klein on Resilience of the Chemical Industry

    Mar 31

    Session #9 | Mistakes Can Change the Course of History: Jenn Klein on Resilience of the Chemical Industry

    Most chemical industry leaders don’t get the recognition they deserve — but Jenn Klein is changing that. As CEO of SOCMA, she reveals how the specialty chemical sector touches our daily lives in more ways than we realise, from water safety to electronics, and why understanding this industry’s power is crucial for the future.In this candid conversation, Jen shares her unexpected journey into chemicals, from political science to industry advocate, and explains why her passion lies in supporting the unsung heroes behind the products we use every day. You'll discover how the sector's nimbleness and problem-solving mindset are shaping resilient, innovative companies that are investing strategically despite global uncertainties.ChaptersIntro: Leadership & Influence - 00:00SOCMA & CEO Role - 05:24Leadership Transition - 07:33Sector Pathways - 09:13Sustainability Connection - 11:24Unique Industry Traits - 13:15Value Chain Communication - 15:25Underappreciated Areas - 17:02Attracting Talent - 19:10Career Growth - 20:36SOCMA Advocacy - 22:10Industry Voice - 24:03Regulatory Challenges - 25:01Hazard vs. Risk - 27:22Manufacturing Trends - 29:26Agility in Disruption - 31:47Reshoring Momentum - 33:21Talent & Diversity - 36:09Mentorship & Leadership - 38:23Self-Awareness & Learning - 40:44Embracing Failure - 43:12Life Mantra - 44:34

    32 min
  7. Session #8 | The Financial Side of Chemicals: Dr Bernd Schneider on M&A and Value Creation

    Mar 17

    Session #8 | The Financial Side of Chemicals: Dr Bernd Schneider on M&A and Value Creation

    In this episode, Bernd Schneider, Global Co-Head of Chemicals at Stifel, discusses the intricacies of M&A in the chemical industry, addressing misconceptions, the impact of ownership changes, and the evolving landscape of buyers. He shares insights on what makes a good chemical asset, the challenges faced in post-M&A scenarios, and offers advice for CEOs navigating ownership changes. Bernd also reflects on his unique journey from a polymer chemist to investment banking, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and continuous learning in career development. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Bernd Schneider and Stiefel 02:47 Understanding the Chemicals Sector and Its Opportunities 03:46 Misconceptions About M&A in the Chemical Industry 05:19 Impact of Ownership Change on Employees 07:20 Advice for CEOs During Ownership Changes 09:43 Common Surprises in Post-M&A Scenarios 10:50 Shifts in the Chemical Asset Buying Landscape 12:05 Evaluating Value in the Bio Landscape 12:29 Strategic vs Financial Buyers 13:54 Current Market Dynamics in Chemical Assets 15:04 Characteristics of Good Chemical Assets 18:21 Future Predictions for M&A Activity 21:56 Transitioning from Chemistry to Finance 26:59 Advice to My Younger Self

    28 min
  8. Session #7 | Passion and Discipline in Practice: Martin John on Leading Through Transformation

    Mar 3

    Session #7 | Passion and Discipline in Practice: Martin John on Leading Through Transformation

    In this episode, Natasha Klymczuk interviews Martin John, CEO of KRAHN Chemie Group, discussing his transition from a large manufacturing company to a more agile distribution role. Martin shares insights on leadership, the importance of chemistry in various industries, and the challenges of adapting to a new organizational structure. He emphasizes the significance of building relationships, enabling value, and learning from experiences in the chemical industry. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Martin John and KRAHN Chemie Group 00:55 Transitioning from Production to Distribution 05:56 Finding Passion in Chemistry 09:19 Leadership Lessons from a Diverse Career 11:23 Navigating the Shift to Agile Organizations 13:28 Balancing Progress and Patience as a CEO 15:14 Lessons Learned in Leadership 18:03 The Marathon of Change 19:45 Listening to Understand 22:42 Deciding When to Act 24:26 Navigating Structural Changes 27:00 Skills for Future Leaders 29:19 Advice for Young Professionals 31:30 Next Episode

    32 min
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About

Speciality Sessions is a podcast by Kelham Partners, the executive search and talent advisory firm for the global Specialty Chemicals & Ingredients sector. Hosted by Natasha Klymczuk, it explores the people, ideas, and trends shaping the industry; from transformation and sustainability to innovation, culture, and careers. Conversations that connect science, leadership, and the people driving change.

Information

  • Creator
    Natasha Klymczuk
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Natasha Klymczuk
  • Show Website
    Speciality Sessions

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