Simone Hain
Sr. Technical Manager
Grace & Co.
Simone Hain, Sr. Technical Manager at W.R. Grace & Co. (Grace), shared her inspiring journey from a chemistry student in Germany to becoming a leader in operations. With 18 years of experience at Grace, Simone’s career reflects a commitment to excellence, adaptability, and the empowerment of women in the chemicals industry.
A Foundation Built on Values and Perseverance: Simone’s interest in chemistry was sparked at an early age, though her parents initially doubted her career choice. Their values of discipline, hard work, and perseverance laid a foundation for Simone’s strong work ethic, enabling her to pursue her passion. Over the years, she broke new ground as one of the few women in operations, a male-dominated field, by focusing on her performance and building respect among her team. She credits her manager and company culture for embracing diversity and valuing the unique voices and perspectives from all employees.
Stepping Outside Her Comfort Zone: A pivotal theme in Simone’s career has been her willingness to step outside her comfort zone. She took on increasingly challenging roles, such as Operations Manager of a complex plant, where she relied heavily on internal and external networks for guidance. Simone advocates for women to push beyond self-doubt and embrace new opportunities, drawing from her own experiences in overcoming hesitation and excelling in leadership positions.
Empowering Women through Collaboration: Simone is also a firm believer in the power of collaboration, especially cross-functional teamwork, which she practiced early in her career. Her role as a link between R&D and Manufacturing not only strengthened her technical expertise but also fostered a spirit of cooperation that continues to shape her approach to leadership today.
A Data-Driven Approach to Problem Solving: A significant component of Simone’s professional development is her Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification, which has enhanced her problem-solving skills. By applying a data-driven approach to eliminate inefficiencies, she has contributed to process improvement initiatives, for example in CO2 reduction and energy savings. Simone highly recommends this training for those seeking to improve processes and manage change effectively.
A Vision for the Future: Throughout her career, Simone has embraced opportunities for personal growth and professional development, including joining the women’s employee resource group (WE ACT) at Grace. WE ACT, focuses on the development and empowerment of women through programs, educational events, and networking opportunities. She encourages others to adopt a positive mindset, advising women in the industry to focus on performance, seize opportunities, and build strong networks.
Advice for Women in Chemical Community: Simone encourages a mindset of optimism and balance. Her personal credo emphasizes seeing the glass as half full, focusing on opportunities rather than limitations. She advises against viewing life in extremes, suggesting that real progress and understanding often come from embracing the "grey" areas—the nuanced spaces between black and white. This balanced outlook, she believes, is key to navigating challenges and finding solutions in both personal and professional spheres.
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