Her Story
About Layah
Layah Khalif is a Sales Support and Special Projects Team Lead at Purolite, an Ecolab Company, where she leads customer service operations supporting pharmaceutical, life sciences, clean water, and specialty resin products. With more than six years of experience in supply chain, manufacturing, and customer operations, she oversees order management, customer fulfillment, cross-functional collaboration, and team development while driving operational excellence across planning, production, logistics, and leadership functions. Her background also includes quality engineering, continuous improvement, new product introduction, and process optimization within the chemical manufacturing industry.
Layah began her career with Ecolab through its highly competitive Supply Chain Leadership Development Program, completing rotational assignments in Chicago, Houston, and the Philadelphia area. Throughout the program, she held progressively responsible roles in Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Quality Engineering, and customer operations, leading initiatives that generated substantial cost savings, improved manufacturing efficiency, reduced water consumption, and supported successful product transfers. Her leadership has been recognized through selection to Ecolab's BLF Impact 50 program for 2024–2025, reflecting her commitment to developing as a business leader and delivering measurable organizational impact.
She earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Biological/Biosystems Engineering from Louisiana State University with a minor in Leadership Development. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Layah is committed to mentoring future STEM professionals, supporting university recruiting initiatives, and giving back through organizations such as the Baton Rouge Food Bank and GIVE, where she volunteered in Tanzania teaching English and helping construct a primary school. Guided by honesty, transparency, and ambition, she believes that embracing opportunities, remaining adaptable, and building meaningful relationships are the keys to long-term personal and professional success.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Layah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to remaining open-minded, flexible, and willing to embrace every opportunity that comes my way. Throughout my career, I have learned that every experience serves as a stepping stone for future growth. Completing Ecolab's Leadership Development Program while relocating multiple times strengthened my adaptability and resilience. Equally important has been building strong relationships and being personable, as collaborating effectively with others has opened doors and contributed significantly to my professional development.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to remain open-minded, stay flexible, and never say no to opportunities simply because they fall outside my comfort zone. Every opportunity offers valuable experience and helps build the foundation for future success. I have also learned that treating people with respect, building genuine relationships, and being someone others enjoy working with can take you just as far as technical expertise.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to believe in themselves and have confidence in their abilities. Do not hesitate to recognize and communicate your accomplishments, and never be intimidated if you find yourself as the only woman in the room. Your perspective and expertise deserve to be heard. Speak up, advocate for yourself, and remember that if you are in an environment where you feel consistently diminished or unsupported, it may not be the right place for you to thrive.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, transparency, and ambition are the values that guide both my professional and personal life. I believe people should continuously strive to grow while also helping others succeed. Rather than focusing on obstacles or complaints, I prefer to seek solutions, remain optimistic, and pursue meaningful work with enthusiasm. I also value being fully present, finding joy in everyday experiences, and maintaining passion for both my career and life outside of work.
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