Purvi Patel

My journey into the petrochemical industry began with a childhood fascination with chemistry. As I grew up, I became more exposed to the manufacturing industry and was captivated by how things are made. I attended seminars as a kid that sparked my interest, and I always wanted to be an engineer who works in a plant. This passion led me to pursue chemical engineering at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After four and a half years working in plant operations, I decided I wanted to transition to the corporate and commercial side of the business, so I pursued my MBA at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Today, I work on the commercial side at Dow Chemical Company, managing major contracts with asset managers and overseeing operations for Dow's nine crackers. My role involves buying commodity materials from external fractionators and managing the month-to-month financial closing for the business. I work closely with plants and external suppliers on production levels, consumption rates, inventory management, and strategic decisions about whether to sell materials based on market conditions or store them for better future returns. What I really enjoy about working at this Fortune 500 company is the culture - it's so welcoming that within just a couple of months, you feel like people are super friendly, helpful, and supportive of each other.