Sara E. Meyer

I think success is less of an arrival point and more of a compound effect. For me, the foundation of that compound effect is sheer grit and resilience. There were countless moments where the easier path was to stop, and the only thing that carried me forward was a deep belief in the mission and the willingness to learn from failures. However, my biggest attribution must go to the risk takers - the leaders who were willing to invest in my potential. It was in these moments of calculated trust that fundamentally changed my trajectory and I owe a great deal to the people who saw my future, not just my present.

The best career advice I've received is two parts of fundamental lessons. The first is the timeless wisdom that God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. this advice took me into leadership. There is enormous pressure to have the answer, domination of conversation or just to simply prove you belong. But true influence come from truly understanding. This is where you build far stronger partnerships. The second is the mechanism to achieve level of presence. Always take three deep breaths before reacting. A shallow breath can lead to shallow decisions. Taking a breath before reacting ensure emotions are removed and more thoughtful response is given.

Own your technical foundation. Don't be shy about your technical knowledge because it is your non-negotiable entry ticket but recognize it is not all about what you can do in a lab. It's translating that knowledge to drive quality and reliability across the enterprise. Be the person who can fluently bridge the "what if" of chemistry with the "must be" of quality in relation to connecting the "how" of the chemical process to the trust of the final product. This is when you become indispensable. Create your sense of belonging. Advocate for yourself as well as others, seeking sponsorship not just mentorship and speaking with conviction.

One of the biggest challenges and opportunities in my field right now is ensuring that customer needs are fully understood and consistently met. Providing exceptional quality and service requires not only technical expertise but also strong communication and responsiveness. By focusing on anticipating and addressing customer requirements, we can turn challenges into opportunities for building trust, strengthening relationships, and driving long-term success. Also, there is untapped potential for diverse decision making to product, strategies, and company culture serving as a diverse customer base due to the substantial drop off with women in technical and senior level positions despite more women entering the workforce. In technical positions, the under representation creates a self-perpetuating cycle with less visibility of women in technical roles leading to fewer young girls considering it as a viable path. Disrupting this cycle is imperative for innovation and growth by investing in grassroot programs building a more equitable talent pipeline for the future.

The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are creativity, dedication, and attention to detail. Professionally, I strive to approach every project with care and precision, ensuring quality and reliability in all that I do. Personally, I express these same values through baking and photography, where I can explore creativity, patience, and a commitment to producing something meaningful and impactful. These pursuits remind me that passion and diligence are essential in all aspects of life.