The Chemical Executive Mastermind brings senior chemical leaders together for trusted peer perspective. Learn more at grow.thechemicalshow.com/mastermind . What does it take to transform a legacy chemical business into a cutting-edge innovation engine? Mike Finelli , Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Syensqo (formerly Solvay), shares his journey from mailroom to C-suite and outlines how the company is leveraging sustainability, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence to drive growth and solve some of the world's toughest challenges. With a 160-year heritage and a fresh start after splitting from Solvay, Syensqo’s focus spans advanced materials for aerospace, automotive, healthcare, electronics, water filtration, and more. Host Victoria Meyer and Mike discuss building a culture where AI becomes a daily tool for everyone, the company’s research priorities, and the launch of customer innovation centers designed to foster collaborative, customer-centric solutions. They also address leading through change—both technological and organizational—offering candid insights on managing culture shifts, developing future leaders, and the role of purpose-driven innovation in attracting and retaining talent in the chemical industry. In this week's episode, Victoria and Mike talk about: From Mailroom to C-Suite: Mike Finelli’s journey highlights the power of a growth mindset in chemicals. How Syensqo balances tradition with a culture of innovation after its split from Solvay. Syensqo puts sustainability at the core of R&D, tackling global challenges with biotech and renewables. Building an AI-driven organization where generative tools accelerate discovery and everyday productivity. Driving innovation by partnering closely with customers in globally connected labs for faster solutions. Killer Quote: " Our job is to turn molecules into money... and we do that by solving our customers' biggest challenges. You can't do that if you're not interacting with the customer. " —Mike Finelli
