From R&D to Sales: Hayley’s Journey with Women in Chemicals

With guidance from Women in Chemicals, Hayley transitioned from R&D to an Inside Sales Specialist at CREMER North America, applying her chemistry expertise in a new, supportive sales-focused role.

In early 2024, Hayley found herself at a crossroads in her career. Working in a research and development laboratory at a small Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), she felt dissatisfied. The lack of support and underrepresentation of women in her workplace left her searching for a change. One evening, while browsing LinkedIn, she discovered Women in Chemicals (WIC), a platform launching its new mentorship program.

“I knew I needed help to pivot my career,” Hayley said. “When I saw that WIC was accepting applications for their mentorship program, I decided to apply. It seemed like the perfect opportunity.”

WIC’s mentorship program offers traditional, peer-to-peer, and reverse mentoring, making it accessible to individuals at all stages of their careers. The application process involved answering questions about career goals, experience, and personal interests. Hayley matched Daniella Gallucci, a Sales Manager at Zschimmer & Schwarz.

“Daniella’s experience was invaluable to me,” Hayley said. “She helped me see beyond my lab work and explore the business side of the chemical industry.”

Daniella, based in Texas, and Hayley, in the Central Time Zone, were able to easily schedule monthly MS Teams meetings over lunch. Through their sessions, Hayley began to consider a career transition from the chemistry laboratory to a business-focused role. Daniella guided Hayley in tailoring her resume to emphasize her chemical expertise, even though her business experience was limited.

“I had no business experience at the time,” Hayley explained. “But Daniella showed me how to leverage my chemistry background in a way that could make me look appealing to business-focused roles.”

During one of their meetings, Daniella shared that she had met Norma Brinson, Key Account Manager and Sales Talent Development expert at CREMER North America, over dinner. Norma mentioned that CREMER was looking to fill a new Inside Sales Specialist position. Seeing the perfect fit, Daniella pitched Hayley as a candidate.

“Daniella reached out to Norma and said, “I have someone who could be a great fit for this role,” Hayley recalled. “It was the start of everything.”

Norma and Hayley quickly connected over the phone, discussing their shared experience in the fragrance industry—Hayley as a seasonal retail associate and Norma as an account manager. During their conversation, Hayley learned that Norma was also a member of Women in Chemicals, which strengthened their bond.

“I was excited to talk to someone who understood both the fragrance industry and the challenges women face in our field,” Hayley said. “It felt like a natural connection.”

Just two days later, Hayley found herself preparing for a panel interview with CREMER. By Thursday, she had her second interview with the company’s VP of Sales and Marketing. With the guidance of Daniella, Hayley felt confident and prepared for the process.

“I was nervous, but I knew I had Daniella in my corner,” Hayley said. “Her advice made all the difference.”

In July, Hayley was invited to Cincinnati for a third on-site interview at CREMER. There, she met more team members and toured the facility. The positive, healthy work culture at CREMER stood out, and Hayley felt a growing sense of excitement about the opportunity.

“It was clear that people really enjoyed working at CREMER,” Hayley said. “The culture was supportive and collaborative, which is exactly what I was looking for.”

A month later, Hayley had successfully transitioned from her role as an R&D chemist to Inside Sales Specialist at CREMER North America. This new role in oleochemical sales marked a significant shift in her career.

“Going from a lab setting to sales was a huge change, but I was ready for it,” Hayley said. “It was a leap, but one that felt right.”

Looking back on 2024, Hayley is proud of how far she has come. “At the beginning of the year, I set a goal to find a mentor and change my career direction by the end of 2024. And I did,” she said. “It’s been a humbling experience, and I’m grateful for everything I’ve learned along the way.”

Though her check-ins with Daniella are now less frequent, Hayley remains connected to Women in Chemicals and continues to encourage others to join the mentorship program.

“I share my story with others because I want them to see how powerful mentorship can be,” Hayley said. “It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m just getting started.”

For Hayley, her experience with Women in Chemicals has been more than just a career change—it’s been a transformative journey that continues to inspire her to pay it forward and help others grow.

For more information on Women in Chemicals and how to join the mentorship program, visit www.womeninchemicals.com.

About the Company: CREMER OLEO is a global trading and service company with more than 1,000 employees and is part of the CREMER group of companies headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. Founded in 2005, CREMER OLEO specializes in trading and transporting oleochemicals: renewable raw materials for cosmetics, food, homecare and pharmaceutical industries.

For more information about CREMER North America, visit cremerna.com. CREMER North America is a subsidiary of CREMER Holding Company. Learn more about CREMER Holding Company at cremer.de.

Contact:
Laura Mann, Marketing & Communications Specialist | 1-513-557-4235 | lmann@cremerna.com