Sumitomo Chemical Group Companies of the Americas Celebrate International Women's Day 2022: Interview Series 4 of 4

At Sumitomo Chemical Group Companies of the Americas, we are proud of our?International Women's Day?annual celebration.?March 8, 2022 is a global day acknowledging women's social, economic, cultural, and political achievements, and we are happy to participate again this year.

The complete series of our celebratory campaign to support IWD 2022 includes four interviews featuring women from across our group. Today's interview includes women from Sumitomo Chemical America, Valent U.S.A., Valent BioSciences, Sumitomo Chemical Advanced Technologies,?McLaughlin Gormley King Company, and Sumika Polymers North America.

Please enjoy getting acquainted with six remarkable women in administrative roles. We are excited to hear their insights about how they are forging a better world in response to this year's theme, #Break the Bias, for International Women's Day 2022.?

We strive to promote diversity and inclusion across the Sumitomo Chemical Group as a company policy. This interview series continues to build the foundation of an inclusive organizational culture that respects individuality and embraces diversity. We enjoy supporting each other to break down the barriers for more women to move into leadership roles.

Our associate at Brand Intelligence, Mary Olson, engages our interviewees to learn about their backgrounds, achievements, ideas, and views about their careers and a world without bias.

Mary Olson: Thank you for joining us and let’s begin.?Please tell us about your background, where you are from, and what attracted you to Sumitomo Chemical Group Companies?

Mitsuko Ziff, Sumitomo Chemical America

I've been working as an accounting associate with Sumitomo Chemical America ever since I came to the US from Japan and I handle cost accounting.

I graduated from College in Japan with a major in human relations, which was not really connected to accounting.

The experiences in my career have been a big plus. However, Sumitomo’s culture is a genuine exception. The company respects individuality equality, and diversity, and the draw for me is being valued by management for the work I produce for the company.

Teresa Morse, Valent U.S.A.

I have a transportation background and had many experiences that helped me grow as an individual. It was a benefit to have a corporate job in my resume, and I had learned a lot by the time I had the opportunity to interview with Valent.

The combination of the agriculture industry, and the quality of people here at Valent U.S.A., were the determining factors to accept a position here.

My best friend's Dad is a farmer, but I didn't know much about agriculture. To be quite honest, I was very naive to what that all entailed, and I've learned so much with Valent. I've been with Valent for six years now, and it will be seven years in July.

I started as an administrative assistant to the sales teams and worked my way up to sales. I work with our field sales development people and the Director of Strategic Accounts, and I work very closely with some of my peers.

I benefit greatly from Valent's culture, and they see the totality of an employee's life. I have three kids, and I appreciate that Valent is family-oriented. The company has always been very generous and forgiving, and I've been able to work through anything that arises.

I've never worked for a company that cared so much about its employees. And that's what keeps me coming in every day—the people are exceptional.

Mieng Riordan, Valent BioSciences

I am of Chinese descent but was born in Cambodia. Many of you may not know about the Cambodian-Vietnamese war, but I survived the brutality of the Khmer Rouge regime, which was eventually removed from power. I escaped to Thailand and came to Chicago through the sponsorship of the Red Cross.

My career here started over twenty years ago. At that time, Valent BioSciences (VBC) was created when Sumitomo Chemical Company purchased the agriculture products business of Abbott Laboratories.

These many years later, VBC has the most extensive portfolio of biorational products in the world.

I love all the challenges of costing, working closely with the supply chain, inventory, and compliance. I mainly support the costing, but It's a balance of many complexities.

I was promoted to the business process improvement position two years ago. I'm trying to improve the company with the best procedures and processes.

I very much love the company. I can speak with anyone at any level of management. Doors are always open, and I am personally respected, as is the work I do.

Misty Mendez, Sumitomo Chemical Advanced Technologies

I started as a bookkeeper in accounting and worked my way up.

I was a senior internal auditor at HonorHealth. I grew by mentoring and teaching and was ready to manage a staff. That led me to SCAT (short for Sumitomo Chemical Advanced Technologies), where I could grow my skillsets and manage a team.

SCAT was very attractive, and it fits perfectly into my career path.

Anne Zajaczkowski, McLaughlin Gormley King Company

I was born and raised in the suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota and have a strong background in accounting.

I spent ten years working for organizations where it was hard to enjoy the cultures and team spirit. And on the other hand, I’ve worked with an organization that impacted people’s lives.

That’s what attracted me to MGK, being part of an organization that helps to improve people’s lives.

I found my passion at MGK. I can contribute to the betterment of the world by being part of an organization that builds products to help prevent diseases, among other things. I am a part of something that works toward the better good.

Susanne Ocko, Sumika Polymers North America

Thank you for including me in the International Women's Day celebration and being among these successful women.

I live in a suburb of Detroit and have been in the automotive industry for about 25 years. I graduated from Michigan Technological University with a Bachelor of Science and Business Administration.

And shockingly enough, I will be celebrating my 17th anniversary with Sumitomo this month.

I think that speaks a lot about the company because I never envisioned spending that much time with the one company before this. I thought it would be 2-3, maybe five years with the company, and I would be changing, but. There's something about Sumitomo that sticks.

I started with Sumitomo Chemical America, Inc. (SCAI) and the petrochemicals division and was the 4th person hired for the new Detroit office.

I interviewed with the general manager, and his enthusiasm for the new business was contagious, and I wanted to be a part of something new and growing and came on board as a sales coordinator.

In 2014, SCAI merged with Sumika Polymers North America (SPNA), and very quickly, our small group became something much larger.

Today I'm in the purchasing department as a purchasing specialist, and there are three of us in this department.?I am proud to say we are all women.

Mary Olson: What are the biggest achievements or accomplishments that contributed to your success?

Mitsuko Ziff:

The answer is my experiences in accounting as a Japanese professional with a Japanese company in the USA.

I've been working with a lot of Japanese-assigned expats. Since I am a Japanese native, I can understand the cultural differences between Americans and the Japanese. And the accounting is different.

I have a unique value by assisting the Japanese style and complimenting it with the US-style.

I haven't always been perfectly successful, but my hard work, accuracy, and inquisitiveness contribute to my success.

Teresa Morse:

I'm good at building relationships between departments, and I have a great role in working with many different personality types.

I'm technically the liaison between my boss and anybody accounting to customer service, to supply chain, and I am the link that binds disciplines together.

I am relatable. I'm a very committed person, I put 100% of myself into everything, and I like to take on new challenges. I don't turn things down often, so I'm always willing to help out wherever needed, whatever department – even if it's just data entry and help filling out some paperwork. I have a good attitude about being flexible where it counts.

And this job has contributed to my success, for sure.

Mieng Riordan:

I didn't speak a word of English when I came to the States. I graduated from DePaul University as an accounting major. It wasn't easy, but I made it all the way through. I'm very hard working and have a good work ethic.

I love to build relationships between my group and all the departments. Like Teresa, I naturally accept challenges and help out whoever needs me.

I have a hard time saying no so I spend many hours working, which is not good sometimes. I am attentive to balancing work-life, but I have difficulty doing that. However, when people understand where I come from, they know completely why I work so hard. I can't say no because I love this company very much.

Anne Zajaczkowski:

Setting goals and developing a plan to achieve those goals contribute to my success.

I knew early on that schooling would be essential, and I was the first one on my father's side to attend college. It was the best decision I ever made because it created a pathway for me to work in accounting.

Education never stops. Self-education is one thing, and I will continue to grow as I work on my MBA.

I would point to education as a critical factor contributing to my future successes.

Misty Mendez:

My most significant achievement was earning my Master’s degree in accounting, and it opened many doors to engage others and helped me transition into different positions.

I don't think that my growth and career path would have been the same.

Susanne Ocko:

Several things contributed to my success. Flexibility is at the top of the list, and it means that you can change and grow as your company changes and grows.

Another asset is seeking knowledge. I was a part of a small group that worked across departments. It gave me deep insights into these departments and how they functioned. The experience showed me how to contribute to the organization as a whole. It was also an excellent way to expand my skillsets and knowledge.

Another element contributing to my success is being transparent on my career path and letting my manager know that I was open to new opportunities.

And lastly, I believe hard work and persistence pay off.

Mary Olson: ?International Women's Day's Theme this year is #BreakTheBias. Can you imagine building a world where difference is valued and celebrated? If so, how can we strengthen women's equality together for the betterment of the company and society everywhere?

Mitsuko Ziff:

When I look back at my first job in Japan after College, the entirety of administrators was female. At the time, a young woman’s goal was to become a housewife without working at an office and of course, finding the right guy. It was like a brain wash for women in the 80’s

Being open to change and evolving a new mindset are vital attributes to establishing changes in expected gender roles.

When I came to the United States, I met many different people and families from different nationalities. There is another kind of happiness here, too, and I was lucky.

So now I believe we have a global versus closed cultural life. I am confident that men also want to avoid prejudice and help gender equality.

Teresa Morse:

I've been very blessed to grow up in a family in a community that has embraced differences.

I've never really experienced a lot of bias in my work. I am treated well, and I work with sales, which is predominantly male. But they respect me, and I feel like that comes naturally.

We lead by example, and you see a lot of passion generated by men and women. But I feel like we must work harder. Equality is evolving, but I grew up when women fought each other for the top slots whatever it took.

Finally, women evolved visions of their career paths. It is more productive and influential to work together and lift each other up.

Another sales administrator and I decided to make things better. We wanted to ensure that we were on the same page. We streamlined processes, shared information, and evolved full transparency. These days we lift each other up and work in sync, and it is a world away from when I first started my career.

Business cultures and external societal pressures are generating more women in leadership roles. 2022 may be the most transformational year ever. We are all in it together, building a greater sphere of influence and value.

Mieng Riordan:

These are essential questions, and they are difficult for me. The Cambodian war erupted because people wouldn't accept differences and fought bitterly and savagely until a resolution was forced on the warring countries by the United Nations.

Many of us have experienced siloed organizational structures, especially over the past years. Silos are closed structures that prohibit creative exploration, company-wide camaraderie, and cooperation rather than moving the mission forward together. Overall, silos represent a negative culture.

I would also like to see success programs established where we can explore internal and external issues. Imagine the brainpower to create critical programs such as strengthening women's equality and building the next generation of women leaders!

You have asked two complex but critical questions.

Anne Zajaczkowski:

It is a hard question that deserves a good answer. Mieng offered an outstanding response about creating success teams.

Everyone is different. We all have our quirks, but these quirks create our uniqueness and make us who we are. By embracing our differences and recognizing others, we can develop a community where people can thrive.

If you see a woman or a man struggling, help them. Ask them what’s going on. Just engage them and see if you can evolve a solution together. Those sensitive communications can mean everything.

I believe that we make an impact on people and develop valuable relationships.

Misty Mendez:

We all need to communicate the correct information to young women. It starts with knowing your self-worth and that you can succeed over any biases or discrimination that comes your way. Know that you push through that and that you are important.

I think we all need to support each other. As a company, we can all look at each other's strengths and weaknesses and set aside any biases and discriminations that people may have. It would make a difference if we could envision the end goals together.

We can use our strengths to support each other regardless of our weaknesses and vice versa. So that's where my opinion lies.

Women could be celebrated to a greater extent if the world would rise to the challenge.

Susanne Ocko:

I can dream of a world where differences are celebrated. But when I look at the whole world, I feel like we have a lot of work to do to get there.

We can speak up when we see others act in a way that marginalizes women. We can encourage the people in our own lives to share evenly, like household chores and parenting responsibilities that empower women and men both have to share things 50/50.

Another recommendation starts with challenging beauty standards as they almost always promote an unrealistic vision of women. We need to rethink our beliefs on what it means to be beautiful, and we need to treat all bodies as equally valuable and deserving of celebration.

Other ways would include supporting candidates who understand and support women's equality in our communities.

Misty mentioned educating the next generation. We need to start early to teach our young girls and women about who they are and how they compare to you.

We need to remember that every voice matters for women's rights and equality, and every time we speak up, it helps spread awareness and break down the barriers. And lastly, I read a great quote from Gandhi. He said, "Be the change you want to see in the world," and that says it all.

Mary Olson: ?What advice would you give to anyone who struggles with inequality or bias?

Mitsuko Ziff:

It depends on the situation and how hard it is. It is best to face inequality or bias directly. If the situation doesn't change, I will immediately get my point across, and I will continue to challenge the prejudices to change the circumstances.

In addition to tackling bias personally, I would ask to switch my position or department or create a distance further away, perhaps even a new job.

Teresa Morse:

I would try and find a group within my organization or my community to help educate people. I feel like there's an education piece that probably people are lacking.

Educating others would be a great way to help people who struggle with it. Speak up for yourself and others if you see it being done.

Advocate for yourself and others.

Mieng Riordan:

I would talk to someone, find out what you need help with, ?speak up , and stand up for yourself and others who need help.

Because a lot of times, people are very silent. Nobody wants to talk about it or listen to them if they don't speak up.

It's the same thing as fixing a problem in the house. If I can't fix it, my husband can, and if not, what is the next best scenario? Call a professional. But I am willing to try it myself first.

I will stand up for the people who can't speak for themselves. I find out a lot of them are very quiet. Women know they are right, and I always tell them, "You are right, and you should speak up."

You must stand up for yourself. Why? Because otherwise, they could treat you as a silent person.

Anne Zajaczkowski:

Never give up. It is essential to stick to your goals and don't let others bring you down. One of my favorite sayings is, Be the change you wish to see in the world, so you know you are in control of your path. So just never give up.

Misty Mendez:

I echo everyone else. Stay true to yourself. Voice your concerns. Voice anything that you disagree with.

Don't be afraid to excuse yourself from the table. If it doesn't align with your beliefs or the way you feel like it should, and you cannot verbalize a solution, don't stay there and try just to beat yourself up to make it work. Walk away and find your path and move forward.

Susanne Ocko:

This was the most challenging question for me, and I may have taken it too seriously. But first, I would advise them to find support. Support could come from your friends, partner, family, coworkers, and anyone who would listen and act as sounding boards.

It's important to have emotional support, and we always need that. Connect with a person that makes you feel safe and comfortable sharing what you're experiencing.

Second, I think it's important to understand what your options are. Initially, you could start with your HR department. Maybe check your employee handbook to see what the existing policies are. You may feel comfortable enough to speak with your manager, and a manager may have already had experience dealing with these issues.

And honestly, depending on the seriousness of the issue, it may warrant you to file a claim with the EEOC. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Unfortunately, sometimes the good fight is too disruptive to your life, and the job may not be worth it. Gender bias and description are so deeply enmeshed in our workplace cultures.

It isn't easy, but having support and knowing what you could do and your next steps are helpful.

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Mary Olson: What is one thing you know now about women and work you wish you had known earlier in your career?

Mitsuko Ziff:

I might have a better position with more career advancements. So again, I started my career in the mid-80s. The only alternative for women entering the workforce was administrative jobs at that time in Japan. But again, the hiring requirements loosened up in the accounting field, which is why I started doing bookkeeping.

I wish I could have encouraged my younger self to discover and explore other suitable fields for my future life.

Teresa Morse:

Well, this is a hard question for me. We are so much more than when I first started working. In my early 20s, I was just a worker bee, and I felt that meant to simply sit and work. I'm good at a lot of different things. But I started in data entry. My mom was a line worker at a factory, and she still is.

We know that we can do so much more and are worth way more than just a title or what we were hired to do. We have a voice in how we are treated and how things evolve wherever we work.

I have more respect for myself, my peers, and the people above me. I can lead by example to my daughter and let her know that she's capable of doing anything she sets herself or her mind to do.

Mieng Riordan:

It's a little hard for me to answer this question. When my brother and I came to this country, he chose the engineering field. And I was told that I would do fine, but, in reality, I didn't have a choice, and I took what was handed to me.

But now, today, I always tell my kids that they can be anyone they want to be as long as they work hard, be humble and help others.

We have a long way to go regardless of our skin color or heritage. Make sure you can support yourself and your family if you have one.

Anne Zajaczkowski:

I was lucky enough to work with very strong women when I started my career. I learned early on that hard work, dedication, commitment, mutual respect for others lays the foundation for success.

Misty Mendez:

At the earliest point in my decision-making, I didn't know what I should study, and I cried my eyes out because my future meant everything. My school counselor said most people don't even care about any particular field, and they just want to get their Associate's degree. He advised that I should go into accounting. And I'm like, what is that? I listened to what he said right out of high school, and I got a position doing bookkeeping.

The first thing my boss said was, "What are you going to school for?" And I said, "To be an accountant." And he said, "That's a man's job." He said that his wife is a bookkeeper and that I should stick to bookkeeping, that it's a good old man's field.

I didn't understand what he was telling me at the time, but it really upset me at 19 years of age. He was telling me I wasn't good enough because I was a woman, and I did not understand that.

It was horrible advice and a negative situation. It has been my motivational reference point ever since.

Yeah, I don't even know if that man's on this world anymore. But you know what? To this day, I hear that voice in the back of my head, and I'm like, "watch me."

I didn't realize that it would be an actual struggle throughout my career. Men that have the same degree same experience that I have, but they do not work as hard for the same position. As I was evolving through my career path, there were many times that I got discouraged because it was too hard.

At this point in my life, I would tell my younger self, "Don't listen to anybody or what they have to say. Just keep on moving forward. You know what your goals are, where you want to be in life, and don't worry about all the noise on the sidelines."

Susanne Ocko:

I wish I would've known many things earlier. As the saying goes, hindsight is 20/20. But, there are three things that I thought I wished I had known.

The first one is advocating for your own interests by taking control and ownership of your career path. The second one is always to know your worth. And the third and final one is to stand up for yourself and let your voice be heard.

Mary Olson:?

Thank you so much, everybody, for being a part of the International Women's Day celebration during March. It's been great to collaborate on this article with you. Manami Kanda is delighted to promote this and the four-part IWD 2022 interview series throughout the group companies and social media. It is a meaningful time to break down barriers to inclusivity. You have great opportunities to break the bias further and help others as you and your companies increase leadership roles for women.

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Manami Kanda

Manager, Sustainability/CSR, Logistics & Procurement

Sumitomo Chemical America, Inc.

Regional Headquarters in the Americas

Website?|?LinkedIn?|?Facebook

Thank you for joining us for our last IWD 2022 interview.

We are extremely indebted to all the women at our Group Companies for their achievements and contributions and for the perspectives and value they bring to their companies.

Collectively, we are creating bonds to strengthen women's equality, diversity, inclusion, and a world without bias.?Follow our agents of change throughout March to learn how we are building?a world where difference is valued and celebrated.?

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Learn more about our companies referenced in today’s article:

Sumitomo Chemical Group Companies of the Americas

Sumitomo Chemical America, Inc., the regional Headquarters for the Americas, is part of the Sumitomo Chemical Group of more than 180 companies operating worldwide in a variety of business categories. Our group offer a wide range of innovative products and technologies that strive to address global needs and challenges.

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Reference:

Sumitomo Chemical Basic Policy on Diversity and Inclusion

We will promote diversity and inclusion across the Sumitomo Chemical Group. We understand that a variety of ideas and values among our employees represents a vital resource that forms the foundation of the Sumitomo Chemical Group's competitiveness. In order to create continuous new value, we will build and enable an inclusive organizational culture that allows us to respect the individuality of each employee and embrace diversity to empower employees in an environment of mutual and close communication.

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Interviews with Mary Olson

Brand Intelligence

Building the next generation of brand intelligence

[email protected]

Website?|?LinkedIn

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Sumitomo Chemical: Group Companies of the Americas