Kerry Pianoforte, Editor01.11.24
Coatings World recently spoke with Amy Ericson, PPG senior vice president, Protective and Marine Coatings.
Q: How have you navigated challenges as a senior female leader in the paint and coatings industry?
Ericson: Navigating challenges has been a dynamic journey marked by significant cultural shifts. Early in my career, the biggest obstacle was the noticeable absence of female representation in the industry. I felt a responsibility to actively contribute to fostering positive change.
Over the years, I have observed a transformation and played a hands-on role in bringing about this change. By championing initiatives that diversify teams and experiences, we are breaking barriers and paving the way for more women to enter a thriving industry. Diverse teams perform better, and investing in the growth of our employees can directly correlate with the growth of our business.
Q: How do you suggest professionals uphold their credibility within their organizations?
Ericson: Credibility is about establishing trust with your peers, managers and team members. Dive deep into the subjects you’re responsible for while engaging with organization experts to supplement your knowledge. Credibility comes from a deep understanding of your work scope and the diligence in gathering, verifying, and sharing information. Credibility is when people can trust you.
Q: You've spoken about diversifying experiences. How has this approach benefited you?
Ericson: Embracing challenges that push me out of my comfort zone has enriched my journey. My career path has been incredibly rewarding through five companies and multitudes of positions. As I pursued opportunities that were perceived to be off the operational path, I was often told that they would be risky and my career would be sidetracked. I believe the opposite to be true. Diversifying my career path has broadened my perspective and skillset. Take my experience in communications. My role gave me a deeper understanding of the company’s technological footprint, environmental implications and future potential. This also allowed me to hone my listening and teaching skills, which were crucial during my United Nations Climate Conference address.
I share my diverse career path as an example and encourage others to take the risk of engaging with all parts of your company.
Q: What importance do you place on networking, and how can one go about it?
Ericson: Networking is vital. Internally, broadening relationships across functions and business units remains critical. It enables teams to work faster and smarter. Externally, I actively engage in seminars, workshops, and conferences. They impart knowledge and offer opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals. Additionally, it's beneficial to read relevant books, articles, and journals and seek mentorship from seasoned professionals within and outside your organization. Networking doesn’t need to be formal and intensive. It is about creating situations for yourself to engage in open, honest feedback and discussion.
Q: How can one gain a comprehensive understanding of their business?
Ericson: Knowing your business holistically is paramount. This means going beyond just mastering your department. Break down knowledge barriers, be curious about the company's overarching narrative, understand financial metrics, interact with various teams like sales, marketing, and public affairs, and review how your company portrays itself externally. The quest for knowledge should be continuous and in-depth. Be curious, ask questions, and find people with answers. Then repeat.
Q: Let's talk more about your business. What's your perspective on the future of the protective and marine coatings market?
Ericson: The market is poised for transformative growth, influenced by the need to support infrastructure and improve sustainability profiles in our industries. Our focus areas at PPG protective and marine coatings include energy, marine, technology and infrastructure (EV battery plants, semiconductor facilities, and data centers) sectors. Central to these efforts remains PPG's coatings, which offer advanced protective and performance-enhancing solutions for these industries operating in challenging and harsh environments. These coatings ensure asset durability and operational efficiency while prioritizing safety and sustainability to support customers in achieving their business goals.
Q: How is PPG helping its protective and marine coatings customers navigate the complexities of performance, safety, sustainability, and growing demand?
Ericson: PPG supports its customers by providing innovative solutions that address the complexities of performance, sustainability, and surging demand. Customers continue to turn to PPG for fire protection, anti-corrosion, steel protection, etc., to ensure longer lifespans for equipment and infrastructure, reducing frequent equipment replacements or plant downtime while promoting safety and sustainability.
By continuously investing in research and development, PPG aims to stay ahead of industry challenges, ensuring our customers receive the best solutions tailored to their needs. For example, our innovations, like PPG SIGMAGLIDE 2390 marine coating, represent a breakthrough in fouling release technology for vessel owners and operators for optimum efficiency and a more sustainable future.
Q: How have you navigated challenges as a senior female leader in the paint and coatings industry?
Ericson: Navigating challenges has been a dynamic journey marked by significant cultural shifts. Early in my career, the biggest obstacle was the noticeable absence of female representation in the industry. I felt a responsibility to actively contribute to fostering positive change.
Over the years, I have observed a transformation and played a hands-on role in bringing about this change. By championing initiatives that diversify teams and experiences, we are breaking barriers and paving the way for more women to enter a thriving industry. Diverse teams perform better, and investing in the growth of our employees can directly correlate with the growth of our business.
Q: How do you suggest professionals uphold their credibility within their organizations?
Ericson: Credibility is about establishing trust with your peers, managers and team members. Dive deep into the subjects you’re responsible for while engaging with organization experts to supplement your knowledge. Credibility comes from a deep understanding of your work scope and the diligence in gathering, verifying, and sharing information. Credibility is when people can trust you.
Q: You've spoken about diversifying experiences. How has this approach benefited you?
Ericson: Embracing challenges that push me out of my comfort zone has enriched my journey. My career path has been incredibly rewarding through five companies and multitudes of positions. As I pursued opportunities that were perceived to be off the operational path, I was often told that they would be risky and my career would be sidetracked. I believe the opposite to be true. Diversifying my career path has broadened my perspective and skillset. Take my experience in communications. My role gave me a deeper understanding of the company’s technological footprint, environmental implications and future potential. This also allowed me to hone my listening and teaching skills, which were crucial during my United Nations Climate Conference address.
I share my diverse career path as an example and encourage others to take the risk of engaging with all parts of your company.
Q: What importance do you place on networking, and how can one go about it?
Ericson: Networking is vital. Internally, broadening relationships across functions and business units remains critical. It enables teams to work faster and smarter. Externally, I actively engage in seminars, workshops, and conferences. They impart knowledge and offer opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals. Additionally, it's beneficial to read relevant books, articles, and journals and seek mentorship from seasoned professionals within and outside your organization. Networking doesn’t need to be formal and intensive. It is about creating situations for yourself to engage in open, honest feedback and discussion.
Q: How can one gain a comprehensive understanding of their business?
Ericson: Knowing your business holistically is paramount. This means going beyond just mastering your department. Break down knowledge barriers, be curious about the company's overarching narrative, understand financial metrics, interact with various teams like sales, marketing, and public affairs, and review how your company portrays itself externally. The quest for knowledge should be continuous and in-depth. Be curious, ask questions, and find people with answers. Then repeat.
Q: Let's talk more about your business. What's your perspective on the future of the protective and marine coatings market?
Ericson: The market is poised for transformative growth, influenced by the need to support infrastructure and improve sustainability profiles in our industries. Our focus areas at PPG protective and marine coatings include energy, marine, technology and infrastructure (EV battery plants, semiconductor facilities, and data centers) sectors. Central to these efforts remains PPG's coatings, which offer advanced protective and performance-enhancing solutions for these industries operating in challenging and harsh environments. These coatings ensure asset durability and operational efficiency while prioritizing safety and sustainability to support customers in achieving their business goals.
Q: How is PPG helping its protective and marine coatings customers navigate the complexities of performance, safety, sustainability, and growing demand?
Ericson: PPG supports its customers by providing innovative solutions that address the complexities of performance, sustainability, and surging demand. Customers continue to turn to PPG for fire protection, anti-corrosion, steel protection, etc., to ensure longer lifespans for equipment and infrastructure, reducing frequent equipment replacements or plant downtime while promoting safety and sustainability.
By continuously investing in research and development, PPG aims to stay ahead of industry challenges, ensuring our customers receive the best solutions tailored to their needs. For example, our innovations, like PPG SIGMAGLIDE 2390 marine coating, represent a breakthrough in fouling release technology for vessel owners and operators for optimum efficiency and a more sustainable future.
