Pamela Hanson, Zeon Chemicals L.P. | Women Breaking the Mold 2024

Pamela (Pam) Hanson has enjoyed a successful career with over 18 years in the rubber industry. She started working at Trelleborg as a development chemist after she graduated college. Hanson then moved into sales and account management roles at Arlanxeo. Hanson joined Zeon three years ago as an account manager with a strong automotive parts background.

"In my early teen years, I worked every summer at Yale Rubber in South Haven, Mich., which became Trelleborg Automotive and is most recently known as Vibracoustic," Hanson said." Those summers were spent in various departments within the company—purchasing, cost estimating, engineering, and, after I turned 16, the rubber lab, which is where all my time would eventually be spent. I was able to learn the rubber industry from all angles, but the lab was the most interesting part."

Hanson earned a bachelor's in chemistry and studied chemical engineering at Michigan State University. After two years of engineering classes, she lost interest in that side of her studies and instead focused on chemistry and math. She explored several areas of interest for her career including pharmaceutical sales, teaching chemistry, coaching softball or becoming a nurse.

After graduating college in 2005 she moved back to her hometown of St. Joseph, Mich., to start planning her career. After ruling out several options, she decided to interview at Trelleborg.

At the time, her father had been president of Trelleborg for over 20 years, but she didn't want to be given a job. She instead wanted to pave her own way. After applying for an open development chemist position, she did a two-part interview, was offered the position, and spent five years with the company.

"I have to say I was able to sell myself with the experience I had gained over my summer internships," Hanson said.

Hanson's strong technical background enables her to "talk the talk" with technical staff on the shop floor with customers and when sharing guidance for molding and material selection.

"I spent almost 10 years on the technical side of the rubber industry focusing on rubber development, mixing, adhesive application and manufacturing before making a career move into sales in 2014. I spent six years at Arlanxeo (formerly Lanxess) in technical sales before landing at Zeon Chemicals in 2020, which has been my best move yet," Hanson said.

Her background and experience led to her appointment as the first female member of Zeon's Global Automotive Team, a cross-functional team that brings together technical and commercial members globally to guide Zeon's automotive strategy. Hanson is a frequent participant in rubber industry groups and events, including the Rubber Roller Group and the Energy Polymer Group.

Hanson excels at living Zeon's core values, including going above and beyond to build strong relationships with her customers—no matter the demographics in the room—and colleagues.

"Zeon's core values and business strategy bring me back to my roots at Yale Rubber many years ago with my father at the helm," Hanson said.

Hanson defines leadership in broad terms because she said, "There are so many different ways to truly lead." She does feel that leaders today needs to be "mentally tough" but humble at the same time. Hanson's leadership style is listening, taking action, promoting transparency and fostering partnerships.

Hanson is known by her colleagues for making a difference at Zeon, with its customers and outside of work in the community. She contributes to the community by coaching her son's baseball team and supporting a second son on a traveling team.

"Both my boys play travel baseball. I coach my oldest for Lakeshore Thunder 11U age group and get to be a fan for my youngest in 9U," she said. "At one point last year, I was coaching four teams in some capacity or another as both boys also play in the recreational league for Lakeshore Youth Baseball & Softball Association, which is the league I grew up playing in.

"In my late teens and early 20s I also coached my youngest sister within this organization. It's a way for me to give back. I'm in my third year coaching my oldest, Brooks, and I would say the most rewarding part is being able to show these young boys that moms are not just 'moms.' I enjoy helping these young men develop skills, build confidence and learn important life lessons such as teamwork, perseverance and sportsmanship," she said. "It's rewarding to watch them grow as players, but also as teammates who support each other and strive to do their best."

Years with company: 3.5 years

Years in rubber industry: 18 years

Let's start by saying no one thinks, "I really want to get into rubber." You are just sort of sucked in. I like to say I was shoved in with cement boots on and never stood a chance. I've always been interested in math and science. I had various excellent science teachers in both middle and high school who made science interesting—quickly making it my favorite subject.

After high school, I decided to study chemical engineering at Michigan State University, but after two years of engineering classes, I realized I didn't really enjoy the engineering part, so I decided to focus on chemistry and math. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do after graduation. Work in pharmaceutical sales, teach chemistry and coach softball, become a nurse—I felt like there were many possibilities with what I could do with a science degree.

I graduated in August 2005 and moved back to my hometown of St. Joseph, Mich. to start my search in a very depressed job market. I wanted so badly to pursue a career in pharmaceutical sales, but with each interview, was told I needed to get sales experience first. I felt like I could excel in that field with a science background; however, I wasn't sure how to gain that experience without someone giving me a shot.

After an interview for a laboratory position with a local paint coatings company took an unexpected turn, I called my dad for advice. He questioned why I didn't want to work at Trelleborg Automotive. My dad was the president of Trelleborg at the time and held the position for 20 years.

I felt like I would be given a job there because of who my dad was with the shadow of being the "president's daughter." I wanted to pave my own way. I reluctantly applied to an open development chemist position and was offered the job after a two-part interview series. I have to say I was able to sell myself with the experience I had gained over my summer internships in various parts of the building. I spent five years as a development chemist, focusing on rubber development for powertrain mounts and laboratory management before being promoted to material development manager, North & South America, in 2010. I worked my way out of the perceived shadow I felt I was living under and ended up making a name for myself while still following in my dad's footsteps.

The sales side of the business has broadened my knowledge base from strictly automotive experience to all rubber-based industries. I continue to learn new things every day. I have made countless connections over the years and realize that this "small" industry is like a big family. Everyone knows everyone and I couldn't imagine leaving it after 20 years. After all these years, I feel like I have truly paved my own way.

The number of women in the rubber industry has grown significantly since I started, but I'm still a face of few. I feel like I challenge my company and co-workers by just being me. A female in the rubber industry with a hybrid background like mine is valuable, but it hasn't been an easy road. In a male-dominated industry, I've had to develop some thick skin. I feel like it's made me a force to be reckoned with as I say what I mean, and I mean what I say. A customer has previously referred to me as a "dirty fingernail" type salesman, which means I listen to detail and I know how to ask the right questions and I don't mind getting my hands dirty in the process. I'm a competitor and I live to compete.

Defining leadership is tough, it's a broad term in my opinion and there are so many different ways to truly lead. To be a good leader you need to have grit, you need to be mentally tough and you need to be humble. I try to lead by example—at home it's teaching my boys manners and not raising a**holes. You want to lead positively and not get caught up in being "cool" or wanting to be "sigma," as all the kids are saying. Who even knows what that means anyway? You want to be someone who is looked upon for the right reasons. Within my job, I lead by listening and taking action. I strive to promote transparency and foster partnerships both internally and externally.

I just picked up reading as my 2024 New Year's resolution. I used to read (a lot) before I had kids and then there just wasn't enough time in the day. I joined a book club consisting of my local girlfriends, to which I never read the book but came to find out very few did as we just wanted to get together for wine, little snacks and socialization with each other. I decided this would be the year I got back into reading and I'm on my 15th book! I prefer psychological thrillers that make you think with as many twists as possible. I make time to read before I go to bed. It's become a way for me to wind down and helps me fall asleep. I feel like it gives me just a little bit of relaxation I chase during the day but feel like there's no time for it.

In May 2001, two weeks before softball districts, I had a freak accident on the baseball field sliding into second base, resulting in breaking my right leg in multiple places and the dislocation of my ankle. This was a catastrophic event in my life and had a major impact on my psyche. I had planned to continue playing softball in college and because of this injury, I had to hang my cleats up on fast-pitch softball.

After two surgeries to install nine screws, a rod and a plate in my leg, I had a long road to recovery including learning how to walk again. I missed my senior class dinner dance, I missed the last two weeks of school, and I graduated high school in a wheelchair that could barely move across the grass of the football field.

I didn't know how I was going to get past it. I didn't want to do anything. I didn't want to see people and I most certainly didn't want to play softball ever again. It was the love of my life. I headed off to MSU in the fall of 2001 in a wheelchair to live in a third-floor dorm with no elevator; I didn't see how I was going to make college life work on such a big campus, so I came home for a year and attended community college, had another surgery and continued physical therapy.

Once healed, I went back to MSU to pursue my degree in chemistry. Getting back onto the field to play again took an enormous amount of mental toughness. I constantly had a fear of being hurt and having to go through everything all over again. While not necessarily, it seemed like it to me at the time and was an extreme challenge I had to overcome, which changed the course of my life. Reflecting now, had I been given the opportunity to follow the dream of playing college softball, my life could have headed down a different path and I wouldn't be where I am today.

Time for myself … I honestly wish I knew what that looked like. I say that jokingly, but with a full-time job and two boys (9 and 11) in year-round sports, I see maybe having time for myself when I'm 60 (hopefully). Being a mom is like having another full-time job. I joke and say, "there's no rest for the wicked." In reality, I wouldn't change a thing. I'm used to being on the go and don't know what to do with myself if there isn't homework to be done, or a practice or game to go to.

When my boys were young, I used to play on four slow-pitch softball teams. Being named first team all-state as an outfielder in 2001, softball was my passion, and the field was my sanctuary. My boys love watching me play when I get the chance, but instead I get to pass my knowledge and skills down through coaching. I would say coaching is what I do when I unwind, even if it winds me up.

I view success as a deeply personal concept that looks different to each person and situation. At the end of the day, success should leave a meaningful, positive impact through actions and contributions. For me, success goes beyond personal or professional achievements. It's about the legacy I leave and the values I instill in my children.