European industry talent pipelines are facing sustained pressure. Leadership teams are working through long periods of uncertainty and restructuring, the workforce is ageing and approaching retirement, and competition for STEM and commercial graduates is intense, especially from more visible sectors. Companies now need to build the leadership capability and talent pipeline that will help shape the industry’s future, not just manage the pressures of today.
Take part in the activities of our Talents of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow committee (TTLT) and join peers in addressing these challenges together. This quarter, the committee invites you to vote in our flagship initiative, the Future of Petrochemicals Student Challenge 2026, read the committee’s leadership report, and watch the upcoming linked interview series. Also keep an eye out for a roundtable on how to harness the knowledge of talent aged 50+, and join us for the TTLT session at the Annual Meeting in Vienna.
You can find the TTLT's dedicated webpage here: https://epca.eu/ttlt
The Next Generation has its Say: EPCA launches a Student Challenge
Together with Agorize, the TTLT has launched the Future of Petrochemicals Student Challenge 2026 - a pan-European video challenge inviting STEM, sustainability and business students to explain why the petrochemical industry is essential, and how it should evolve to become more attractive and sustainable. The challenge is running across three categories:
- the essential role of petrochemicals in everyday life;
- building a greener, circular industry;
- and rethinking the industry's attractiveness to future generations.
Submissions close in mid-November, and will first pass through a screening by public vote. Shortlisted teams will then be supported by mentors before defending their pitches in a live final in early 2027. EPCA members are invited to visit the challenge website to view the video entries as they come in (late October) and cast their vote.
For more information or to see how you can participate, reach out to Lydia Pernal-Stoddart at ttlt.committee@epca.eu.
New leadership imperative paper and interview series
In March, the TTLT published The new leadership imperative: Leading the chemicals industry in an era of disruption, developed with Roland Berger from structured interviews with industry leaders and analysis of 22,000+ leadership-related job postings. The report identifies four leadership dimensions — leading others, leading self, business orientation and digital literacy — where capability gaps are structural rather than individual.
Building on the paper, the TTLT is producing a series of short video interviews with leaders featured in the report, going into more depth on their personal leadership experience. The first interview has been recorded, and the series will launch after the Annual Meeting.
Harnessing the knowledge and experience of 50+
As parts of the industry go through restructuring and a wave of senior retirements, companies risk losing decades of institutional knowledge and experience at a point where it's needed most. In response, the TTLT is organizing a peer roundtable in the second half of this year on retaining and transferring the expertise of talent aged 50 and above to the next generation of leaders.
The format will be kept deliberately small in an online session. Key takeaways will be shared with the wider EPCA membership afterwards, so members who can't join still benefit from what's discussed. If you would like to be considered for a seat, or would like more information on any TTLT initiative, reach out to Lydia Pernal-Stoddart directly at ttlt.committee@epca.eu.
Performing when the stakes are highest
The Mindset Edge: How Top Performers Win Under Pressure will take place on Tuesday 6 October, from 16:00 to 17:00.
Talent is not only about identifying future leaders. It is also about helping today's leaders and commercial teams perform when pressure is highest. This will be the focus of TTLT's session at the 60th EPCA Annual Meeting. In highly competitive commercial environments, product knowledge, experience and technical expertise are often comparable. What separates exceptional performers is their ability to operate effectively when outcomes become uncertain.
Drawing on performance research and real commercial situations, Isabelle Gonnissen will explore how high performers recover from setbacks, maintain confidence when deals stall, identify opportunities others overlook and project credibility under pressure.
New TTLT Members
We are delighted to welcome Anna-Leona Breidbach and Bas Elisen to the TTLT Committee.
The TTLT is currently composed of 13 members representing petrochemical producers and LSPs, and is coordinated by Lydia Pernal-Stoddart.
Get Involved - Help Shape the Industry’s Future!
The industry is facing a decisive decade: in addition to its current challenges, a significant share of the workforce will be eligible for retirement in the coming years, competition for STEM talent is intensifying, and the green and digital transitions are reshaping the skills and leadership capabilities the sector needs. The TTLT brings member companies together to tackle these challenges collectively - sharing knowledge, building practical tools, and ensuring no member faces the future of talent alone.
Whether you’re interested in STEM talent attraction, leadership development or DEI, there’s a place for you in the TTLT! Together, we can drive meaningful change and ensure the petrochemical industry remains at the forefront of innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity.
✋ Interested to know more? Reach out to us at ttlt.committee@epca.eu!