Matt: Building Business Success Through People

Evonik's new business line Interface & Polyurethane Additives (IPA) brings together the strengths of the Comfort & Insulation and Interface & Performance business lines, along with the global silicone and amine platforms. Merging buiness lines is far more than aligning processes and portfolios. It is about creating new opportunities for innovation, strengthening collaboration across teams, and empowering people to solve increasingly complex customer challenges.

Helping lead that transformation is Matt, Vice President of Interface & Polyurethane Additives. 

While his current role places him at the center of one of Evonik's largest business transformations, Matt's leadership philosophy has remained consistent throughout his career: stay curious, embrace change, and always put people first. 

“I want to always be excited to come to work”

Growth and new challenges provide that excitement. “They keep the job from becoming routine.”

That mindset has guided his career for more than two decades. 

Beginning as a chemical engineer, Matt quickly discovered that while he loved chemistry, he was equally drawn to the commercial side of the business. Rather than following a predictable path, he continually sought opportunities that expanded his perspective from manufacturing and sales to marketing, global leadership and business management. Today, those experiences are helping him guide the integration of Evonik's newly combined Interface & Polyurethane Additives business, bringing together diverse technologies, markets and teams under a shared vision.

For Matt, navigating complexity begins with people.

Throughout his interview, one theme repeated over and over: relationships built throughout a career often become its greatest reward. “I think the people you meet here make the difference,” he shared. That belief shapes how he approaches leadership. “I read a long time ago that it's easier to motivate people by getting their buy in and commitment than through unilateral commandand. That has always stuck with me” Matt says. Combined with the Golden Rule his parents taught him growing up which is to treat others the way you want to be treated continues to influence every decision he makes. “I think most people want to succeed and perform well. They just may need some support at times.”

Take it one step at a time

As Interface & Polyurethane Additives continues building its future, Matt believes success will require collaboration across functions, businesses and geographies, along with a willingness to continuously learn from one another. His advice to new employees is simple: “Take it one step at a time. You can't learn everything at once.” Build relationships, seek mentors, ask questions and remain open to opportunities that may look different from your original career plan.

Caring about the team and the company´s interests 

Looking ahead, Matt hopes his legacy won't be measured by business milestones, but by character. 

For Matt, careers are rarely linear and that's exactly what makes them meaningful. Looking ahead, he hopes his legacy will be measure by how much he cares for people.  “I hope people say I was fair and a good colleague to work with, that I cared about our team and put the company's and my colleagues' best interests first.”

For someone leading one of Evonik's newest business organizations into its next chapter, that perspective serves as a reminder that while organizations evolve, products advance and markets change, lasting success is ultimately built by people.