Leadership Spotlight: The People Shaping the Next 100 Years - Bettina Brayshaw

When a company reaches 100 years, people tend to focus on its history: the founding story, milestones, and products. All of that matters, however, the question I keep coming back to is different:

What is it about this place that makes people stay, grow,
and give their best, decade after decade?

That question sits at the heart of everything we do in human resources at Kuraray America, Inc. and, it is the question the centennial achievement gives us the opportunity to answer.

Who We Are Today

Kuraray America combines the stability of a 100-year company with a forward-looking approach to people and sustainability. Employees here are part of an organization that values safe operations, thoughtful growth, and work that contributes to both business success and broader community needs. That combination is uncommon in the specialty chemical industry and is not something we take for granted.
 

People who thrive at Kuraray America share certain qualities
 

• They value collaboration.
• They take ownership of their work.
• They care about how results are achieved, not just whether targets are met.
• They want to be part of a company where purpose, performance, and respect go hand in hand.
   

Working together across multiple business units is central to our success, and those who do it well understand that no single team operates in isolation.

“There is something about this company that is difficult to describe without experiencing it firsthand: the sense of shared responsibility.”
 

Whether it involves safety, supporting one another through a challenging turnaround, or showing up for the communities surrounding our facilities, our employees demonstrate a genuine commitment to each other in very real, tangible ways.
 

Building a cohesive culture is no small task when you have more than 850 employees working across 15 U.S. locations, from the Texas Gulf Coast to West Virginia. We do it by being clear about what unites everyone. Core values such as safety, integrity, and respect are consistent across the organization, while leaders and teams are empowered to reflect local realities. That combination creates alignment and authentic connection.
 

Our corporate functions sit at the center of all our business units, and that role carries genuine responsibility. We are the connective tissue that ensures an employee in La Porte and an employee across the country share not just a company name but a shared sense of purpose.
 

Safety and sustainability play distinct roles in our unity
 

• Safety protects people today and every day
• Sustainability protects tomorrow
  
   

Together, they give meaning to the work and reinforce
that every role, in every location, contributes to something
lasting.
 

As we celebrate this milestone, I think about what it communicates to current and prospective employees. The answer is simple.

Kuraray America is built for the long term.
 

This company has grown by understanding our customers’ needs, investing in people both internally and in our communities, and staying true to our values through change. Our track record is not just our history. It is a promise of how we intend to operate going forward.
 

Employee contributions, service, and innovation are central to how we are recognizing this milestone. We are celebrating the memories that brought us to this moment so we can continue to look forward with confidence and purpose.
 

“One of the things I am most proud of is the career growth here. Employees can deepen technical expertise, develop leadership capabilities, and take on broader responsibilities over time. Growth is supported by experience, development, and exposure to different ways of working across multiple business units, corporate functions, and cultures globally. That breadth is unusual, and our people value it.”
 

Intentional engagement
 

We invest intentionally in the communities where we operate. Partnerships with institutions such as San Jacinto College and La Porte ISD strengthen local talent pipelines and reflect our commitment to developing skills and opportunities near where employees live and work.

Many of our employees volunteer significant hours each year, and that is not driven by a corporate mandate. It comes from a culture that encourages people to look beyond their own role and consider their impact on the world around them.

The lessons from Kuraray first 100 years are clear: strong companies are built by engaged, capable people who are trusted, developed, and treated with respect. That has not changed and will not change.

The next century will require curiosity, adaptability, and shared accountability. It will require people who can think beyond their role, collaborate across boundaries, and put safety and integrity first, while carrying forward the values that brought us here.

For someone considering a career at Kuraray America today, I would say this: you are joining a company that invests in its people and its purpose. You will have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully, grow sustainably, and help shape what the next 100 years look like.

That is what a centennial really means. Not just where we have been, but the kind of company we are building for those who come next.

And I think that answers the question.

Bettina Brayshaw, Head of HR & Communications, Kuraray America, Inc.