What Employers and Employees Really Want with Milan Taylor of Mercer - Ep. 230

Looking to level up in 2026? The Chemical Executive Mastermind brings senior chemical leaders together for trusted peer perspective. Learn more at grow.thechemicalshow.com/mastermind.

Sponsored by:
World Petrochemical Conference by S&P Global on March 23-27, 2026.
Use the code CHEMSHOW5% at wpc.spglobal.com

How companies manage people and talent is rapidly changing—especially in the chemical industry where agility, performance, and well-being are now critical business drivers. Victoria Meyer is joined by Milan Taylor, partner at Mercer and featured speaker at the upcoming Chemical Summit, to discuss how workforce redesign, skill-based development, and the integration of technology like AI are shaping both challenges and opportunities for chemical companies. 

Victoria and Milan explore data-driven insights around HR priorities, the importance of aligning KPIs with business strategies, and the growing pressure on leaders to address employee stress and burnout. They also address practical strategies for small and midsize companies to maintain agility and foster growth—even with limited resources. Whether you’re a leader looking to refine your talent strategy or aiming to future-proof your workforce, this episode offers valuable, actionable perspectives for navigating today’s workforce transformation. 

 

Victoria and Milan investigate these themes this week: 

• People-First Performance: Empowering line managers to drive results. 
• Work redesign: Breaking jobs into skills and leveraging technology for agility. 
• Managing AI adoption benefits and risks in chemical workforces. 
• Addressing employee burnout and retention beyond just pay. 
• Scalable Growth: Practical development strategies for companies of all sizes. 

 

Killer Quote: "You can only deliver that business performance if you've got strong alignment all the way down the organization." – Milan Taylor 

00:00 "Optimizing HR in Chemical Industry" 

05:38 Agility: Speed, Precision, Intent 

10:20 "Revolutionizing Work Through Automation" 

13:23 Realistic Project Management & Transformation 

17:24 HR's Cautious AI Adoption 

21:40 Top Employee Priorities: Pay & Benefits 

22:47 Workplace Strain Amid Economic Pressures 

26:25 Unrealistic Targets Drive Employee Exit 

32:23 Boost Engagement & Skills Transition 

33:38 "Keys to Authentic Professionalism" 

 

Subscribe to The Chemical Show on YouTube 

 

***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player. 
***Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review.
***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com