Meet A #GraceGameChanger: Chelsea Burlan
Meet Chelsea Burlan, Global Strategic Sourcing & Sustainability Manager for the Specialty Catalyst business. She is a game-changer in the strategic sourcing space and plays an essential role in driving Grace’s sustainability commitment within its suppliers.
From intern to manager
Born in Mumbai, India, Chelsea comes from a working-class family. Her father is a doctor and her mother worked at a bank. Chelsea said in her family hard work wasn’t an option, it was mandatory. She earned a dual degree in chemistry and computer science in her undergrad and then came to the United States to earn her MBA in operations and supply chain from Northeastern University.
While Chelsea was a student at Northeastern University in Massachusetts, she joined Grace as a Supply Chain Analyst, an internship position that exposed her to the various facets of procurement, operations, and logistics. Over the next 12 years, she held several progressive roles within Grace from Buyer to Senior Procurement Manager to now leading the global strategic sourcing team and advancing sustainability within the supply chain.
“I never thought I would end up working for a chemical company,” Chelsea admits. “The word chemical brings a lot of negative connotations, but Grace’s products are needed by our customers to create many essential, everyday products.”
It’s reassuring to work for a chemical company that is committed to the highest standards of ethics, health, safety, and environmental policies.
Building a responsible and resilient supply chain
A big part of Chelsea’s current role at Grace is working with suppliers on continuously improving sustainability efforts and working with internal stakeholders to analyze, mitigate and lower risks within the supply chain. She also championed the launch of Grace’s Responsible Sourcing Program (GRSP) in 2020.
“The Grace Responsible Sourcing Program was created to drive sustainability improvements in our supply chains and encourage meaningful engagement with our suppliers,” explains Chelsea. “Grace has a supplier’s code of conduct that outlines our expectations in areas like labor and human rights, business ethics, and environmental responsibility.”
The Grace Responsible Sourcing Program (GRSP) has taken great strides and now includes nearly 70 percent of our total direct material spend. Grace assesses its strategic suppliers’ performance against the Grace Supplier Code of Conduct through a third-party supply chain sustainability rating service. The service is evidence-based and requires supporting documentation.
“It’s reassuring to work for a chemical company that is committed to the highest standards of ethics, health, safety, and environmental policies,” says Chelsea. “In 2022, we plan to embed supplier diversity as a key pillar of the Responsible Sourcing Program by advancing our spend with minority suppliers and encouraging our strategic suppliers to learn and adopt some of the D&I principles that Grace is committed to.”
Growth and development
Chelsea said she likes working at Grace because of the people and culture. “Grace is loyal to its employees and rewards hard work,” said Chelsea. “I’ve always felt like there is room for me to grow and develop, which is why I have worked here for most of my career."
Chelsea described her leadership style as leading by example and says she tends to lead with action. “I’ve always been a problem solver with a solution-focused mindset,” said Chelsea. “That has led to many enriching projects and experiences that have uniquely shaped my career at Grace.”