Beyond SurFACES – Meet Marie France Belisle
"I never lost sight of our customers, because a long time ago, I was one"

How did your career begin at BASF? 

I’ve told this story a few times when I’ve given presentations to various groups. My father owned a building wrap company, so I grew up on construction sites in Canada. I learned all about architecture and construction methods, and even earned my credentials as a certified building inspector. I became a regional and national chair for the Canadian Urethane Foam Contractors Association Inc., which actively promotes spray polyurethane foam insulation and the great contractors who apply it. 

That made me a natural fit for BASF. I started as a Sales and Quality Assurance Program Manager for spray polyurethane foam in 2010, doing what I knew best. Then I moved up through the ranks as a National Sales Manager for Performance Materials, the Head of Sales in South Africa for Performance Materials, then Business Manager for Building Systems back in Canada, and Head of Marketing for Chemetall in North America. All that great experience led me to where I am now, as Chemetall’s Head of Global Strategic Marketing & Segment Management, based in Frankfurt, Germany. 

I’ve never lost sight of our customers, because a long time ago, I was one. 

What does a typical workday look like for you?

My area of responsibility is quite diverse, from Product Management, Communications, Strategy, Global segments, Business Development, and other topics. Every day is different, which I like. I interact with my teams on their daily challenges, while coaching and supporting the team members so that they can perform their best for the success of our business. I am also part of the senior leadership team that shapes the Chemetall organization. Sometimes I travel to meet different team members and customers. I want to stay up-to-date on their current market developments and needs. 

For example, Chemetall has an aerospace division, and I had the privilege to visit the Airbus manufacturing plant in Hamburg, Germany recently. For all the time I’ve spent travelling on airplanes, I have never seen one being manufactured up close and personal. It was a fascinating experience to see what we do not see when we fly, and how all the aircraft parts work together to keep the plane in the air. 

Our customers are at the center of all that we do, and that visit helped me understand Airbus as a customer better than I ever had before. Our chemistry helps them go beyond, and attain new heights, both figuratively and literally. 

In general, this is one of the most exciting roles I ever had, and I am looking forward to the years to come.

And there’s a specific part of the day you like the best? 

When I am at my home base in Frankfurt, I like to arrive at the office at 7:00 a.m. or earlier. I like this time in the office when there are just a few colleagues present because then I can prepare for the busy workday. My calendar is normally full of meetings, so I need that time to work on projects or to make sure I am keeping up-to-date with different requests. 

Not everyone loves the early part of the morning. I embrace it. I revel in it.

You talked earlier about coaching people. How does your passion for people drive your work? 

I firmly believe that our most important asset is our people. That’s especially true, knowing that most businesses are finding it difficult to find and retain great talent in the current environment. I’m very passionate about people for my own good, but also for the good of BASF and Chemetall. 

I am part of the Diversity and Inclusion panel of BASF. As our Coatings culture reminds us, we value diverse opinions in an inclusive environment and appreciate open feedback. We welcome bold ideas and diverse perspectives from everybody to drive the innovation, sustainability, and digitalization that our company and our industry both need. That’s why I do what I do on that panel. Our diversity helps us go beyond what we know to discover new and different solutions stretching the boundaries of chemistry for our great customers. 

I also support two mentees and other colleagues who regularly ask for advice on certain challenges and career development questions. Some leaders may feel threatened when somebody on their team goes on to greater things. I am not. I find it very personally fulfilling, knowing that I helped them succeed. When they win, I win.

And how do you unwind after a long day? 

The best way to recharge is in nature.  I usually start every day with stretching and exercise out in the fresh air, no matter where in the world I am.  If I am traveling, I will try to find 15 minutes between the last meeting and dinner to go outside for a short walk. If I am at home, I will go on the balcony and reflect on the day and prepare for the following one. 

Nature always helps keep me centered. I am passionate about the environment and sustainability. That comes out in my work, but also in some of the things I’ve done in my life, like the Gazelle’s Rally in Maroc.

Gazelle’s Rally? Go on… 

It’s a car rally, but the focus isn’t on speed, it’s on efficiency. All-female teams (whose members are called Gazelles) plot a course without electronic tools (like GPS) through the Sahara Desert. To win, you have to reach your destination driving the fewest number of kilometers possible. I participated in 2010, and it created lifetime memories for me. The rally is about the environment, but also empowering women and learning about diverse countries and people while crossing the desert in a rally car.  The adventure pushes the Gazelles to go beyond their limits, help each other, adapt, and open up to all the diverse people you meet. You can love cars and love car racing, and do it in an environmentally friendly way. The rally itself is even ISO 14001 certified for its environmental policies. 

Kind of like how BASF creates chemistry for a sustainable future. Another win-win.