Coatings
Beyond SurFACES – Meet Yani Dong
"You’ve got to understand where the music is in any business"
Born and raised in the Chinese city of Qingdao, Yani Dong says she always wanted to explore any opportunity that could broaden her horizons. BASF is her first and only company in her 12-year career, and she enjoys the fact that the company’s values align so closely with her own.
Yani Dong began her career in Hong Kong at the regional headquarters of the Nutrition and Health division, and is now the new Managing Director in South East Asia for BASF Coatings' Surface Treatment business operating under the Chemetall brand.
We asked her about her recent move to BASF Coatings, why she listens for the “music” in any business, and how the last few years unlocked a new appreciation for paints long before she joined the Coatings division.
Beyond SurFACES – Get to know our winning team
At BASF Coatings, we are driven by passion and science to always go beyond the surface. In our new series, Beyond SurFACES, we introduce you to the talented individuals who make it happen. From developing innovative coatings to creating sustainable solutions, our winning team is at the heart of everything we do. Meet Yani Dong, Managing Director of Surface Treatment, Southeast Asia, and discover how she works. Want to be part of the journey?Join us in going beyond!
You said you wanted to broaden your horizons. How did you begin?
I still remember the first time I ever went abroad outside of China. I bought a one-way ticket to New York City to start my first semester of study at Columbia University. I was excited and ready to embrace a new city, new challenges, and a world of change. I faced it all with great enthusiasm, and that was one of the cornerstones in my life.
I am still like that in many ways. I face my days with enthusiasm and an open mind. I try to always adapt and embrace change in both my professional and private lives.
How have you embraced change throughout your 12 years at BASF?
My background is in Chemistry and Environmental Engineering. I took roles as a Sustainability Specialist, then staff to the president of Dispersions and Resins at first. That gave me an excellent helicopter-style overhead view of business steering and strategic thinking.
I applied that knowledge by switching to more operational and hands-on roles with Intermediates as a regional product manager for Industrial Amines. This helped me learn to solve problems, adjust pricing tactics, and adapt to supply and demand balances with customer segmentations in commodity cycles.
Before I took over my new role as Managing Director for Chemetall in South East Asia, my last role was based in Shanghai, as team lead for Strategy and Digitalization. That was an entirely different kind of role, broadening my scope in market intelligence, Joint Venture negotiations and investment, and people leadership.
These roles and divisions were very different, which pushed me to constantly learn and collaborate with diverse groups of people and teams. If I hadn’t embraced that change, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
You need to ask questions and understand the fundamentals. You need to get the right things right, every time. If you do, the organization will start singing like a great chorus, working together to fill the world with a beautiful sound.
With all your diverse experience, what piece of advice stands out?
One of the best parts about BASF is the people. In my 12 years with the company, I have met hundreds, maybe thousands, of great people. One who affected me most was a mentor early in my career. That person told me, “You’ve got to understand where the music is in any business.” That means you need to ask questions and understand the fundamentals. You need to get the right things right, every time. If you do, the organization will start singing like a great chorus, working together to fill the world with a beautiful sound.
The music in Chemetall means our team is constantly creating value for our customers, and making decisions while making adjustments. The really cool part of my job is that I don’t ever have the same day or week. I am empowered with full P&L responsibility in one of the most diverse and growing sub-regions of the globe. Our team of 60 colleagues from diverse backgrounds sell and serve our customers in a wide range of applications with unique product and technical offerings.
Chemetall is filling the world with sound, so to speak.
How were you interested in paints and painting before you joined Coatings
During the days of COVID-19, I became an expert at being quarantined. Looking back, I spent a total of 63 days of hotel quarantine in 2022, and 67 days of strict home quarantine in 2023 during the Shanghai lockdown.
Like all of us, I adapted. Instead of my usual routine of regular exercise, I had to settle for a yoga mat in front of the computer. When I needed a new creative outlet, I turned to painting. Not car painting with pre-treatment like we sell at Chemetall, but acrylics and a canvas.
