Kenyatta J. Dial is a distinguished executive and engineer whose career is marked by leadership, innovation, and strategic execution within the chemical and materials science industry.

Dial’s professional journey began in 1999 at Dow, and she rose through various global roles as she became known for her adept engineering skills and visionary leadership.

Currently serving as the senior business manufacturing director for Dow’s Polyurethanes Systems and Polyols business, she oversees the operations business strategy and implementation within operations. This includes accountability for the primary operations interface with the business area, process technology development and improvement, process safety performance, capital projects, and the business reliability strategy. Dial has overall global responsibility and accountability for 15 Systems and Polyols plant assets around the world. She is a certified Six Sigma black belt, demonstrating her commitment to quality and efficiency.

Dial’s mentorship philosophy is rooted in listening, understanding, and then acting to address the needs of each woman she mentors. Her efforts to mentor and sponsor women engineers; to champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; to expand the image of engineering; and to achieve professional excellence are grounded in her belief in the transformative power of engineering as a force for good.

For example, Dial initiated a series of success story campaigns featuring interviews with women engineers at various stages of their careers. These stories were shared widely through social media, industry publications, and other sources. The stories highlighted challenges overcome and achievements earned.

Recognizing the importance of a supportive work environment, Dial embraced the “Design Your Day” model, which allows women to develop their own flexible working arrangements and an onboarding strategy for women returning from maternity leave or who need schedule flexibility. Her efforts resulted in a 100% improvement in retention rates among women engineers within her organizations.

Dial co-led the launch of her Links Inc. chapter’s Full STEAM Ahead initiative, a program that supports young women with engineering aspirations, and developed hands-on STEM workshops for girls through Jack and Jill of America Inc. She is a co-sponsor in Dow’s Sponsor to Success program, which matches leaders with high-performing underrepresented minorities and women.

An active member of the Society of Women Engineers, she participates in conferences and workshops, contributes to policy discussions, and leverages conferences to recruit top technical talent. She is also a member of the Society of Plastics Engineers and the National Society of Black Engineers.

Raised in a community that valued education and perseverance, Dial pursued her academic ambitions at Michigan State University, earning a B.S. in chemical engineering in 1997 followed by an M.S. in material science in 1999.

Residing in Richmond, Texas, Dial and her husband, Derrick, have two children, ages 10 and 11.