Dear BMGT, 

It has been over one month since the death of George Floyd catalyzed a world-wide cry for justice and equality. Our colleagues in the Black community have been the victims of repression and persecution for centuries. We, as leaders in the scientific business community, need to increase our efforts to listen and learn from our respected colleagues about the countless ways that they are discriminated against and disrespected in the workplace. It is time for us to stand as a community and say, “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH” to the underlying subculture of discrimination and take decisive action within the scope of our charge as leaders of chemical business management. 

The Division of Business Development and Management (BMGT) is focused on leading and transforming the business management community of the chemical enterprise to improve the world. We acknowledge the barriers that prevent our fellow Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) chemists from flourishing as business leaders within the chemical enterprise. We are committed to help remove these barriers and create an inclusive community of chemical industry leaders. 

We stand in solidarity with the charge to take action as recently penned by Professor Melanie Sanford within the ACS Journal of the American Chemical Society and the entire ACS Community of Editors-in-Chief in their commitment to eradicate racism from the chemical literature, so we encourage you to join us in fostering a community of diverse, inclusive, equitable, and respectful chemical professionals and executives. 

The Division is launching a program to dismantle the institutionalized barriers that have hampered the success of Black chemists and entrepreneurs, while strengthening the STEM pipeline leading to the chemical industry. Historical data shows that access to mentors and top-tier internships are two major obstacles that hinder talented BIPOC chemists from pursuing careers in chemical management. The Investment Into Industrial Inclusivity within Chemistry (I4C) program will provide mentorship and financial support to afford underrepresented chemists the impactful development experiences cited by top executives throughout the chemical enterprise to catalyze the next generation of diverse leaders. Through I4C, we pledge to empower the industrial community with the tools to create an inclusive environment where all chemists may succeed. 

As your elected, and appointed, leaders of the Division, we encourage you, as a BMGT Member and a leader within your respective organization, to join us in action and hold us accountable to reduce the impact of institutionalized discrimination within society and increase the level of inclusion across the chemical enterprise. 

Sincerely, 
The BMGT Executive Board:

Diane Schmidt, Chair 
Matt Grandbois, Chair-Elect 
Dawn Mason, Past Chair 
Thomas Colacot, Secretary 
Mick Hurrey, Treasurer 
Janet Bryant, Councilor 
Carol Duane, Alternate Councillor 
Jim Tung, Communications Chair 
Jamie Schwarzbach, Member-At-Large 
Lissa Dullany, Membership Co-Chair 
Chanda Klinker, Membership Co-Chair 
Anne DeMasi, Program Chair 
Lisa Balbes, Webmaster