Novonesis CEO Ester Baiget reflects on the decision to leave Dow after 25 years to lead Novozymes, and why impact, not ambition, drove the move. She discusses the family values that shaped her, redefining the company as a biosolutions leader, the Chr. Hansen merger and why leadership requires courage, respect and long-term purpose.
In this episode of “Executive Decisions,” the Novonesis CEO reflects on the family values that shaped her, the teacher who nudged her toward chemical engineering and the mother who pushed her to attend the interview that began her 25-year career at Dow.
Baiget discusses why curiosity has guided her more than career planning, how she learned not to take setbacks out of proportion and why the CEO role is less lonely than many assume when you build the right team.
She also explains the strategic shift that led Novozymes to see itself not as an enzyme company, but as a biosolutions company — a decision that helped make the merger with Danish biotech company Chr. Hansen possible.
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