What's Up At Work?
What's Up At Work?
Sam Clyde Schroeder
Matt Dailey (CEO, Royal Chemical): Due Diligence, Discipline & the Magic of a Midday Stretch
36 minutes Posted May 13, 2025 at 11:40 am.
Introduction & Matt’s winding path from PE advisor to CEO
Why stepping into manufacturing “transcends industry” fundamentals
The six-month “dating process”: 10 outreaches a day until Royal Chemical
Winning employee trust on day one (and why that matters)
Resetting engagement post-COVID with engagement surveys
Moving from paper-based to digital workflows on the plant floor
Tangible wins: shortening setup times and reducing rework
Advice for owners eyeing automation—expect friction, recruit the right champion
HR Hot Seat rapid-fire: caffeine, curveballs, and “I trust you” moments
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Show notes
What convinced Matt Dailey to leave private equity and buy a chemical company on a handshake deal—would you take that leap?
In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, host Sam Clyde Schroeder sits down with Matt Dailey, President and CEO of Royal Chemical, to talk about his bold transition from investment banker to manufacturing executive.
You’ll hear how Matt targeted acquisition opportunities with disciplined daily outreach, won over a team through humility and trust, and then introduced a data-driven mindset into a 85-year-old chemical business—complete with digital scheduling, real-time dashboards, and an engagement reboot.
Timestamps:
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Learn more about ERC’s HR tools and resources at https://www.yourerc.com and explore Royal Chemical’s custom manufacturing solutions at https://www.royalchemical.com.