An Interview with Joyce Wright; the New President of SSPC

1. How did you get here and what are your thoughts on becoming the first woman to become SSPC President, in its 70-year history?

I have been in the coating industry for more than 40 years. In 2017 the SSPC global membership voted me onto the SSPC Board of Governors. My peers also have shown their confidence when they voted me into the officer’s track. This journey has now brought me to where I am today, the first woman President of this organization. 

I am very proud to represent the 70-year history of SSPC. There was recently a historic vote from both NACE and SSPC members, to combine to form a new organization. I look forward to being one of the leaders that will advance our mission and increase our impact on the world. I am honored to represent women and to continue to grow the overall diversity of our organization. There will be more places at the table for qualified women. I believe good leaders develop more leaders; that aspect of the new organization will continue to grow to fit our ever-expanding and changing membership. I believe I bring a unique perspective and am ready to leverage technology and our member’s ideas and diverse strengths.       

2. As with your historic milestone of being the first woman SSPC President, what are your thoughts on your other historic milestone of being the last official SSPC President before the merger with NACE? 

I will be the first woman President, but I will not be the last. The merging of SSPC and NACE gives us the opportunity to empower more women to come together and be part of building this new organization. Both organizations believe in global diversity, helping our industry fill generational, diversity and gender gaps while developing leaders for change. We have the opportunity to move this industry forward into what I believe is a new era. Our teams from both organizations, while working together, will be relying on the new ideas, thought leaders, out-of-the-box thinkers, and global collaborations, along with historical knowledge of the previous organizations, to grow a new organization that will surpass what we can imagine today.   

3. With the creation of the “NewOrg” from the SSPC-NACE merger, what recommendations do you have for the new organization to increase the number of women in coatings and in leadership within the coatings industry? 

There will be opportunities for more subject matter experts, volunteers for technical committees/developing of standards, and more leaders of change; which are needed now more than ever before. We will grow from 10,000 members to 50,000 members, to join and fight corrosion at many levels. We will be the leading source of information and education on surface preparation, corrosion control, coating selection and application, environmental and safety regulations that affect the protective coating industry. Ladies, we will reach back and pull forward to fill the ranks, so be ready. This includes young professionals, veterans, retirees, people changing careers, from all over the world. We are and will continue to be a non-profit organization that will support the members’ needs while creating and utilizing new technical advantages through standards, training, and other support mechanisms. We will lead and keep diversity and inclusion for all members, at the forefront.         

 4. What is your advice to young professional women working in the global protective coatings industry or thinking about joining our industry? 

My term as president will be over before we blink an eye. We have to make a difference at every step on our career journeys. We have to be confident and have courage, at times to stand alone and speak our truth. Take a minute to think of the name of a great leader? Got the name? Is it a woman? Rather than advice I am going to give you some things to reflect upon.   

Take a moment to think about your career goals. Now ask yourself, is being a hard worker at your organization good enough? Is being a hard worker good enough to put you on an executive career path? What are you doing that makes you unique?  How can you differentiate yourself from your peers? How do I know who you are, what ideas you have?  Does your boss have a plan laid out for you that will allow your strengths to make a difference in your organization; does it challenge you?  Do you have a working relationship with other leaders in your organization besides your boss?

These are all questions that you should have answers for. If you don’t like the answer; then change it. If you don’t have an answer; then create one. Be clear on who you are and what you are looking to achieve.  Remember to relax, be confident, but to always keep striving towards your “First.”