Briefly tell us about your career as a professional chemist.
In 2014, I retired from The Procter & Gamble Company, where I served in positions of increasing responsibility over the years. My P&G career in R&D spanned 1981-2014 during which I was pleased to play key roles in such brands as Tide®, Head & Shoulders®, Pert Plus®, Unstoppables ® and Safeguard®.
What have you enjoyed about retirement so far? What have been some of the challenges?
It has been most enjoyable to have a more flexible schedule. My husband and I like to travel. Some of the challenges have been having more requests to do things than time permits. Having to say "no" can be a challenge.
How would you like to see late-career professionals interact with the next generation of scientists?
Mentoring is a clear opportunity to interact with the next generation of scientists. Being an ACS Career Consultant is one of many opportunities within ACS. This is a great time to be a scientist.
New frontiers, new problems to solve, and new cutting-edge tools that are now available to the next generation of scientists make for exciting times and challenges.
How has your experience in corporate R&D influenced your current role as adjunct professor?
My experience in corporate R&D allows me to communicate to students the aspects of a chemistry career in industry that are not traditionally shared in a university environment. Chemistry is truly the central science that offers great flexibility and versatility in career opportunities and paths to pursue with a chemistry degree.
What’s the most valuable lesson your work taught you?
Communicating effectively with others is a crucial skill. It is how we build and maintain relationships, solve problems, get funding, and accomplish tasks.
What’s the best advice you got during your working years?
Your future is what you make it.
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Read more from Diane on planning for and transitioning to retirement.
About the Contributor
Diane Grob Schmidt, Ph.D is currently a Professor of Chemistry - Adjunct Research in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cincinnati (2014 to present). She is retired from The Procter & Gamble Company, where she served in positions of increasing responsibility over the years. She was an R&D Section Head for 17 years. Her P&G career spanned 1981-2014 during which she played key roles in such brands as Tide®, Head & Shoulders®, Pert Plus®, Unstoppables ® and Safeguard®. She is the inventor or co-inventor on a myriad of patents, in addition to author or co-author on chemistry publications in refereed journals.
She has received many awards, including ACS Fellow, AAAS Fellow, National Academy of inventors Fellow, Fellow of the Division of Chemical Health & Safety, Henry Hill Award, and Distinguished Scientist of Cincinnati (first woman so honored). She has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists and the Journal of Chemical Health & Safety. She served the Oak Ridge Associated Universities as a Director on the ORAU Board of Directors 2012-2024.
She has been a lifelong ACS member and has held a wide variety of leadership positions, including three consecutive terms on the Board of Directors. As 2015 ACS President, her Presidential theme was “Inspiring and Innovating for Tomorrow.” Her legacy as ACS President includes U.S. and Global Grand Challenges via impactful programming (Nanotechnology, Energy, BRAIN Initiative/Chemical Measurements/Chemical Neurotransmission), championing the establishment of the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT), establishing the CTO Summit in 2015, advocacy on behalf of ACS members, and initiatives focused on workforce needs, industry, and industrial ACS members.
This article has been edited for length and clarity. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the view of their employer or the American Chemical Society.
Read more from Diane on planning for and transitioning to retirement.
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