Matt Dailey (CEO, Royal Chemical): Due Diligence, Discipline & the Magic of a Midday Stretch

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: 00:00 Introduction & Matt’s winding path from PE advisor to CEO 01:00 Why stepping into manufacturing “transcends industry” fundamentals 02:00 The six-month “dating process”: 10 outreaches a day until Royal Chemical 04:00 Winning employee trust on day one (and why that matters) 12:00 Resetting engagement post-COVID with engagement surveys 14:00 Moving from paper-based to digital workflows on the plant floor 19:00 Tangible wins: shortening setup times and reducing rework 22:00 Advice for owners eyeing automation—expect friction, recruit the right champion 29:00 HR Hot Seat rapid-fire: caffeine, curveballs, and “I trust you” moments If you enjoyed Matt’s story and actionable leadership tips, be sure to subscribe to What’s Up at Work? and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback helps us bring you more conversations with the people shaping Northeast Ohio’s top workplaces. 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.