Beyond SurFACES – Meet Audrée Andersen
Bringing strategy from the pitch to the workplace

Please share a little about your background and what brought you to BASF?

I am originally from Canada. After earning both a bachelor’s and master's degree in Chemistry in Québec and Montréal respectively, I went on to earn a doctorate in Physical Chemistry, from the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces jointly with Potsdam University in 2002. After completing my doctoral thesis, followed by a short postdoc, I joined BASF Coatings in the research department in Münster in November 2006. One of my first roles was to set up a laboratory for the development of plastic coatings for automotive parts. Today, that is an area of keen interest by automakers.

Since then, I’ve held a variety of roles that have allowed me to advance my technical skills and grow as a people leader. In 2012, I moved to Automotive OEM Coatings and established the Competence Center for Total Layer and Primers. In 2016, I established and took on the management of the E-Coat & New Technologies Development Department, which included automation and simulation. The role evolved over the years, the topics shifted and the field of responsibilities broadened. With the developmental unit at BASF Coatings, the department Global E-Coat Technology has been created, and this is what I’ve been leading since then.

Today, I am fortunate to lead a team of more than 100 highly skilled colleagues across eight countries. Our work encompasses innovation activities and customization from our global E-Coat products, as well as supporting technical services. It is because of this team and its diverse talents that we are winning in the market and leading in the industry. 

My role coordinates with multiple interfaces such as purchasing, operations and research, sustainability, marketing and communication, quality management, account management and many more. It’s very gratifying, as the work my team does bridges directly to customers and can really make a significant impact. It can also be very challenging at times, yet I enjoy that it provides opportunities to solve problems and create new solutions.

We understand that not only do you lead a very active and large team, you are also a skilled practitioner in coatings. Please tell us about that. 

Over the past 20 years, I’ve gained broad know-how in various fields of OEM, Refinish and industrial coatings. With that experience also comes responsibility. As such, I serve as a technical resource – both inside the company, as well as the industry. An area I am especially knowledgeable in is the field of paint adhesion and the interactions between individual paint layers. I am also a member of various industry associations and frequently speak at industry conferences and events both on technical and leadership related topics.

While my focus is more on strategy and leadership, and not much on performing chemistry anymore, my background remains beneficial. For example, while in China recently, I visited different lines with my team members and all together, we worked out how to offer some solutions to the requests of our customers. That is what working as a team is all about.

While you no longer play soccer, how do you channel your life-long love for the game? 

The values I esteemed on the soccer pitch are some of the values I cultivate as a leader: integrity and sportsmanship. To me, sportsmanship means working together as a unified team, whether times are good or challenging. We overcome obstacles together, we celebrate together. I often remind my teams of this principle. My experience as a competitive soccer player taught me the discipline needed to train every day, and I apply that same discipline to my work.

In North America, women’s competitive soccer is more strategic than physical, which shaped my approach to leadership. I focus on identifying my team members’ strengths and bringing them together to achieve success. This strategic mindset, developed through years of coaching and playing soccer, and developing a good sense of how the team is performing helps me recognize when things are going well or when adjustments are needed. These are lessons from sports that carry over to my work and leadership style today.

You mentioned earlier our leading position in the market. What do you think sets BASF Coatings apart from competitors?

What truly sets us apart is our people. Our team is remarkably consistent—those who join the E-Coat technology area and decide to stay usually remain part of the team for decades. This continuity builds a wealth of experience and detailed product knowledge that is rare in our field.

Another key strength is our exceptional customer service. Our technical service and product teams maintain direct, ongoing contact with customers. Product performance depends on the formulation and on processes in our customers’ production lines. Because our teams are highly competent, dedicated and centrally organized, it gives us a consistent advantage over our competitors.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

Sports remain an important cornerstone of my life, yet I replaced soccer shoes for running ones. Over the past several years, I’ve even participated to the Münster Marathon, a very nice event, with some colleagues in my department, as well as with other friends. In addition to sports, art and music also play an important role in my life. 

Spending time with my family remains a priority. We love exploring the world, including long walks in the forest, the seaside or the mountains, traveling during our holidays or spending time in the kitchen, discovering dishes, spices and sweets from all around the world. 

Now that my children are getting a little older, they have started to try baking by themselves. The other day while I was working at home, they were very busy in the kitchen making a cake! It turned out well, but then I later found blue dye from the icing all over the kitchen. It’s alright though; it’s part of learning and they enjoyed their independence.

Balancing a demanding job, raising a family and finding time for your personal passions can’t be easy. What are some of the things you do to make it all work?

For me, most days are packed and include one appointment after another. My days start very early. Even before the family breakfast, I typically go for a long run to mentally prepare for the day. It helps to keep me healthy and allows me to keep up with the demands of work and everyday life.

Moreover, I enjoy making ceramics. It is a creative outlet that I do for myself. Whether I’m modeling a sculpture, throwing a bowl, or formulating glazes, it allows me to channel my creative energy, relax and design something beautiful. We all need to preserve time for ourselves; it is an important practice to maintain balance and wellbeing. 

While it’s hard to do it all – manage a hectic work schedule, free time for family, hobbies and personal passions – it’s important to dedicate time to those things that mean the most. For me, creating special moments with my family is priceless.