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Freedom Fuels a Sense of Responsibility
„When people feel trusted, they take ownership. In my experience, trust multiplies both responsibility and creativity.“
Yogaraj Nabar
“I’ve only been here for a few months, and I already feel right at home. It truly encourages openness and teamwork,” says Yogaraj Nabar as he walks through the co-working space to his new office at ELANTAS in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. “What stands out to me is the team’s tremendous depth of domain knowledge and many years of industry experience, which enable them to create real added value.”
In July 2025, he became Vice President Commercial & Technology at ELANTAS North America after nearly six years as VP Market & Technology Development at ELANTAS Beck India. With 20 years in the specialty chemical industry, he brings a wealth of experience gained from working with business partners around the world, across functions and markets. What he enjoys most about his new role is that “every day brings new opportunities to learn and make a difference.”
A Mindset of Trust and Autonomy
From January 2024 to April 2025, Yogaraj took part in ALTANA’s Management Development Program (MDP), which is de-signed to develop emerging and established leaders across ALTANA and its divisions. Combining theory and practice, participants work on joint projects throughout the program. “The MDP was a unique opportunity to build partnerships with peers and gain deeper insights into ALTANA’s global vision and strategy,” he says. “I also wanted to further develop my leadership approach in a way that empowers others to grow and fosters innovation.”
The program gave participants the space to challenge established ways of working and explore new ones. “It helped me broaden my perspective on leadership and approach it in a more people-centric way, focusing on enabling others to grow into leaders themselves.” Yogaraj reflects on his time in the MDP. “The most important lesson was that leadership is about creating the right conditions for others to thrive. True empowerment is when your team succeeds even when you’re not in the room.”
Yogaraj Nabar values that his work gives him the opportunity to learn something
new every day while also supporting others in their development.
Freedom and Responsibility in Practice
Yogaraj soon had the opportunity to put these insights into practice. Following a global acquisition by ELANTAS, Marketing, Sales, and Technical / R&D teams had to be integrated into the Indian organization. “It was a period of significant change that had to be navigated at a rapid pace. I had the chance to coach leaders who were driving the transformation.”
He focused on helping them manage the transition as smoothly as possible – building trust, aligning priorities, and fostering collaboration across teams. “I was proud to see how they powered through this major transformation and grew in confidence and leadership.” Their success reinforced his belief that empowerment is one of the most effective ways to help people evolve.
At the same time, he emphasized that empowerment does not mean relinquishing responsibility: “It’s about sharing it in a meaningful way. Both ELANTAS and ALTANA promote a culture in which empowerment is embedded in how we work.” Leaders are encouraged to trust their teams, delegate responsibility, and support personal development. “I am convinced that our focus on innovation, excellence, and sustainability is effective precisely because people are given the freedom and space to grow.”
