Afrah Boigny earned her bachelor's degrees in chemistry from Spelman College in Atlanta and chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Her first job out of college was as a developing engineer for Arkema Inc. in Mobile, Ala., where she worked on "continuous improvement projects to increase product yield and quality in the impact modifier unit," which mainly was used as an intermediate material for the building and construction industry.
"It was after Arkema that I realized the breadth of the plastics industry is extensive. Its application encompasses everything from everyday essential materials for health care and food manufacturing to cosmetics and automotive," she said. "Plastic is embedded in nearly every aspect of human life."
Boigny has also held positions as a production and process engineer and operations manager at Arkema in Louisiana, and she is now a senior process engineer at Sabic in Alabama.
"One of my greatest achievements was co-leading a cold plant restart with zero injuries and zero process safety incidents. In 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall in southeast Louisiana on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The hurricane collapsed the power grid and damaged several structures due to its high winds," Boigny said.
"Our leadership team prioritized the safety and well-being of our employees first. We completed wellness checks for all employees and their families and provided assistance with necessities such as gasoline, [air conditioning] units and generators. Once all employees were accounted for, the focus was redirected to the manufacturing site. With much planning, the site was able to restart production 30 days after impact. This incident exemplified people as the most important capital," she added.
Boigny has been involved with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, Georgia Tech Alumni Association, National Alumnae Association of Spelman College and the American Chemistry Council. She also leads Sabic's SHE Hub in Burkville, Ala., and participates in back-to-school donation drives for school supplies to Lowndes County students.
Sabic employees in Burkville participate in Operation Clean Sweep, "a program designed to implement good housekeeping practices to reduce the amount of plastic resin loss to the environment," and Boigny completes weekly housekeeping audits and identifies equipment causing resin powder loss.
"My ideal job in the future is one that continues to be close to the process and close to the people working on the process. Our operators, mechanics and staff are the people making the plastic. They are the ones that are progressing our sustainability plans. They are the ones that I want to help," she said.
A first-generation American with parents from Sudan, Boigny said "integrating eastern Sudanese values with western American culture has been a balancing act, but the one value that is common is the value of hard work."
Her father would always remind her that "failure isn't truly failure unless you give up" and "it's okay to feel uncomfortable; it means that you are growing."
"Curiosity is the foundation of innovation," Boigny said. "The plastics industry is dynamic; it changes often to keep up with the changing demand. Innovation starts by challenging the status quo."