The printing and packaging industry has long been defined by innovation, operational excellence, and adaptability. As companies navigate skilled labor shortages, automation, and an increasingly competitive talent market, attracting, developing, and retaining employees has become a strategic priority, with corporate culture playing a decisive role. Organizations that actively support diversity and inclusion are not only strengthening their workforce but positioning themselves for success.
At the center of this progress is allyship. While organizations such as Women in Print Alliance exist to support and advance women across all segments of the industry, meaningful change requires engagement from everyone. Men – particularly those in leadership roles – play a critical role in shaping workplace culture and influencing the next generation of printing and packaging professionals.
Culture as the Foundation for Growth
Company culture not only shapes how employees experience their workplace, but also how long they choose to stay. McKinsey & Company’s Women in the Workplace 2024 study shows that, across more than 280 companies and more than 15,000 surveyed employees, women now hold 29% of C-suite positions, up from 17% in 2015, but progress earlier in the career pipeline remains slow. This research highlights how inclusive cultures can help women advance and stay engaged in their organizations.
For women in the printing and packaging industry, culture can be the deciding factor between retention and turnover, or professional growth and stagnation. Inclusive cultures create environments where women are empowered to build skills, expand their networks, and pursue leadership opportunities with confidence. Organizations that prioritize mentorship, education, and visibility for women are better positioned to develop a strong leadership pipeline and reduce costly employee attrition.
Lisbeth Lyons Black, director of Women in Print Alliance, emphasizes, “Highlighting female leaders can be as simple as ensuring they are pictured or listed on a company website or spotlighted in employee communications. Seeing herself reflected in senior leadership roles will give that new, eager female employee the confidence to volunteer for ʽreachʼ tasks or leadership training, because she sees proof that taking risks can lead to career advancement.”
But inclusive cultures do not emerge organically. They require leadership commitment, clearly defined values, and consistent behaviors that reinforce a sense of community and accountability throughout the organization.
Men in Leadership Set the Tone
Since the printing and packaging industry is still primarily male-dominated, male executives and senior leaders set expectations through their actions, shaping how inclusion is practiced across operations, production floors, and corporate offices.
When men in leadership roles actively model inclusive behaviors — such as sponsoring women for advancement, encouraging diverse perspectives in decision-making, and holding teams accountable for equitable practices — they establish inclusion as a business priority. These actions send a clear signal that leadership is measured not only by results but by how teams are developed and supported.
Read the rest of this story on Packaging Impressions, a publication of PRINTING United Alliance, ASI’s strategic partner.
