As one of the leading women in packaging, Sara Alexander of Bobst is keen to see more women – and especially more young people – embrace the sector as a career choice
Packaging MEA (PMEA): Please introduce yourself.
Sara Alexander (SA): I have worked in the packaging industry for more than 20 years, currently as Marketing and Communication Manager, Rotogravure, Coating & Laminating, Flexible Packaging, at Bobst. I have a BA in French and Spanish from the University of Leeds, UK, and have lived in Italy since 2001. Over the years, I have built up an extensive knowledge of raw materials and experience in printing and converting technologies, mainly in the flexible packaging sector.
PMEA: Can you tell us about your journey with Bobst?
SA: I joined Bobst in January 2018 as Marketing Manager for the rotogravure and laminating product line, a role which has expanded to include all aspects of marketing and communications related to flexible packaging. I’m based at Bobst Italia, in San Giorgio Monferrato, but active across the group. My job includes being involved in a number of exciting innovation projects aimed at creating new sustainable solutions together with key knowledge partners.
PMEA: What helped you the most to make a career as a packaging professional?
SA: At Bobst, trust and respect are two basic principles built into everything we do. They create a company culture that nourishes talent and I have personally benefited greatly from being around people who support me and want me to succeed. On a personal level, my constant drive, interest in new technology, and openness to new ideas have pushed me to take on many new challenges along the way. You have to be willing to take a risk and push the boundaries of your comfort zone to progress your career.
PMEA: Do you think companies would benefit from having more women in management positions?
SA: According to McKinsey’s 2021 report on Women in the Workplace, “Women are promoted to manager at far lower rates than men, and this makes it nearly impossible for companies to lay a foundation for sustained progress at more senior levels.” In other words, there just aren’t enough women in the pipeline, meaning the management boards across all industries find it hard to recruit women into positions of power. We need to review the status quo to benefit from the wealth of experience women can bring to the top table.
PMEA: What advice would you give to women looking at the packaging Industry as their career path?
SA: I would tell them to use their own experiences and understanding of the world to help create new packaging solutions that better serve consumers and the planet, but I actually don’t think they would need that type of advice, because the next generation is so much more aware of the challenges we are facing. I would encourage them to join a company with a people-first ethos and good sound values.
PMEA: Who inspired you and why?
SA: Throughout my life, I have met many inspiring women leaders both inside and outside the packaging industry – women who stand out from the crowd through their dedication and honesty, who inspire others to be the best version of themselves, but also understand when people don’t want to be in the spotlight. There are now so many amazing women world leaders, as we all witnessed during the pandemic and more recently.
They are doing things their own way without any excuses, which is not an easy task when any move you make and any word you speak is watched by the entire world. Women in male-dominated industries work incredibly hard, usually much harder than their male peers, but it is often the workplace that fails them. Many organisations are structured around the needs of men, while women are left to fend for themselves and are afraid to ask for support. It can be simple things such as separate facilities if you’re the first woman press operator in a small company, or feeling safe when travelling alone for business. Or it can be bigger issues such as getting equal recognition, equal pay, and equal opportunities.
There are many female inspirations. One in particular, is the Italian astronaut and former Italian Air Force pilot and engineer, Samantha Cristoforetti. Samantha holds the record for the longest uninterrupted spaceflight by a European astronaut. She has broken down many of the boundaries linked to a male-dominant career.
PMEA: As a female leader, have you been confronted with any gender-related roadblocks?
SA: In the past the industry was definitely an ‘old boys club’ where the deals were done on the golf course or in the bar, but that is changing. More women than ever are involved in decision-making and management, but it is not a level playing field, even in the most developed countries. I cannot personally relate to any specific career setback linked to gender, but there are of course fewer opportunities available due to role stereotypes, and I am convinced more can be done in terms of workplace and working hours flexibility.
PMEA: How should women support other women?
SA: Having a great woman mentor or at least a woman role model who paves the way can make all the difference to a young woman starting out in this industry. There are many ways to do that, but fundamentally it is about being open and approachable, so young women feel comfortable in asking questions and joining in. However, it is also important we move the discussion on and talk about diversity and inclusivity for all people. We should focus on the individual and look at what that person needs specifically to bring out their potential.
PMEA: Despite the challenges often presented by flexible packaging in terms of sustainability and recycling, it remains a preferred choice for brands and retailers. Where do you see the future of flexible packaging by 2030?
SA: Sustainability is the strongest driver in flexible packaging now and one of the four key pillars in Bobst’s vision. We’re seeing brands, retailers, converters and packaging companies signing up to making 100% of packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable within the next few years, so there is a vast shift happening.
Bobst is an industry leader, and as such it is our responsibility to work towards a circular economy for plastics and find new methods that reduce the impact of packaging. One of the projects I’m involved with is oneBarrier, a range of new alternative and sustainable flexible packaging solutions which has the potential to be transformative for the packaging industry. Together, we are developing new material structures designed for recycling as viable alternatives to current multi-layer structures.
True innovation and meaningful progress in such a challenging area require experts in different fields to come together and bring their expertise to the table, and oneBarrier is testament to what is possible when there is a collective desire to unite and collaborate on something bigger than all of us.
PMEA: Is there anything else you want to convey?
SA: One of the biggest problems today is not attracting women to the industry but attracting young people in general. The average age of packaging industry professionals, from operators to technologists, is quite high and rising because not enough young people are choosing packaging as a career.
There are printing companies out there not able to produce jobs as quickly as they would like, not due to lack of capacity, but simply because they can’t find the staff to run the operation and the machines. It is paramount we find new ways to entice the next generation into this very exciting industry where there are so many opportunities to shine.