In honor of Women’s History Month, Parlor Talks host Kalie VanDewater sits down with Kasie Fairbarn, vice president of sales at Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp. in Lincoln, Rhode Island; Adrianne Tipton, chief innovation and sustainability officer at Novolex, which has headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Lake Forest, Illinois; and Dani Diehlmann, vice president of communications for the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), Annapolis, Maryland, to explore their journeys through the packaging industry and the evolving role of women in leadership.

Tipton, Diehlmann, and Fairbarn reflect on what drew them to packaging, the mentors and moments that shaped their path, the progress and challenges for women they’ve seen throughout their careers, and the skills and opportunities defining the industry’s future.

0:00 Introduction

1:04 How Each Guest Entered the Packaging Industry

4:44 Finding a Sense of Belonging in Packaging

9:03 Mentors and Career Champions

16:21 Progress for Women in Flexible Packaging

19:50 Early Career Challenges

24:50 How Women Leaders Are Reshaping Industry Culture

29:00 Advice They Wish They’d Received Earlier

33:00 Key Skills for the Next Generation

36:54 The Future of Packaging

40:17 Closing Thoughts

Bonus Opportunity

Want to connect with, grow alongside, and celebrate women across the printing industry? Join the Women in Print Alliance community, where women are empowered through leadership development, networking, education, and advocacy to advance and thrive in every stage of their careers.