Kickstart: Embracing change, breaking molds

In the early days of COVID-19, every business seemed to embrace one concept: the pivot. They were pivoting to provide medical components, pivoting to assist with work-from-home plans, pivoting to add social distancing measures on the shop floor. The word was used so much that it seemed to lose all meaning. I'm sure you're rolling your eyes right now or possibly hearing it in the voice of a sitcom character from a particular scene out of the 1990s.

But while the word may seem dated, the concept behind it isn't, especially when thinking about your career, your potential to advance and even in building your workforce.

At least that's one of the takeaways I had from the 2024 Women Breaking the Mold Networking Conference Nov. 11-12 in Nashville, Tenn. Speakers and attendees from every level of the industry spoke about the value in embracing change. Here's just a few thoughts from me on discussions from the event.

Vanessa Malena, who was named president of Engel Machinery Inc. in 2022, fought family tradition to become an engineer, but as she moved forward in her career, she saw the potential to have greater impact by adding sales experience to her skill set. That meant taking a step down in both a job title and pay.

"I wanted to be something else," she said. "It's OK to change your journey."

"Your career can change, but never keep your eyes off the end goal," Dwalin DeBoer, business unit director for Mack Molding, noted at another point during the forum.

Those goals may mean standing up to your own internalized limits. Imposter syndrome is a frequent stumbling block, especially for women early in their career. It's important to remember when opportunities come up that you've done the work.

"You belong in this role," as Christi McGee, chief operating officer of Circular Solutions Advisors, put it.

It's important to ask yourself a question when a chance comes up to advance, said Rolfe Olsen, president of the beverages business unit at Graham Packaging.

"Would you rather work for one of your peers? Or deal with somebody from the outside who doesn't know the company?" she asked. "Or should you step up and take the role yourself?"

It's amazing to be a part of a team that shines, with co-workers who can fill each others' gaps in knowledge and succeed.

"You want to be that person in any organization that people want to work with," said Richa Desai, chief sustainability and strategy officer for packaging maker Sabert.

Change also can draw new workers to the industry.

Lytia Watson, vice president human resources for window and door maker Deceuninck North America, said she has reached out to potential employees by appealing to their interest in sustainability, inviting them to "bring your mindset to helping with this."

And when home improvement spending grew during the early days of COVID, she looked to recruiting workers who had experience at restaurants and retailers to convince them to try out manufacturing.

Watson and Deceuninck recently participated in the Society of Women Engineers' WE24 conference in Chicago and came away impressed by the next generation of problem-solvers.

"That group of young women are going to take the world by storm," Watson said.