Building an Inclusive Print Industry

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.

Ford Bowers, CEO, PRINTING United Alliance, underscores this point: “It’s important to understand as well that these goals of sponsoring, encouragement, and accountability are not a binary state — not simply a ‘we do, or we don’t.’ There is always room to examine what more could be done to improve support for the views, experiences, and careers of women. A company that consistently does this will no doubt fare better than those that don’t.”

Leadership behavior also shapes the expectations of younger men entering the workforce. Early-career professionals often look to senior leaders to understand the company’s core values. When inclusive leadership is visible at the top, it becomes embedded in company culture and modeled by future leaders.

The Business Case for Diversity

Beyond fairness and equity, there is a compelling business case for diverse leadership teams. Organizations that reflect diversity across gender, age, religion, and background consistently demonstrate stronger performance, improved decision-making, and greater innovation.

A 2023 McKinsey & Company report, “Diversity Matters Even More,” found companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are 39% more likely to financially outperform their peers, continuing an upward trend from 15% in 2015. This progress coincides with a steady increase in women’s representation in leadership and reinforces the connection between inclusion and performance.

For packaging companies operating in fast-moving, customer-driven markets, diverse leadership teams bring broader perspectives to problem-solving, improve risk assessment, and help organizations respond more effectively to customer demands and market shifts.

According to Catalyst, when employees perceive their workplace as fair and respectful, they are five times more likely to be engaged and three times more likely to stay. Inclusion, in this context, is not simply a cultural goal. It is a strategic investment with a measurable ROI.

The Role of Women in Print Alliance

Global organizations like Women in Print Alliance play a critical role in advancing inclusive leadership across all segments of the industry. This cross-segment approach creates a community where women can connect, exchange insights, and build relationships that support women at all stages of their print careers. Through education, networking, mentorship, and thought leadership, Women in Print Alliance equips individuals and companies with tools to strengthen leadership development and workplace culture.

Importantly, Women in Print Alliance approaches inclusion as a shared industry responsibility, one that benefits from men who are actively engaged as leaders, collaborators, and advocates. “Men in print and packaging have a pivotal role to play in supporting and celebrating their female colleagues. Their allyship can help bridge gender-based gaps, ensuring the printing industry recognizes the business and societal benefits of greater diversity. We welcome collaboration with our male colleagues because cultivating an inclusive industry culture is a collective effort,” says Lyons Black.

How Men Can Actively Support Women in Print

There are several tangible ways men can support women in the industry. One of the most impactful steps is joining Women in Print Alliance as a corporate member. Corporate membership allows all women within an organization access to Women in Print Alliance’s educational resources, networking opportunities, and exclusive member meetups. It demonstrates leadership commitment while delivering value to employees.

Men can also gift individual memberships to employees, customers, or clients, supporting professional development while strengthening business relationships.

Another great opportunity is participation in Women in Print Alliance’s educational programming or by contributing shareable content. Men can highlight their industry knowledge, leadership experience, and commitment to mentorship through Women in Print Alliance’s webinars, panels, and newsletter, helping normalize allyship and promote inclusive leadership across the industry.

Finally, sponsoring Women in Print Alliance events or programming allows companies to invest directly in workforce development. Sponsorship reinforces the message that inclusion is tied to business success, leadership opportunities, and long-term industry growth.

Moving Forward Together

The future of the industry depends on its ability to attract, retain, and develop diverse talent. Corporate culture and the role men play within it will be central to that success.

By modeling inclusive leadership, supporting women through meaningful action, and partnering with organizations such as Women in Print Alliance, printing and packaging companies can build stronger teams and more resilient organizations. These collective efforts help improve performance, strengthen the leadership pipeline, and support workforce stability.

To learn more about Women in Print Alliance and the benefits of becoming a member, visit womeninprintalliance.org.