Sara Engber, President of the Fiber Packaging segment, shares her passion for packaging and highlights the segment's offerings. She emphasizes the team's deep understanding of how their sustainable fiber products address market needs and solves customer challenges.
Sara has previously worked as the Senior Vice President of Operations for Huhtamaki North America and prior to that developing product management and contributing to the growth of the Chinet® brand. She now adds a fresh perspective to her wealth of experience at Huhtamaki through her new role as President, Fiber Packaging. In this interview for Huhtamaki in Action, Sara shares what she envisions for the new Fiber Packaging segment, her approach to leadership, and what excites her most about this next chapter.
- You’ve been in your new role as President of Fiber Packaging for over 100 days. Can you share what your main areas of focus and key deliverables have been so far?
My main focus areas so far have been to continue the development of our safety culture, getting to know our leadership team members and bringing us together as a team, visiting as many sites as possible to meet people face-to-face and better understand our markets, operations and customers with whom we do business. I’m also working on our strategic plans for the next three to five years.
- You’ve been with Huhtamaki for over 16 years. What have been the defining moments that have shaped your leadership style for the future?
I think defining moments have often occurred during transformations like this one! A couple that stand out are the onboarding of an acquisition we made in North America, taking on the leadership of the Retail business, working with the Central and Western Europe teams in a new segment and leading Operations during COVID after a mostly commercially focused career path. With each transition, I learned new things about myself and about leading others. I find that moving into unknown situations gives me an opportunity to refine my communication style, sharpen my strategic thinking, and allows me to approach opportunities and challenges with both an open mind and the accumulated experiences of my previous roles. It’s always interesting to bring those two perspectives together.
- What are you most excited about in your new role and how do you see your leadership making a difference?
I was motivated to take on this role because I like to create. I saw an opportunity to work with a really experienced and committed team that could take our Fiber Packaging business to the next level. I’ve always enjoyed working across borders and developing teams and individuals. I strive to find the right balance between support and challenge. I think I’m an approachable and level-headed leader, and I’ve seen time and time again that putting people first and genuinely connecting with individuals is the best way to achieve ambitious goals.
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What are your top objectives for the Fiber Packaging segment over the next year, and how do you plan to build on Huhtamaki’s strategic priorities to drive our 2030 strategy?
My first priority will always be safety. I believe that a zero-incident culture is possible and sets the tone for everything else we do – when we get that right, we get other things right operationally and commercially. We have so much to offer our customers in terms of sustainable packaging and we have a deep understanding of how our products can solve their needs and make their challenges easier. I’ll also be looking for opportunities to make our current operations even more efficient to support our profitable growth.
- What are some of your interests outside the packaging industry that might surprise us?
I enjoy all kinds of performing arts, especially classical music, and I’ve played the violin since I was ten. I serve on an advisory board for my business school, and it’s very rewarding to be able to give back to the students and to think strategically in a different context. My favorite activities are gardening, cooking, and hosting events with my husband Mark. Our home is often a gathering place for friends and family, and we love a full table!