ShePacks: Inspiring Women of Packaging; Rachana Creeth, Her Career Success and Core Value of Family
April 4, 2024
<p>In this ShePacks profile, we highlight Rachana Creeth, BW Packaging Group President. Rachana’s unique life experiences and her clear priorities guided her to chase her dreams and become the accomplished business leader she is today. From the diverse classrooms of her youth that spanned continents to the executive hall of BW Packaging, her story is a unique one, defined by resilience, family values, and a dedication to leaving a positive impact on others.</p><h2>Early Experiences and Core Values</h2><p>Rachana Creeth's early life stretched several countries, born in India, raised in Africa, and later finding herself in England and the United States. Rachana's childhood was a journey marked by constant change. </p><p>As a child, she changed schools often as her family migrated globally, and grew up with a brother and a sister. She said always moving to new places, making new friends and financial struggles were not easy for her and her siblings. However, no matter how often or how far they moved, she learned quickly how to be comfortable navigating change. </p><p>“When I think about the saying ‘home is where the heart is,’” said Rachana, “that became very real to me, because we lived in a lot of different houses in different countries.”</p><p>It was this ever-shifting backdrop that shaped her into the person she is today, a resilient and curious person who loves to learn. She discovered new environments with a spirit of adventure, finding joy in the challenges each relocation brought. </p><p>“I think that's where my love of figuring it out came from,” said Rachana. “It's kind of fun to quickly assess your landscape and then figure it out.”</p><p>Even with constant change, she said her upbringing fostered an environment where she could find success. She said her mother believed in her potential, which inspired a drive in Rachana to achieve her dreams.</p><p>"Even as a woman in a very traditional Indian world, my mom was the ultimate feminist. She wanted to raise women that can do anything,” said Rachana. “There's a lot of that in how I look at the world.”</p><p>When asked what motivates her every day in her career and personal life, she answered with no hesitation: her family. Rachana grew up as a middle child with her two parents, her brother and sister.</p><p>“My early life was kind of rampant with change, but it was always rooted in family,” said Rachana. “My parents, my brother, my sister, my cousins, aunts and uncles, they are all still very much my life.”</p><p>Today, Rachana is wife to her husband Eric, and mother to their three children, sons Deven (16) and Kieran (15), and daughter Alayna (10). She enjoys being active in their lives and it’s typical for her to rush after work to a Varsity lacrosse game or to volunteer at a youth gymnastics meet on the weekend. No matter the challenges, she says her children bring her so much joy. </p><p>“My family is my center. Eric and I have both juggled our career and took part-time opportunities to prioritize our three kids,” Rachana said. “But because we knew our family was our priority and remained flexible, we found balance and still built successful careers.”</p><h2>The Beginning of a Successful Career in Business Leadership</h2><p>Rachana’s career in finance and leadership today started from childhood aspirations. Growing up in Africa, she looked up to a family friend who she called Uncle and had a close bond with, admiring his work as an accountant. </p><p>Her admiration for him planted the seeds of her future pursuit of finance and accounting at the University of Illinois. The world of ledgers and balance sheets was more than just figures to her; it was the language of business, a dialect she was eager to master. </p><p>“I wanted to be a leader. I think of finance and accounting as the language of business,” she explained. “If I could figure out how to speak business, I could figure out how to lead business.”</p><p>She excelled in college and graduated with job offers from top firms, eventually finding a fit with General Electric. She said because of her curiosity and love for learning, their rotational program was heaven for someone like her, discovering a new job, industry, and city every few months.</p><p>Rachana said she gained valuable knowledge from her time at GE including how to be a leader. After years of mastering finance and operations roles at GE and other large companies, Rachana decided it was time for a new challenge: building operations processes from the ground up at smaller companies. </p><p>This decision was a pivotal moment in her life, allowing her to move closer to her parents in St. Louis, Missouri and further her career with more potential to create positive change through business. </p><h2>Leading the Packaging Industry with Strategy and Empathy</h2><p>Rachana said she’s always loved manufacturing because the tangible impact of creating value through physical products resonates deeply with her.</p><p>"That's what I love. Learning and asking, ‘how do you add or create value?’ In manufacturing, that's easy for me to do,” Rachana said. “Virtual money is just not as exciting for me as making something, like we make machines.”</p><p>It was this passion for manufacturing and ambition to be a business leader that led her to BW Packaging today. Since she became a part of BW Packaging in 2017, she ascended through the ranks as Group Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operations Officer and most recently, Group President.</p><p>From day 1 as Group President on February 15<sup>th</sup>, 2024, she dove into the field, engaging directly with team members, suppliers, and customers, to foster dialogue and understanding in her first eight weeks. Her commitment to listening and learning is unwavering, with plans to continue asking questions to inform her strategy. </p><p>“People who meet me often wonder why I ask a lot of questions,” said Rachana. “I don’t ask questions to judge, I do it to connect dots, gain perspective, and figure out how we can improve.”</p><p>Leadership for Rachana is about strategy, but it's also about the people that form its foundation, including team members, customers, suppliers, and anyone who comes in contact with our business. She said that at Barry-Wehmiller, leadership is an awesome and important responsibility to lead with empathy. </p><p>“I want to honor the fact that people want fulfillment at work and also want to go home after work to be with their families,” said Rachana. “Our priority as leaders is to listen to people and care deeply for them.”</p><p>She said she’s thrilled at the potential to make a difference in the business, and she envisions a future where BW Packaging can tangibly measure success by its positive impact on people.</p><p>"We are creating so much value, so I want to figure out the places we can add more value and then measure our success by the way we touch people's lives." </p><h2>The Value of Diverse Representation in Packaging</h2><p>As a woman in leadership in packaging, Rachana realizes her representation as President is an exception to the underrepresentation of women in the industry. She reflected on this during a recent experience when she and another woman colleague went to the women’s restroom at BW’s Minneapolis facility. </p><p>“A woman who worked there walked in and told us she had never experienced a line in the bathroom before,” said Rachana. “That’s what I would love to see: more representation and the voice of women in all functions.” </p><p>Rachana is a firm advocate for diverse thinking and said varied hiring slates and investment in talent are crucial to achieving more diversity. She recalled her early career and credits much of her progress to those who invested in her. The investment came in many forms like believing in her, giving her stretch assignments, and taking time to develop and teach her.</p><p>"I wouldn't be here without people investing in me,” she said. “I want to do the same for those lives I touch. This will require diverse thinking that may challenge the way we're operating.”</p><p>To women looking up to Rachana’s career journey while navigating their own career path, she offers sage advice: remain adaptable and anchored to your purpose. </p><p>"If I had been really rigid about what I wanted life to look like, I don't think this would have happened to me," Rachana said. "That's the advice I would give, know your priorities and be flexible on your how.”</p><p>Rachana Creeth's promotion to BW Packaging Group President is more than a career milestone; it's an example of the power of inclusive leadership in the packaging industry. As Rachana continues to lead and inspire, her story invites us to look beyond packaging to the lives interwoven with it. </p><p>Keep an eye on the ShePacks blog series for more in-depth profiles like Rachana's, as we continue to unfold the stories of women who are re-packaging the world with their innovation and leadership</p><div><div><div id="_com_1"><p> </p></div></div></div>
ShePacks: The Women Who Inspire Us; Celebrating International Women's Day
March 8, 2024
<p> Today, March 8<sup>th</sup>, marks International Women’s Day, a global holiday with roots in the women’s rights movement, that is now widely known as a day to celebrate womanhood. In January we started the ShePacks blog series to highlight inspirational women in packaging and discuss the importance of diversity in our industry. In today’s blog post, we turn the tables to celebrate the women who inspire our BW Packaging team members every day. Celebrate International Women’s Day with us by learning about the women who inspire us and by showing your appreciation to the women in your life. </p><h3>Anna (Bryson) Coulter</h3><p>“My sister, Anna (Bryson) Coulter is my utmost inspiration. She inspires me every day when she demonstrates inclusion (as she opens her home to my family for every occasion or answers every phone call!), kindness, inquisitiveness (as she helps me dig deep into life's most challenging situations), unwavering support (as only a sister can give), and silliness (she makes me laugh every time we talk). Her lifetime friendships and self-reflection journey encourage me to be the best version of myself: to think of situations from many angles and perspectives and to strive to connect with people in my life in a meaningful and intentional way. Anna Coulter is the most inspiring woman in my life.” – Michelle Bryson</p><h3>Audrey Lombardo</h3><p>“No person inspires me more than Audrey. For 14 years, she has helped me to grow as a person and has been the constant force guiding me through a life that is more fulfilling than anything I could have dreamed up in my younger years. She is full of admirable traits like her propensity for just doing what has to be done and her fierce loyalty to the people she loves. Audrey inspires me to work hard for what I believe in but also encourages me to give myself grace. On top of it all, Audrey makes everyday fun for our kids. Our family would be lost without her.” – Taz Lombardo</p><h3>Clara Campoamor </h3><p>“She fought for women's rights. Promoter of women's suffrage in Spain. Thanks to her, women were able to vote for the first time in 1933. She worked to ensure that there was no discrimination between the sexes.” -- Patricia Martínez Vitores</p><p>“I think men and women must fight for their rights and this woman got many important things in a man’s world where women couldn’t open an account in the bank without their husband’s permission. Thanks to her, women could vote in year 1933 for the first time. So long ago and we are still trying to get equality. When I think something is not possible, I think about Clara and other women like her, and everything is possible. If they could, I can.” -- Rosana Alonso</p><h3>Deneen Bentley</h3><p>“If and when I am having a bad day, she is the woman that will lift me up and say encouraging words to remind me to keep going. For over the years I have watched her handle a lot of stress and less stress with a very good spirit. In my opinion some people are placed in your life to give you hope to continue on for a better tomorrow and she is definitely that one person! Deneen may be a woman that is looked over to some, but she is a woman that knows how to handle a storm.” -- Roobina Hunter</p><h3>Dominique Sachse</h3><p>“Dominique is a content creator I started following many years ago. She is a retired journalist from Houston who is not only smart and beautiful, but honest and has such a caring nature. She is a woman of faith who presses into her faith daily and radiates positivity all around her. Like many of us, she has had to overcome some struggles of her own, from divorce, taking care of aging parents to handling the loss of loved ones -- all while parenting her young adult son who is now in college. She does all of this with such class and a smile.” -- Tonya Neumeister </p><h3>Donna Anderson</h3><p>“Donna works incredibly hard and always puts other's needs first. She maintains an incredible happy attitude even in the midst of the pressure she often finds herself under. Donna helps me remember how I should act.” – Scott Crandall</p><h3>Elizabeth d'Autriche (Sissi)</h3><p>“To start, the reality is a bit different from the films with Romy Schneider. She has been fighting to live the life she desired for her and her family, not following social/royal rules which had no sense for her and had been created so many years ago. She wanted to live close to the people and help them as much as she could, breaking the walls between the monarchy and the people. It inspires me as a manager, as a People leader, and as a human being (especially as a woman).” -- Hélène Pardessus </p><h3>Faith Tibbits</h3><p>“My wife inspires me by pushing through adversity and taking charge at her job. She is a newer employee and has performed leaps and bounds beyond what is asked of her. Her passion for what she does, and drive inspires me to push myself and be the best engineer I can be.” – Zach Tibbits</p><h3>Indra Nooyi</h3><p>“A woman with the courage to pursue her dreams, starting with higher education degrees in physics, chemistry and math; also including an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management. She was a woman raised in a traditional Indian setting but figured out how to bridge that life with one of significant responsibility for many in her spans of care all the way to leading globally at PepsiCo as Chairman and CEO. She remained humble and honored values I share by focusing on creating a culture driving to live "Performance with a Purpose". She is vulnerable in sharing her challenges as a mother, wife and daughter throughout her journey and acknowledging that her success is a shared success with many others that supported her (from leaders, team members, mentors and of course her family structure).” – Rachana Creeth</p><h3>Johanna Gardner</h3><p>“My daughter in law is a mom of 3 young children and is fighting breast cancer right now at age 37. She had chemo, surgery, now going through radiation and received the news more cancer has been found. Through it all she smiles. She inspires me to see every day as a blessing no matter the circumstances, to be brave and giving up is not an option.” – Claudia Whitt </p><h3>Julia Galef</h3><p>“Julia, a writer best known for "The Scout Mindset," has been my go-to resource for fostering meaningful internal and external debate. Her philosophy extends beyond mere rhetoric; Julia actively participates in the Effective Altruism philanthropy group (https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/) and speaks and advocates for her ideas internationally. In other words, she walks the walk. I deeply respect her words, finding them both eloquent and weighty yet readily accessible. Her dedication to fostering a "meaning economy" (a topic worth exploring!) resonates strongly in this climate of resistance against those who challenge the status quo.” – Josh Meesey</p><h3>Katelyn Padden</h3><p>“Katelyn Padden is my daughter, and she has inspired me through her journey through high school and college where she graduated a year early from college Suma Cum Laude. Katelyn has strengthened herself with the challenges in high school and college and has brought these skills to her career where at age 21 obtained a position in the MN Governor’s office on the Covid response team, and then later promoted to his Public Engagement team. Katelyn has shown me with hard work and determination that you can obtain your goals in life and be successful in your career. Katelyn has shown me that with determination and hard work you can always excel in all aspects of life. I see my young daughter develop into a professional and respected women in her challenging public political career. This enforces that with determination anything is possible. With Kaytelyn getting involved in politics I see that the next generation will provide direction for our country and the world.” – Michael Padden</p><h3>Kerry Easler</h3><p>“I may be slightly biased, but my wife continues to inspire me to be a better person every single day. As a mom, she always puts her faith in God first, followed closely by her love of her family. Her unwavering devotion to helping others through a variety of ways, as well as maintaining a healthy work/life balance, amazes me.” – Larry Easler</p><h3>Kristin McDonald Rivet</h3><p>“She is a mother of 6 who has worked her whole life in public policy and spent much of it advocating for improved childcare, educational resources, vocational training, and sustainable wage jobs for families in her community. I worked as a volunteer on her successful campaign for Michigan State Senate in 2023. She is a strong leader and I continue to admire her care for her constituents (including me) and how she worked with a team of engaged young campaign professionals to win her race in a challenging district.” – Greg Wolf</p><h3>Kristy Higgins</h3><p>“My mom is one of the strongest people I know and her love for life motivates me to keep going every day. No matter what obstacles are thrown her way, she makes brave decisions and always makes sacrifices that put our family first. Whether she is working hard at work or caring for my grandparents, her selflessness and hospitality is inspiring. She is smart, creative, and she shows me how important it is to have fun and laugh more. My mom's spirit radiates warmth and love everywhere she goes and she always goes out of her way to make everyone in the room feel included. I try my best to mirror this quality because I'm inspired by the positive impact she has on her family, friends and even strangers. I'm so grateful for her love and for being a great role model in my life!” – Sarah Higgins</p><h3>Margaret Guevara</h3><p>“She is my oldest sister. She was diagnosed in 2023 with Stage 3 Breast Cancer and then a month later it spread to her lymph nodes. She had a partial mastectomy and removal of lymph nodes. This horrendous disease has overtaken her life but not her spirit. She is now undergoing chemo and radiation treatments. I admire her strength, faith and her sense of humor. She is so strong and optimistic. I am so thankful she is my sister and I'm very proud of her. She is my inspiration and MY HERO.” – Lisa Pineda</p><h3>Maria Montessori</h3><p>“I'm studying something about her pedagogic method as I'd like to be the best dad possible for my little daughter. I still get goosebumps when I think about what she did to improve conditions and education of children at her time.” – Alessandro Ruta<br></p><h3>Maria Ressa</h3><p>“The founder of Rappler, she has devoted (and risked) her life to ensuring a free press which she and I believe is the foundation of democratic society. Born in Manilla, she came to Princeton (a year behind me), she went back to the Philippines on a Fulbright and made her way into journalism. Intensely devoted to the truth, she criticized the Duterte regime and continued to publish the truth despite many periods of imprisonment. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 and wrote a great book How to Stand Up to a Dictator. I admire her strength and conviction to do what is right.” – Carol O’Neill</p><h3>Mary Elizabeth Hoover</h3><p>“Mary Elizabeth Hoover was my paternal grandmother. She had an 8th grade education but raised 6 children who graduated High School with some going to college to become teachers. All during the Great Depression and WWII. She gave our family strength, a love of learning and a faith that has gotten our family through some very difficult times.” – Gina Flanigan</p><h3>Ruth Freyholtz</h3><p>“Ruth is the mother and teacher of nine children with number ten due in September. Every day Ruth challenges me to the best version of myself by balancing out my driven personality with her focus on thoughtfulness and tranquility. She is living out her life how she always dreamed and positively impacting the lives of everyone she encounters. Since my first date with Ruth and now approaching our 20-year wedding anniversary, I know that she is helping me to become the person I want and need to be. I get the privilege of having her as my best friend.” – Andrew Freyholtz</p><h3>Savannah Altman</h3><p>“My wife is hardworking and very intelligent. She has helped me become a better person and keeps me grounded.” – Eric Hayworth</p><h3>Susan Tyler</h3><p>“My mother-in-law, Susan Tyler, is the perfect example of someone that inspires me. She inspires me to be a better mother, a better Christian, and a better person. She is a retired music, math, and science teacher. She currently substitutes part-time with our local Middle School in various subjects and is a full-time Gran to my daughter and my two nieces. In addition, she cares for 2 doggies that she rescued/adopted.” – Carrie Tyler</p><h3>Sylvei Mjelde</h3><p>“My Mom, born in Oslo, Norway as Sylvei Mjelde, is the woman who inspires me the most. She was very determined & strong throughout her life. Growing up in Norway during WWII when the Nazi's infiltrated her country and took control, she witnessed some atrocities which resulted in long-lasting memories. She came to California in her early 20's, met my dad and the rest is history with the family of 3 kids, lots of pets with a white picket fence in Newport Beach, California. She learned to speak English; worked fulltime for the City of Newport Beach for 20+ years. She struggled with numerous severe health issues but was always determined, a true overcomer and her Faith never wavered. She was a tiger when it came to her kids, protective & fierce. Always there as support - a rock. She has impacted my life as a role model to make me strong & independent; thoughtful & caring; compassionate & resilient; silly & serious; dedicated, honest and loyal. Tusen takk, Mor!” – Kristine Ward</p><h3>Yaeko Cornett</h3><p>“Yaeko was my mother, who was born and raised in Japan and came to the U.S. for the first time with an American husband and baby (me!). She navigated so many difficult situations in a new country that was not so friendly to her, like many other women. I admire her for her drive and tenacity, along with her kind spirit. Her 'push' for her two daughters to work hard in school and pursue a career impacts me to this day!” – Barbara Seale</p>
ShePacks: Inspiring Women of Packaging; YWCA honors two BW Packaging Leaders
January 16, 2024
<p>In March 2023, BW Packaging celebrated International Women’s Day by recognizing the leadership and accomplishments of four women on our team in a <a href="https://www.bwpackaging.com/blog/post/blog/2023/03/08/celebrating-the-women-of-bw-packaging">blog post</a>. To regularly share the stories of inspirational women in BW Packaging and the packaging industry beyond Women’s History Month, we are launching our ShePacks blog series. Our first entry recognizes two St. Louis-based BW Packaging leaders honored by Barry-Wehmiller and a local organization. </p><h2>YWCA Metro St. Louis Leader Lunch </h2><p>In December, Barry-Wehmiller Chief People Officer Rhonda Spencer honored nine BW women at the esteemed Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Metro St. Louis Annual Leader Lunch. For more than four decades, the YWCA has recognized women professionals’ extraordinary contributions to the strength and growth of the St. Louis community. The organization provides many crucial services for women and their families including resources for victims of sexual and domestic violence, education services, and programs that further economic stability as a strategy to end racial and social injustice.</p><p>Carol O’Neill, President of BW Packaging nominated two senior Packaging leaders for this recognition in the past two years: Christi Emmenegger, Vice President of Strategic Marketing in 2023 and Rachana Creeth, CFO and COO in 2022. Both play a critical role in developing an industry-leading packaging equipment business and we are proud that they were recognized along with other leaders in our community.</p><h2>Christi Emmenegger</h2><p>Christi Emmenegger is an accomplished marketing leader with experience in marketing and communications across different industries, established companies and agencies. Since 2017, she has excelled as BW Packaging’s VP of Strategic Marketing, laying the needed groundwork for marketing strategy and business alignment that best serves our customers. Christi said her favorite parts of this role are that she gets to be creative and analytical, and she gets to navigate challenges with her team.</p><p>“I like a challenge, and I feel like every day there’s a challenge-- that’s what makes it fun,” said Christi. “I love the strategy side and working with creative people, I appreciate everyone’s gifts and talents.”</p><p>President Carol O’Neill said Christi’s continued effort to build a stronger business and team made her the ideal candidate for the YWCA honoring. She said Christi’s pragmatic approach to strategic marketing positively redefined the way customers recognize BW Packaging today. O’Neill expressed Christi’s dedication to building market insights, designing platform branding, and investing in her team’s talent.</p><p>“Christi Emmenegger has been a true leader helping to shape the future of BW Packaging,” said O’Neill. “She helped the organization understand the critical importance of Strategic Marketing and to build competency in understanding customer priorities throughout our global organization. Without understanding our customers’ priorities, we could not be the market leader we aim to always be.”</p><p>Outside of developing commercial strategy, Christi also makes time to recruit and develop unique talent, support other Barry-Wehmiller platforms beyond packaging, and raise her two children with her husband. She said it feels fulfilling to be a woman role model, especially for her daughter, and said she hopes to inspire her to be successful. Her advice to other women professionals is to be open to help and advice from others, and always value your own voice.</p><p>“Don’t be afraid to be the unpopular voice in the room to stand up to do what’s right,” said Christi. “You should stand up for what you believe in.”</p><p>Christi and her care for her team and professional impact is an encouraging example for other leaders to strive for growth while caring for others. </p><h2>Rachana Creeth</h2><p>Rachana Creeth is a well-versed operational and finance leader, with experience from various industries and large multi-national companies. In her current roles as COO and CFO, Rachana shines through her effort to invest in operational and financial strategies that fuel growth while benefiting our people, and her leadership in the execution of those strategies to fruition. Rachana said her favorite part of her role is the people.</p><p>“There is nothing like working with smart, caring people rallying around a vision or goal,” said Rachana. “I love seeing the joy when people achieve milestones together. And I get to see and do that every day.”</p><p>Rachana Creeth was a part of the first group of BW women to receive this unique recognition for their achievements in 2022. President Carol O’Neill described Rachana’s drive to achieve her high standards, mentorship effort, and willingness to constantly learn and grow. O’Neill said she nominated Creeth, not only for her outstanding performance and her ability to bring her strategic operational visions for the future to life, but also for her appreciation for the people behind the numbers and process. </p><p>“A uniquely and broadly talented leader in BW Packaging,” said O’Neill. “Rachana Creeth sets a standard of leadership that anyone (male or female) would have to strive hard to match!”</p><p>Creeth’s contributions and talent led to an expansion of her role to include Chief Operating Officer, and Rachana still manages to balance coaching others, serving as a founding board member of Hawthorne Leadership School, serving on the endowment board for COCA, and raising three children alongside her husband. She said she enjoys being a woman role model for her kids to teach them to value diversity and inspire her daughter to reach for success. Rachana said her advice to other women professionals is to be clear on your ‘why’, your priorities, and be flexible on your path.</p><p>“There is never one path and never only one way,” Rachana said. “If you can be flexible, read situations along the way and keep your eye on your why, you will get there.”</p><p>Rachana’s accomplishments and spirit make her a great model and inspiration for other leaders to make a positive impact on others while obtaining their goals. </p><p>BW Packaging wishes congratulations to the other BW women honored this year and last year, along with the several other women professionals honored at the Metro St. Louis Annual Leader Lunch this year and in years past!</p>
