TAPPI Women’s Summit 2021: Innovation Leadership and Career Development for Young Professionals

Join TAPPI’s Women in Industry Division for an inspiring virtual summit featuring keynote speaker Heather Richard Smith, Senior Vice President of Technology and Innovation at Jacobs. This comprehensive event combines leadership insights, innovation strategies, and practical career development tools specifically designed for early-career professionals in the pulp, paper, and packaging industries.

Key Highlights from the Women’s Summit

Award Recognition and Industry Leadership

The summit celebrated Paula Harkin, Principal Technical Specialist at USG, as the 2021 Woman of the Year Award winner. With 16 years of industry experience and leadership roles across multiple TAPPI committees, Paula exemplifies the career growth opportunities available through professional association engagement.

Innovation Leadership Insights from Military Excellence

Keynote speaker Heather Richard Smith shared groundbreaking innovation strategies learned from interviewing retired General Stanley McChrystal. Key takeaways include:

• Focus on Outcomes Over Process: The right way is whatever way works, not necessarily the safe way according to doctrine
• Empower Frontline Decision Makers: Give teams both the authority and expectation to innovate
• Build Connected Communities: Innovation thrives through collaboration and information sharing, not isolated thinking
• Challenge Assumptions Regularly: Bring in outsiders and fresh perspectives to question established practices

Inclusive Hiring Practices: Recognizing Hidden Superpowers

The summit addressed critical diversity and inclusion topics, particularly around neurodiverse talent acquisition. Smith emphasized that candidates with learning differences like ADHD, dyslexia, or dysgraphia often possess exceptional creative problem-solving abilities and demonstrated grit that make them ideal for technical innovation roles.

Hiring Best Practices for Young Professional Managers:

• Focus on job requirements rather than interview performance
• Recognize that non-traditional behaviors may indicate valuable cognitive diversity
• Challenge personal biases about what constitutes professional competence
• Create multiple pathways for demonstrating skills and abilities

Sustainability as Innovation Driver

The session explored how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements are creating unprecedented innovation opportunities. Key strategies include:

• Expand Quality Definitions: Include environmental impact, employee wellbeing, and community benefit in quality metrics
• View Waste as Input: Transform traditional waste streams into valuable resources for other processes
• Calculate True Costs: Consider full lifecycle costs including environmental and social impacts
• Solve Root Problems: Ask why repeatedly to address underlying issues rather than symptoms

Interactive Innovation Techniques

Attendees participated in hands-on breakout sessions using professional facilitation tools including:

• Idea generation and voting systems
• Criteria-based decision making frameworks
• Collaborative problem-solving methodologies
• Virtual team engagement strategies

Career Development Opportunities for Young Professionals

The TAPPI Women in Industry Division offers multiple pathways for early-career growth:

Professional Development Benefits:

• Mentorship programs connecting students with industry veterans
• Committee volunteer opportunities for leadership experience
• Networking events and technical training at discounted rates
• Digital credentials and professional recognition programs
• Access to exclusive young professional resources and communities

Membership Value Proposition:

For young professionals facing budget constraints or company skepticism about professional association value, TAPPI membership provides cost-effective access to:

• Technical skill development beyond internal company training
• Industry-wide networking opportunities
• Leadership visibility and career advancement pathways
• Peer mentorship and knowledge sharing communities

Work-Life Balance Innovation

Breakout session participants identified practical solutions for improving employee retention and wellbeing:

Top-Rated Solutions:

• Flexible Work Arrangements: Remote work options and adaptable scheduling
• Physical and Mental Wellbeing Support: On-site fitness facilities, wellness programs, and mental health resources
• Childcare Assistance: Partnerships with daycare providers and family-friendly policies
• Backup Coverage Systems: Cross-training and support networks for emergency situations
• Professional Development Time: Protected time for learning and skill building

Future-Ready Innovation Strategies

The summit emphasized preparing for rapid technological and market changes through:

• Adaptive Team Building: Creating organizations capable of pivoting quickly
• Continuous Learning Culture: Encouraging experimentation and knowledge sharing
• Technology Integration: Leveraging emerging tools while maintaining human-centered approaches
• Strategic Partnerships: Building collaborative networks across industries and disciplines

Join the Community

Continue engaging with summit content and fellow professionals through TAPPI Connect, the association’s online community platform. Access resources, share experiences, and build lasting professional relationships that support career advancement in the pulp, paper, and packaging industries.

For young professionals entering or advancing in technical roles, the Women’s Summit demonstrates how professional association engagement accelerates career growth while contributing to industry innovation and positive change.