In this Prominent People in Packaging interview, we sit down with Linda Roman to learn how she got where she is today. She shares her deep passion for understanding what consumers are looking for and then translating those needs into packaging solutions. She also reflects on the importance of mentorship and staying open-minded for professionals looking to grow their career.
Liz Cuneo: Thank you, Linda, for joining me for this Prominent People in Packaging interview. To start, can you introduce yourself?
Linda Roman: Sure. My name is Linda Roman, and I’ve been in the packaging industry for about 30 years, always in R&D and mostly in packaging. Today, I lead a team focused on technology unlocks and partnerships across the value chain, including external partnerships that address ESG, growth and innovation.
Cuneo: Very cool. Let’s start with how you got into the industry. Sustainable packaging and R&D aren’t always obvious career paths. How did that come about for you?
Roman: For me, my passion for innovation and problem solving really sparked while I was earning my engineering degree. That eventually led me to packaging because it’s exciting to connect directly with consumers, understand their needs and translate those insights into packaging designs and solutions.
Packaging has to protect the product throughout its shelf life while also meeting functional requirements and consumer expectations. It’s important to encourage packaging developers to think creatively and push the boundaries of what’s possible. That’s what has kept me excited about packaging development throughout my career.
Cuneo: Going back even further, was there a moment when you realized packaging or sustainability was especially interesting to you?
Roman: I think back to my first job when I was 11 years old. My mom was very focused on recycling when we were growing up. We used to take glass packaging back for recycling, and honestly, as kids, it was exciting to throw the glass into the recycling area and hear it crash.
My mom also used to give me old Christmas cards, and I would cut them up and turn them into holiday gift tags. Then I’d go around the neighborhood selling them. Looking back now, I realize that was my first experience with recycling and repurposing materials. Maybe it was foreshadowing what I’d eventually do in my career.
Cuneo: That’s so cool — and entrepreneurial, too. You mentioned you’ve been in the industry for around 30 years. Has most of your career been with Kraft Heinz?
Roman: I also worked for PepsiCo, but the majority of my career has been at Kraft Heinz.
Cuneo: Was working with consumer brands always something you wanted to do?
Roman: Yes. Being directly connected with consumers has always been important to me. It’s exciting to understand what consumers are looking for and then translate those needs into packaging solutions.
Cuneo: Consumer brands are interesting because we interact with them every day ourselves. You’re in the industry, but you’re also the consumer. What does your day-to-day work look like?
Roman: Packaging is such a dynamic field. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities, so no two days look the same. Whether it’s addressing sustainability considerations or developing new materials, there’s always something new to explore. The opportunity to work on projects from concept through commercialization is incredibly rewarding because you can make a real difference in the industry.
A typical packaging engineer might work closely with vendors and suppliers to develop new packaging materials and formats. We also collaborate with startups, universities and industry organizations like SPC.
Cuneo: What’s the most exciting part of your job?
Roman: I love how dynamic the field is. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities. Sustainability is evolving rapidly, and the packaging landscape has undergone significant transformation due to new regulations and advancements in materials technology.
The increased focus on sustainability has been a major driver of change. It’s pushing the industry to develop more eco-friendly solutions and raising the bar for how we design, test, and scale packaging innovations.
Cuneo: It’s interesting to see how much sustainability has evolved even in the last decade. Has anything surprised you?
Roman: Rather than being surprised, I’m continually impressed by the packaging industry’s ability to evolve and adapt to new requirements and expectations. Despite all the changes, the core goal remains the same: meeting consumer and customer needs while protecting product integrity from production through use and disposal. Collaboration and knowledge sharing are also critical. The industry is constantly learning and growing together.
Cuneo: Consumers today also seem much more aware of sustainability and recyclable packaging than they were years ago.
Roman: Absolutely. Consumers still expect packaging to function properly, but they also increasingly value recyclability and sustainable materials. It’s been interesting to watch those expectations evolve.
Cuneo: Switching gears, what advice would you give to someone just starting out in packaging or packaging engineering?
Roman: Be open-minded, stay curious and be willing to take calculated risks. Every experience, whether it’s a success or a failure, is an opportunity to learn and grow. Packaging development is highly iterative. You test something, it fails, you learn from it and you try again.
Embracing that mindset helps prepare you for the constantly evolving world of packaging engineering and make a lasting impact. It’s also important to work in an environment that encourages experimentation, learning, and growth while providing the support and resources needed to succeed.
Cuneo: What role has mentorship played in your career?
Roman: Absolutely. Career mentors and technical mentors has been a strong part of my career, whether I'm doing the mentoring or being mentored. It's something I think coming out of school I didn't expect or think I needed or wanted. But there's so much to be learned from people that have been in the industry, whether it's technically, internally and externally, but also career wise… how do you navigate your career not knowing what to expect coming out of school. I'd say mentoring is probably one of the most important things in growing a career.
Cuneo: Thinking about the industry as a whole, there seems to be a lot more women in it today. Would you agree?
Linda Roman: Definitely. There are more opportunities now, and the industry increasingly recognizes the value of diverse educational and professional backgrounds, whether that’s mechanical engineering, materials science, packaging or chemical engineering.
I also encourage people entering the field to connect with others in the industry to learn about different career paths and possibilities. What’s exciting is that everyone’s journey is different. Even people with the same degree from the same school can end up taking completely different paths within packaging.
Cuneo: That’s one of the great things about the industry — there are so many ways to grow and evolve your career. Well, thank you so much for your time today, Linda.
Roman: Thank you.
