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“Be bold and be brave.” That was the empowering message from Emily Mullins, Head of Metal Packaging for North America and Mexico at Henkel, during the Women in Canmaking Association (WICA)’s Q2 Fireside Chat.
The session, held virtually via Zoom on Thursday 26th June, coincided perfectly with International Women in Engineering Day, drawing an incredible turnout. 38 WICA members and invited guests joined to hear Emily’s story and engage in a thoughtful, candid conversation.
If you couldn’t make it this time, don’t worry, here’s a recap of the session…
From Engineer to Executive: Emily’s Career Journey
Emily began her career with Henkel in 2001 as a Process Engineer. Over 24 years, she transitioned through marketing, global strategy, and now leads the metal packaging business across North America and Mexico.
“The biggest turning point for me was when I moved from the operations side to the business side,” said Emily. “That pivot led me into a really rewarding career.”
But that leap wasn’t accidental – it was driven by curiosity and a willingness to embrace change. Emily earned her MBA while working full-time, before starting her family, and used that as a launching pad into business leadership.
Finding Your Advocates
Mentorship and sponsorship emerged as standout topics during the session. Emily emphasized the difference between mentors (who guide) and sponsors (who advocate for you behind closed doors), and encourages others to seek those relationships proactively.
Emily explained: “My mentor Eric took a chance hiring an engineer for a marketing role. He gave me visibility, responsibility, and believed in me before I believed in myself.”
When asked the best way to find a mentor, she urged: “Don’t wait for a formal mentorship program. Ask someone you admire to chat over coffee.”
Navigating the Industry
Throughout the 1-hour Fireside Chat, Emily offered tangible advice to women at all career stages, delivering a powerful reminder: “You belong at the table. Your voice matters.”
→ Take calculated risks. Don’t wait until you’re “100% ready”.
→ Build a personal board of advisors. Trusted peers can offer honest feedback and support.
→ Own your development. Seek out training and stretch opportunities, even if not assigned.
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Balancing Work and Life
Emily doesn’t believe in perfect balance. Instead, she practices intentional integration.
She earned her MBA before having children and, early in her career, set a hard boundary: at 5pm, she logged off and shifted focus to her family. One creative example of integration? Joining her son’s karate class. They earned their black belts together!
“You’ll never finish everything,” Emily reminds us. “Prioritise what matters and be intentional with your time.”
Today, with hybrid work environments blurring lines, she reinforces the need for even firmer boundaries and conscious prioritization.
24 Years at Henkel
Emily’s long tenure at Henkel is a testament to the company’s culture and opportunities.
“Henkel offered me growth, a values-based culture, and a global network,” she said. “When you find a company that fits, it’s worth staying and building within.”
Her reasons for staying:
→ Roles across disciplines and geographies
→ A culture grounded in sustainability, inclusion, and innovation
→ Long-term relationship-building and internal mobility
Driving Innovation: Sustainability and AI
Emily’s passion for sustainability is deeply tied to her professional mission. In fact, Henkel’s early environmental leadership was one of the reasons she joined the company.
Today, she helps bring to market innovations like low-temperature cleaners that cut energy and water usage for customers, contributing to broader climate goals.
Emily is also embracing the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), both in Henkel’s process control systems and in her personal workflow.
“AI is the cool, emerging technology that’s going to change our industry, and how we work,” she predicts.
Community Matters
Emily spoke passionately about the importance of community and connection, especially for women in male-dominated industries like canmaking and metal packaging.
“It’s powerful to be in a space where women in our industry support each other. There aren’t many of us, so community matters,” she stated.
Whether through formal mentorship or informal chats, she encouraged continued learning, networking, and mutual support through WICA.
As the session wrapped up, Emily left the audience with words that encapsulated the spirit of the conversation – and of WICA itself: “Be bold and be brave. It doesn’t have to be the perfect time or perfect fit. Take the leap.”
Stay Connected with WICA
Thank you once again to everyone who attended our Q2 Fireside Chat with Emily Mullins. Keep an eye on our events page for all upcoming WICA events. We will be announcing our Q3 speaker soon!
