Episode 10: Jacob Wall - Leading with Purpose in Packaging

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🎙 Guest: Jacob Wall – Engineering Manager at PPC Flexible Packaging
🎧 Episode Title: Leading with Purpose in Packaging

🚀 Episode Summary:

In episode 10 of Machine Builder Talk, I sit down with Jacob Wall, Packaging Engineering Manager at PPC Flexible Packaging and Chairperson of the Emerging Leaders Committee at PMMI. Jacob represents the next generation of leadership in the packaging industry - blending technical expertise, sustainability focus, and a people-first approach.

From his early career in plastics and resin processing to leading flexible packaging innovation at PPC, Jacob shares his journey, his leadership lessons, and his commitment to developing the industry’s future talent. He also offers an insider’s look at the challenges and opportunities around sustainability, including the shift toward recyclable packaging solutions.

We also explore how leadership is changing as seasoned professionals retire, and how initiatives like PMMI’s Emerging Leaders Committee are helping preserve knowledge and elevate new voices.

And let’s be honest - Jacob might also hold the unofficial title of best moustache in the packaging industry. It’s iconic, well-groomed, and absolutely fitting for someone leading the charge into the next era of packaging.

💡 Key Takeaways:

✔️ How Jacob transitioned from plastics engineering into leadership at PPC
✔️ The role of PMMI’s Emerging Leaders Committee in shaping the next generation
✔️ The sustainability challenges in flexible packaging—and how PPC is tackling them
✔️ Why recording tribal knowledge is critical to avoid brain drain in the industry
✔️ Lessons from Jacob’s athletic leadership background that influence his team approach
✔️ Balancing technical performance with eco-friendly innovation
✔️ Advice for young professionals entering or evolving in the packaging sector

From plant floors to fly-fishing trips, Jacob brings a grounded and inspiring perspective on what it means to lead with purpose in an industry undergoing real change.

🎧 Watch the full episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/_n_b94SnLBg

About Jacob Wall

Jacob Wall is an experienced Packaging Engineering Manager with a decade of packaging experience in operations, process engineering, and product development. With a strong background in engineering technology and a passion for building high-performing teams, Jacob has successfully led projects across a diverse range of customer segments, consistently delivering innovative, sustainable, and manufacturable packaging solutions.

Based in Kansas City, KS, Jacob currently serves as Packaging Engineering Manager at PPC Flexible Packaging, leading a dynamic team of product development and field service engineers. He has implemented key engineering performance metrics, driven supplier and material qualifications, and championed cross-functional collaboration to enhance product performance and cost-efficiency. Jacob is known for his expertise in resin processing, design for manufacturability, and leading customer-focused sustainability initiatives.

His leadership extends beyond the workplace: Jacob serves as Chairman of the PMMI Emerging Leaders Committee and contributes to industry advancement through the PSU Plastics Engineering Technology Advisory Council. He’s a recipient of multiple honors, including the PMMI On-the-Rise Award and PPC Flexible Packaging’s Teamwork Award.

Jacob holds a B.S. in Plastics Engineering Technology from Pittsburg State University and is currently pursuing a Master of Engineering Management at Kansas State University.

Jacob's LinkedIn Page

PPC Flexible Packaging - Website

Jacob Wall
PPC Flexible Packaging