May 11, 2026
Because of your generosity, the Foundation for Packaging Education is already making a measurable impact on the future leadership of the corrugated packaging industry.
In fall 2025, with the help of Foundation-funded scholarships, AICC launched the Next Generation Masters Program—an intensive leadership development initiative designed to prepare rising leaders from AICC member companies for the challenges of tomorrow’s business environment.
The inaugural cohort includes 14 emerging leaders from across the industry. Guided by leadership advisor Matt Eichmann of Catalyst Point Leadership Advisors, participants are engaged in a 14-month program combining online learning, in-person sessions, and individual coaching focused on real-world leadership development.
Six months into the program, these future leaders are already gaining valuable skills that will strengthen their companies and our industry, including:
- Leading organizational change.
- Developing clear personal leadership missions.
- Strengthening influence and executive presence.
- Participating in one-on-one executive coaching.
- Building leadership philosophies that foster trust and psychological safety.
- Identifying and developing personal leadership strengths.
- Learning practical ways to gather and act on team feedback.
- Navigating uncertainty and leading effectively in VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) environments.
- Building resilient, high-performing teams.
At the upcoming AICC Spring Meeting, the cohort will deepen their learning with sessions on market conditions, real estate trends, HR strategy, and emerging technologies. They will also hear powerful lessons in leadership under pressure—from navigating a major cyberattack to responding to a UPS cargo plane crash—experiences that reinforce the realities of modern leadership.
These are the kinds of practical, transformative experiences that your support makes possible.
By investing in leadership development today, the Foundation for Packaging Education is helping ensure that
AICC member companies—and the entire corrugated packaging industry—have the capable, resilient leaders needed for the future.
Your continued support makes this work possible.If you believe in developing the next generation of industry leadership, we invite you to join the growing number of donors making this investment in our future.
To make a pledge or donation, please visit www.packaginged.org or scan the code on this page.
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