Cracking the Boys’ Club Code
From shy overachiever to unstoppable force, Beth Corbett talks about battling sexism and self-doubt as she shatters glass ceilings and uplifts those around her
As a quiet, studious girl and self-proclaimed late bloomer from an all-girls Catholic school in Portland, Oregon, Beth Corbett may have been the last person you’d expect to command a room. I met her as a college freshman living out-of-state for the first time – she was president of our sorority at the University of Oregon. At that point, she was already a force of nature.
Since then, she has gone on to become a courageous, outspoken, passionate sales leader focused on creating sustainable packaging and supply chain solutions for the health & beauty, food & beverage, hospitality, nutraceuticals, wellness, consumer packaged goods, petcare and cannabis markets.
Earning Her Stripes
Beth’s formative years at St. Mary's Catholic High School and University of Oregon provided her with a strong foundation and inner resilience that would ultimately be tested in the male-dominated world of packaging.
After graduating early, Beth eagerly entered the working world, starting at an ad agency and then moving into marketing roles at Safeco Insurance. But the corporate landscape was rife with sexist obstacles. She faced dismissive managers, inappropriate comments, and being held to impossibly higher standards than her male peers. It was a harsh awakening to the uphill battle facing ambitious young women, no matter how capable.
Knowing Her Worth
A pivotal moment came when Beth's manager claimed she didn't have "what it took" for sales after she expressed interest. She refused to be deterred and left the company a few weeks later for a sales position at a paper mill, advancing her career. At Neenah Papers, one of the world’s preeminent paper manufacturers, she worked with premium brands including Tiffany, Estee Lauder, L’Oreal and Starbucks.
Through sheer talent, hard work and determination, Beth has persevered amid a torrent of bias, unequal treatment and being the "only woman in the room." She reflects on periods when she struggled to appreciate her full value, and remained in roles too long out of self-doubt. Now at the height of her career, Beth is a changemaker and trailblazer. "Know your worth, never sell yourself short," is some of the advice she offers to others. Today, she loves building teams and leads a high-performing team at packaging firm AE Global.
“It gets easier as you get older and you have more experience and you gain more confidence in yourself. I think I’m like probably every other woman out there that I’ve had times where I just didn’t have enough faith in myself, or I didn’t appreciate my full value.”
A Guiding Light for Others
Now an accomplished leader in the packaging industry, Beth is determined to ensure future generations won't have to endure the same misguided prejudices and inequities. She is outspoken about paying it forward, and prioritizes trust, patience, inclusion and continuous learning. "Tell the truth fast" is her motto for creating environments where people can thrive.
“I think it’s over the last couple of years, you start really thinking about how to give back more, and for me, it’s been how to give back to women.”
Beth uplifts other women with compassion and mentorship, drawing from her hard-won insights. Her leadership mantra is simple - work hard, be honest, and make space for others to thrive. By fostering patience, balance, kindness and continuous growth in those around her, Beth is ensuring her bright light will illuminate ways forward for others.
She offers a wealth of insights and advice to our next generation:
Know your worth. Never sell yourself short or be afraid to ask for what you deserve.
Build and utilize your professional network from an early stage. Network consistently through platforms like LinkedIn.
Be patient with yourself and others. It's okay if you don't have everything figured out right away.
Take advantage of opportunities for continued learning and professional development classes whenever possible.
Be honest, hardworking, and communicate openly with your team. Don't hide challenges you're facing.
Maintain balance in your life by nurturing different aspects like family, friends, health, and work equally. Even while scaling the corporate heights, Beth strives for holistic fulfillment in her life by nurturing her "four buckets" of her husband, friends, family and career equally.
57 Good Deeds
In addition to the bold goals she has set forth for her team, Beth is excited about continuing to explore how to give back, including 57 good deeds by this June, when she turns age 57. This concept was inspired by an article she read about a 9-year-old boy who wanted to commit 10 good deeds before he turned 10.
You can learn more about Beth and her work, and connect with her, on LinkedIn.
As I reflect on our conversation, I’m thankful for the opportunity to reconnect with Beth, the shy, quiet overachiever who developed an indomitable spirit through adversity and is now determined to use her wisdom to illuminate paths forward for others, and I’m looking forward to our continued collaboration as this year unfolds.
