Her Story
About Sara
I started in 2009 right after graduating college as a management trainee at Del Monte because the economy was tough. I fell in love with food manufacturing by chance and progressed from management trainee to production supervisor, shift manager, production manager, and site director. After a year off during COVID, I returned to help with tomato season and took a remote Operations Business Manager role for Fruit and Tomato before becoming tomato co-pack manager.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sara
01What do you attribute your success to?
My willingness to get my hands dirty and not being afraid to get in and turn the bolt or dig the hole to get the facility running. That builds trust with people because they know you're willing to be in the trenches with them rather than just dictating.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Be humble and talk to the people that have been doing the job for a long time. Learn from them. Don't go in thinking that you know everything and are gonna change the world without knowing the state of the company. Build relationships and get the buy-in from employees.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It is possible to be successful even if you don't feel like you can do well in a male-driven industry. There is no limit to what you can do, especially important for younger women to know.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
It is hard to be heard sometimes when you're in a room full of men. Trying to make your voice heard as well as be trusted and prove yourself that you know what you're talking about has been a challenge in this male-dominated field.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being raised as the only girl of 4 siblings with 3 brothers taught me not to see the difference between men and women. We are all equal and that has brought a lot into my success in this industry.
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