Mauricio Sabio, MAC operations manager, Mexico

Years with AD

Attitude

Determined

Character

Intuitive

What attracted you to your chosen work?

From the beginning, what attracted me most to my job was the opportunity to combine engineering with people management. I had previously worked purely in engineering jobs and felt I was missing something; I found "this" in interacting with people.

What skills did you develop early that are still useful today?

I think a skill that defines me, one that I developed from the beginning and that remains very useful today, is problem-solving. On the other hand, creating a good work environment has always been something I've strived for, and I continue to work to create that positive environment wherever I work.

How have you grown in your career at Avery Dennison?

My career at Avery Dennison began in January 2010 at the San Luis Plant in Argentina, as a Process Engineer and ELS leader. A couple of years later, I took over the leadership of the Engineering department, including Maintenance and Capital Projects. Later, I also took on the role of Production Coordinator.

My next role was as Plant Manager in San Luis, where I had the privilege of working for five years with an incredible team.

In 2019, I had the opportunity to move to Querétaro, Mexico, to become Plant Manager there. This was a unique experience both personally and professionally. From 2023 to the present, my role has been MAC Operations Manager, where I am responsible for the operations of the Querétaro Plant and the distribution centers in the region.

What's the biggest stretch opportunity you've taken on?

Without a doubt, the biggest stretch opportunity I've taken on has been moving to another country to take responsibility for operations, leading people in a different culture, with different laws, with teams in training, and navigating a pandemic. While it has been very challenging, I consider it one of the best experiences of my life.

My passion lies in creating a supportive culture where individuals can excel, empowering teams to achieve ambitious goals and seeing that collective growth drive the company forward.

What role has mentorship played in your career?

Throughout my professional career, I've had the opportunity to meet wonderful people who have mentored me, many of whom did so naturally and selflessly, sharing their experiences and advice that helped me develop. I'm grateful to each and every person who has made a positive contribution to my professional life.

What's the best career decision you've ever made?

I think there were two pivotal moments in my career: (1) When I decided to pursue a career in management, and (2) when I decided to move to another country to take on new challenges.

Both decisions have been the most enriching experiences in my professional career and have also had a positive impact on my personal life.

As you think about the next steps in your career, what are the most important actions you plan to take?

I’m looking forward to getting involved in strategic projects within the company, which will further expand my knowledge of the business. I’m also interested in expanding my network across business and regional counterparts to broaden my perspective.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do?

I love combining technical expertise with people management. My passion lies in creating a supportive culture where individuals can excel, empowering teams to achieve ambitious goals and seeing that collective growth drive the company forward.

Manufacturing Appreciation Month Reflections

What is a product or project you’ve worked on that makes you proud when you see it out in the real world?

Many years ago, when working with PET liners was not yet common in Latin America, my team and I launched a project to laminate these materials using the old coater in Argentina. After a great deal of hard work, the results were outstanding, and the market — particularly the wine industry — benefited from the more streamlined processing of this product.

If you had to explain the impact of your daily work to someone who has never heard of Avery Dennison, how would you describe it?

Something I like to say is that our work reaches countless places and people. From any product in a supermarket, to medicines in hospitals and pharmacies, including electronic equipment, automotive equipment and all kinds of industries that consume our labels. Wherever you look, you can always find our work on an adhesive label.

What is a misconception people often have about modern manufacturing that you’d love to debunk?

A common misconception about modern manufacturing is that it leads to unemployment. In my view, rather than destroying jobs, industrial automation and modernization are transforming industrial work into highly skilled, safe and better-paid careers that require critical thinking and digital skills.

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