KANSAS CITY, MO — I heard something amazing recently: “When we lock arms together, we’re harder to knock down.”

That’s a quote from Lisa Sun, founder of women’s clothing line Gravitas and author of a book with the same name. These were the opening words for her keynote at an event for PMMI’s Packaging and Processing Women’s Leadership Network at Pack Expo last month. And, if you ask me, they’re words to live by.

This concept can be applied to so many scenarios. But today, it reminds me of how innovation happens. If an idea comes to mind, and there’s no one to bring it to fruition, did it ever really exist?

From outside-the-box thinkers in R&D, to innovative equipment and ingredient suppliers, to the corporate leaders steering the ship, we can’t have one without all the others. Change — real, sustainable change — comes through collaboration. And when arms are locked together, innovation is hard to knock down.

As you dive into this issue, you’ll get to know some of the year’s most inventive people, companies and organizations breaking boundaries and bringing lasting change to our industry. We’re approaching a big year: iba is just five months away, and in nine months, we’ll all convene in Las Vegas for IBIE. Now is the time to lock arms! I hope this issue inspires you to find the pioneers within your reach.

This has been adapted from the 2024 Innovations Annual of Commercial Baking. Read the digital edition here.