THE INDUSTRIAL ENGINEER WHO STARTED INTERNATIONAL PACKAGING COMPANY FROM SCRATCH

Lourdes -Luly- Toribio Lajam, is the General Manager of International Packaging Co, dedicated to the manufacture and marketing of specialized packaging for 15 years. Started the company from scratch, turning it into a vital link in the tobacco industry cluster in the Dominican Republic, contributing to the development and strength of the sector.

Luly is an Industrial Engineer graduated from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra de Santiago, Dominican Republic. With certifications in Professional Skills Development from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina and Ma- nagement Development from Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, NC. She has also completed other management development programs at IESE, Spain; Barna Business School, in Dominican Republic and Cambridge University, United Kingdom.

She represents the company at the Association of Dominican Cigar Manufacturers -ProCigar- and is member of the Board of Directors of the North Region Industry Association, AIREN. In the field of Social Responsibility, she formed the Social Responsibility Committee of the Santiago Chamber of Production and Commerce and directed it for 8 years. During this time, they developed programs related to help underprivileged children.

We wish you enjoy this interesting conversation between Luly Toribio and Cigarro Dominicano magazine.

CIGARRO DOMINICANO: How did the idea of working at International Packaging come about?

LULY TORIBIO: International Packaging was born from an idea of Mr. Manuel José Cabral, our founding partner and his son Marco Cabral, which together have more than 55 years of combined experience in the packaging industry. They noticed 15 years ago that with the growth of the tobacco sector, the imports of cardboard packaging for cigars increased. They visualized the opportunity in the sector and decided to start Ipack with the hope of being a contributing player in the development of the cigar cluster in DR.

At the time, I was working for the textile industry with a great future in it, however I saw the opportunity to start a business from scratch in a totally different industry as a great challenge and decided to jump in when I was asked to take on the role of General Manager at Ipack.

CD: Working in a cigar packaging factory has required knowledge of the tobacco market. How were your first steps in this industry and how did you make your way?

LT: Managing any enterprise requires knowledge of the market that your product needs to serve, however, in the case of tobacco packaging, it is necessary to know the needs of the consumer, the needs of the cigar’s producers, packaging material trends and something very important, the regulations that are required for different countries in such a way that we can serve as advisors to our clients making suggestions that contribute to the success of the final product. Back in 2008, we had the privilege to work hand to hand with very important clients such as General Cigar Dominicana, La Aurora and Swedish Match Dominicana who trusted us and opened their doors for us to learn about the process, making our beginnings much easier.

CD: Which has been your most important job challenge?

LT: In our 15 plus years of operation, I believe that we must talk about challenges in plural. Over the course of its lifetime, Ipack has undergone thru several transformation processes that have helped us to mature as a company and as a team. One of the challenges that I would like to point out occurred in 2020 and 2021, when in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, the demand for cigar packaging began to rise in unprecedented levels. At the same time the limitations of labor and raw materials availability stressed the operation and our ability to meet our customer’s needs in a timely manner. Fortunately, our operational flexibility and our spirit of teamwork allowed us to make quick and necessary adjustments so that our clients were not left without supplies.

CD: How have you seen the evolution of Women’s participation in the cigar business in recent years?

LT: Although women have been involved in the tobacco harvest since its existence was known, in the 15th century, and then beca- me involved in the manufacturing process, as an artisan activity and full of traditions, in the past years, it should be noted, that our participation in the management area has had a significant increment. What was seen as an industry entirely for men is already heading towards a healthy diversification that is enriched by the special attention to details that women contribute and that in this industry has a special value. In the same way I want to mention the active participation of women as enthusiasts of the pleasure of smoking.

CD: What does Luly look like in the near future? What things are pending to be done, what are a priority?

LT: I see myself very involved in the workplace for the next 10 years. I think I still need to develop some more projects that can have a positive impact in the education or health sectors. Although it is true that our country has advanced in many aspects, but in health and education there is still a lot to do, and this is something that as a citizen worries me a lot. On a personal level, I would like to fully enjoy the new phase that my daughters are in, two of them now adults. I have many trips to make, with the best companion who is my husband Marco, who enjoys a not only new landscapes like I do, but also living the experience of getting to know new cultures in depth. I keep the priority of knowledge that the Covid-19 Pandemic left me: we only own the here and now, that is why it is important to celebrate every day, it does not matter if things are big or small, let’s celebrate, let’s be happy today.