A Unified Culture Transcending Borders

TransPak’s formula to global packaging success.

For more than seven decades, one California-based organization has led the way in sustainably engineered packaging and integrated logistics solutions. Since 1952, San Jose-headquartered TransPak has been the reliable partner that global customers with high-value, fragile, heavy, or difficult-to-ship goods have turned to. From custom crate manufacturing to free trade zone warehousing, and a plethora of services in between, TranPak has blazed a trail across multiple industries.

At the helm is the Inch family, who acquired the company in 1969 and have privately owned it since, steering it to continued success over the years. Today, TransPak has more than 80 locations across 15 countries and counting and boasts a team of 3,000 among its staff. In just the last five years, the company has established operations in Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, and Japan, with several regional American destinations as well.

Owner and Chairwoman Arlene Inch has been central to TransPak’s transformation into a global leader. Her vision for growth and innovation has guided the company’s expansion while preserving its family-owned roots. Beyond TransPak, she is also active in community and cause-driven initiatives. She spoke with Diversity Professional on the journey with TransPak, global expansion, artificial intelligence, and more.

You’ve been in this business for more than five decades — what has changed in the industry, and what areas still need improvement?

The industry looks completely different from when I acquired TransPak in 1969. Back then, it was mostly manual work and local operations. Now we’re managing complex global supply chains powered by technology. Things move faster, expectations are higher, and sustainability has become crucial.

But there’s still room to grow. I’d love to see more women, and more diversity in general, especially in engineering and technical roles. And while we’ve come a long way with sustainable packaging, there’s always more we can do to reduce waste and design more innovative solutions.

With recent expansions into Wales, the Netherlands, India, and Singapore, how do you approach cultural differences and manage a multicultural, global workforce?

Every time we expand into a new market, there are always new languages, customers, and ways of doing business, and that’s something we welcome. At TransPak, under the strong leadership of my son and our CEO, Bert Inch, we make it a priority to partner with local leaders, hire talented local teams, and build the proper infrastructure while respecting the local culture.

At the same time, our core values as a family-owned company help create a unified culture that transcends borders. That foundation helps us stay connected, no matter where we are in the world. Of course, expansion comes with challenges; navigating different norms, expectations, and business practices takes time. But that’s all part of the growth journey. I’m incredibly proud of the diverse, global team we’ve built and how they continue to make it happen every day.

How have automation and AI impacted your industry, and TransPak specifically — for better or worse?

AI is reshaping the industry, and at TransPak, we’re embracing it responsibly. Our goal isn’t to replace people, but to empower them with smarter tools. We want our teams to spend less time on repetitive, administrative tasks and more time solving meaningful problems for our customers.

We recently did a Q&A with Scott Eisenberg, our vice president of global supply chain, where he shared some of the ways we’re applying AI, from invoice automation to supplier negotiations. We’ve also created an internal AI Steering Committee to guide adoption across our global operations. It’s important to us that we stay ahead of change, but in a way that’s practical, human-centered, and always rooted in serving our customers better.

What do you consider major milestones for TransPak in recent years, and what were some of the toughest challenges you’ve faced?

We started with one small building in San Carlos in 1969 with just 14,000 square feet and 15 employees. From those humble beginnings, we’ve grown to 80 locations across 15 different countries.

It’s funny though, because our greatest milestones have also brought us our toughest challenges. Opening new places comes with unique challenges. With every new location, we must learn new ways of doing things, while remaining flexible and staying true to our company values.

You’re known to have interests outside of work. What drives your motivation to pursue activities unrelated to your professional life?

I feel blessed to have a company that helps me help other people. Growing up as the oldest of eight children, family and community has always been at the center of my life. I take pride in being a champion for other women entrepreneurs. I mentor and support small business owners through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, serve on the board of WBEC-Pacific, and participate in the C200, an organization that works to inspire and advance current and future women entrepreneurs.

Education and the arts are also close to my heart. I serve on the American Film Institute National Council where we work to restore old films so future generations can enjoy them. I also serve on the board of the San Francisco Opera Guild, and I’m deeply involved with the ARCS Foundation Northern California Chapter, which provides funding to outstanding graduate students. Supporting the next generation of innovators, creators, and leaders is my passion.