Meet Sebastian Mittler, Product Manager SMF & Plastic, Foodservice Packaging
Sebastian Mittler joined Huhtamaki in September 2018, bringing with him experience from the packaging industry and a curiosity to learn.
“I wanted to experience a new environment and learn how things work elsewhere,” he says. “That definitely contributed to my decision to join Huhtamaki.”
Taking the next step
From early on, Sebastian was open about his ambition to grow. At Huhtamaki, supporting professional development is an important part of the culture, and for Sebastian this meant regular conversations with his manager and encouragement to take on new opportunities. In 2022, he stepped into leadership roles, first as a supervisor, and later with broader responsibilities in operations.
He also spent several months at the Huhtamaki site in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, where he gained first-hand insight into daily operations and customer expectations. After returning to Alf site in Germany, in 2024, he continued supporting production and later moved into his current role as Product Manager for SMF & Plastic in the Foodservice Packaging segment.
The value of open feedback
For Sebastian, the biggest driver has been open, continuous communication.
“I have regular conversations with my manager to see where we are and how we can move in the right direction,” he says. “Sometimes you don’t get feedback automatically, so it’s also good to ask for it.”
Having the space to speak up and take initiative has been an important part of his development. “If you want to grow, take action. Use every opportunity you get, but also actively speak up if you want to go in a certain direction.”
Supporting people on their journey
For Sebastian, leadership comes down to understanding people and supporting their journey.
“Leadership is about communication in the end,” he says and continues to say that it’s important to support people even if their path evolves over time.
“I’m always a fan of supporting people, even if they grow in different directions. ”