Women to Watch: Beena Gala of Infinity Industries

Beena Gala, director of sales and marketing at Infinity Industries, has spent eight years in the company, but her connection to the paper industry is far deeper. She shares, “From childhood, I have been surrounded by conversations about paper.”

With Gala’s paternal family running Vagadwala Paper Company and her husband’s family business, Reliable Paper Company (Infinity Industries), her decision to formally join Infinity Industries was motivated by a desire to contribute to the paper and packaging sector. She reflects, “After getting free from personal and familial responsibilities, I wanted to do something meaningful.”

Blending sales and marketing
While staying open to learning new things and embracing challenges and changes as they come, Gala’s role at Infinity Industries is dynamic and multifaceted. A typical day is characterised by balancing strategic planning and operational execution. 

This involves client engagement, where she builds and maintains customer relationships by understanding their needs and offering tailored solutions. She is also responsible for sales strategy, which encompasses monitoring market trends, setting targets, and driving growth initiatives. 

Complementary to the sales strategy is marketing and branding, where she plans campaigns, participates in industry events, and promotes the company’s sustainable paper solutions.

In addition to driving commercial aspects, Gala focuses on team leadership, guiding and mentoring the sales staff to ensure alignment with broader company goals. Her duties extend to managing the supply chain through vendor and mill coordination, requiring close collaboration with paper mills to ensure timely procurement and adherence to strict quality standards. 

Finally, a forward-looking aspect of her role is dedicated to innovation and sustainability, where she explores new products and eco-friendly alternatives to meet evolving market demands.

Paper packaging and sustainability
With films and plastics posing recycling challenges, Gala believes that paper products will increasingly replace short-term packaging requirements. She asserts, “With volume production, paper-based solutions will become more viable and cost-effective.”

In addition, FSC certification ensures accountability throughout the supply chain — while current demand primarily originates from multinational corporations, this interest often diminishes when premium pricing is involved. Infinity Industries demonstrated early leadership by becoming the first paper trading company in India to receive both FSC and PEFC certification in 2005. 

Gala remarks, “As members of the Paper Traders Association (PTA), Mumbai and the Federation of Paper Traders’ Associations of India (FPTA), we regularly educate the industry about FSC standards.”

She further points out that the paper industry, both globally and in India, is making significant strides by maximising the use of renewable wind and solar energy in production. She shares, “Water consumption has drastically reduced thanks to advanced technology and machinery. Packaging companies can further adopt renewable energy to ensure long-term sustainability and reduce carbon footprints.”

Addressing the average Indian consumer’s confusion regarding biodegradable and recyclable packaging, Gala remarks that industry associations play a crucial role in education. She shares, “Infinity, along with PTA and FPTA, actively promotes paper as eco-friendly and sustainable at every possible level of communication.”

She emphasised that collective effort is crucial for standardising consumer education and ensuring that the public understands the environmental advantages of paper packaging.

Toward equality
Gala emphasised a positive professional experience, noting that she has been consistently respected, accepted, welcomed, and appreciated by Paper Traders and numerous Printers across India. 

This atmosphere highlights the importance of mutual respect in genuine gender equality at the workplace. Her experience demonstrates that when all genders prioritise harmony and professional acceptance, it creates an equitable and supportive environment where women can thrive, and senior professional roles are successfully maintained without bias.

Her advice to young professionals and women aspiring to enter the industry was direct: stay curious, embrace challenges, and never underestimate the power of innovation to help achieve a greener future for packaging.

Regarding Infinity Industries, she confirmed that many positive changes are underway and the company expects to regain its full business strength. 

Gala concluded by asserting, “I believe the paper and packaging industry is at a turning point where sustainability is no longer optional—it is essential.” She adds, “My vision is to see paper become the preferred choice for packaging globally, reducing plastic dependency and protecting our environment.”