The Women in Print Series is designed to celebrate the invaluable contributions of women, foster professional growth, and drive future-forward discussions. The events, held in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, provided unparalleled opportunities to connect with peers, industry leaders, and mentors. This year’s event, under the inspiring theme ‘Empower, Innovate, Inspire: Shaping the Future Together’, continued a powerful tradition.
The Cape Town leg of the event series was held on 27 August at D’Aria Winery, Tygerberg Valley. Sign Africa, Africa Print and Modern Marketing were proud to be media partners.
The panel discussion, moderated by motivational speaker, author and entrepreneur, Cindy Norcott, featured Ilisna O’Reilly, Sales Manager at NUtec Digital Ink; Candice Dos Santos, General Manager at Print-Tag; Kim Naran, Managing Director of Packtech Tooling; and Dr. Benadette Aineamani, Executive for Product and Services at Maskew Miller Learning. Here are some insights:
Norcott is often asked how she does it. ‘The answer is not well at all. Ladies, I believe in progress, not perfection. You know what I’ve realised? The top leaders are not trying to be anybody else. The best thing you can do, to be the best thing you can, is to be you. Because the people around you become safe. They’re safe to be here. Be yourself, because everyone else is already taken.’
Naran shared how she has gained the respect of men in the industry and in her company: ‘What worked for me in the beginning was to speak a little louder, work a little harder, and to put myself in their shoes. In order to gain their respect, I had to put on my overall. I had to show them that I was there to learn. That yes, I can pick up a sheet of wood.’
‘I also thank these men, because I’ve learnt a lot from them as well. So just as much as we are women at this Women in Print event and we’ve made a name for ourselves, we also need to thank the men that have given us the opportunity to shine.’
Naran also shared her inspiring journey of starting in the industry as a cleaner, then becoming a machine assistant and working her way up to being a Managing Director. ‘I enjoy challenges. It’s about pushing your own boundaries. You need to tell yourself that you can do it, and if someone tells you that you can’t do it, you show them that you can.’
Dr. Aineamani touched on the support systems she has in place to ensure success. ‘I’m a practising stoic. The major thing is using the dichotomy of control, because all the time we want to control what we are not able to control, and that’s the pain humans feel. So I know what I can control and what I cannot control. You have control over the internal and what you can do. Everything else, you cannot control. If people judge you, you can’t control it, so you need to have the courage to be disliked, because people disliking you doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong. That’s just how life is. If I can control it, I go ahead and do what I need to do, and leave everything that I cannot control, because it’s so tiring trying to please others, and trying to convince people that you’re worth it, rather than doing the right thing.’
Dr. Aineamani also spoke about what still needs to change in the business environment to support women leaders: ‘As women, we need to try as much as possible not to live in our heads and try to see things for what they are, not what we colour them to be, because we colour them to be based on some of the bad experiences we’ve had, then we take them to another situation, and then we get hurt in the process. And that’s where the philosophy of what can you control and how you see things comes in. We should change our mindsets and how we perceive things.’
O’Reilly discussed how she combats self-doubt: ‘What you think upon grows. When you second-guess yourself, you become that. So you have to think more positively so you don’t doubt yourself. Then there’s the company you keep. If you’re constantly around people who say negative things, and who constantly complain, that’s what you’re going to become. Surround yourself with empowering people. They are the ones who encourage and motivate you.’
Dos Santos was asked about how she handles the tougher days of being in management: ‘You have to find the ‘why’ to keep you going. Why am I here? Who am I? I’m a leader and entrepreneur, and I don’t take no for an answer. I ask my team: do you not want to work for the best printing company in South Africa? Do you not want to be the best version you can be? What keeps me going is my ‘why’.’
Change 1 Woman (C1W) Website Launched
C1W, a women-led initiative designed to uplift and empower women in the branding, print, and signage industries, announced their new website at the Women in Print event. The website features information on upcoming C1W networking events, news, informative women-led content, and information on training opportunities.
C1W also announced the upcoming free Johannesburg networking event, taking place on the C1W stand in Hall 2 at the Sign Africa Expo, on Wednesday 10 September at 11h30 am. This is your platform to connect with women in branding, print and signage. The first 150 ladies to RSVP will get their own C1W badge and shopper bag. Book your spot here: info@c1w.co.za
PRINTING SA
+27 11 287 1160
info@printingsa.org
http://www.printingsa.org
