Industry trailblazer Ayesha Jassiem, who is the Group Director at Trident Press Marketing, shares her advice on leadership, success, and navigating tough times in business.
What leadership principles ensure both yours and your team’s success?
Our brand prioritises multitasking, and we never say no to a challenge. Clear communication and trust are also important. In any business, you’ll encounter different personalities, cultures, and backgrounds, and we need to celebrate that in one another and support each other so the business can succeed. We use our differences as our strength.
How do you navigate tough times in the industry?
Make sacrifices in the top tier of the business so that your staff aren’t affected. We make little sacrifices along the way in management to allow staff to provide for their families.
You were recently awarded the prestigious Women in Print Award 2025. What is your advice to women who want to be trailblazers in the printing industry?
Accept that you don’t have to be perfect and you don’t have to always get it right. Make sure that your voice is heard and that you are seen. Not everyone is going to accept you or like you, and that’s okay — you’ll find your crowd and your support structure. Most people fear being rejected or criticised, but if you believe in yourself, then you’ll succeed.
Also be bold in your presence, educate yourself and continuously push yourself out of your comfort zone.
What should printing businesses do to ensure their longevity in this digital age?
Do your homework, and make sure that you stay relevant. Invest in relationships with clients and suppliers. Make sure that your brand is seen and heard by using digital platforms to market yourself. People are still going to print, but they generally use social media and technology to get information. So use digital media to make people aware of your services and to ensure that you are the printing company everyone talks about.
How do you achieve a healthy balance between work and your personal life?
Scheduling and planning ahead keep me sane. I don’t always get it right, but when that happens, I use that as an opportunity to do better. I’ve learnt to set boundaries, and to make time for my family, my responsibilities and my children. But I’ve also learnt to make time for myself. I love dancing and do a lot of Zumba. Achieving a healthy balance first applies to you personally before your professional goals.
Many women say that they are expected to sacrifice a lot and they end up losing themselves. What is your advice to them?
Know where your boundaries lie. Most importantly, think of yourself first, grow yourself first and love and believe in yourself first before anyone else can. When you display that confidence, that is when things will happen for you.
And then also know when to leave the table — when it no longer serves you and is no longer the right place for you. If you are losing your sanity and yourself in the process of growing your professional career, but it no longer serves you, then it’s okay to leave and start over again.
There have been times in my career where I doubted myself and the place that I was in. But I’m very grateful to my company because they have adapted their business to allow me space. It’s a working relationship that is mutually beneficial.
C1W Initiative
Change 1 Woman (C1W) aims to empower women in the branding, print and signage industries. As part of this initiative, Sign Africa would like to spotlight women-focused content like this piece. If you have any trend/business articles related to the signage, branding and printing industries, please email content to: meggan@practicalmedia.co.za. Follow C1W on Facebook and LinkedIn for more updates.
TRIDENT PRESS MARKETING
https://www.tridentpressmarketing.com
