Danna Drion, General Manager Marketing and Product Management at Mimaki Europe, outlines the importance of keeping print inclusive, and empowering women in the print industry. Across all industries, cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace is increasingly recognised as valuable and essential to long-term success.
However, despite the print industry’s significant advancements in technology and innovation, visible representation of women remains limited. As the sector grapples with low recruitment, it’s important to challenge outdated perceptions. Creating real change, however, requires collective effort, no single company can do it alone.
So, how can we empower the women already working within the industry, and provide them with the visibility and support they need to succeed?
Studies have identified that the lack of female representation can leave female employees feeling isolated. According to the KPMG Women’s Leadership Study, over 80% of women felt encouraged to pursue leadership positions when they saw women already in those positions.
Ensuring that both women and men are equally recognised is essential in transforming the face of the print industry. This can take many forms, from hosting seminars and talks to simply showcasing female talent on company social media platforms.
In light of that, women-led organisations like Girls Who Print are also crucial in bridging these gaps. They offer mentorship, provide advice, and a sense of community that helps women navigate the unique challenges of the industry with confidence. Mentorship programmes are especially valuable, offering aspiring female professionals the chance to learn from seasoned print leaders and further their own career and skillset.
Creating change also means looking beyond the companies themselves, to customers and collaborators. Supporting women-led initiatives and creatives is key. Mimaki, for example, has collaborated with several inspiring female artists and designers, such as Tessa Koops, Claire Vos and Sigrid Calon. Furthermore, supporting non-profits like Tiny Miracles, which employs women from marginalised backgrounds in India by providing a steady income, helps create more opportunities for women globally.
Another challenge arises in how to encourage a more diverse workplace in the first place. Print is often overlooked as a career path, unless you know of someone working within the industry, and this poses a problem in hiring diversely across the board. This is especially true for women, as print is frequently perceived as a traditional manufacturing sector, which has historically been male dominated. Such misconceptions can discourage women from seeing print as a viable or inspiring career option.
In reality, the print industry is incredibly diverse and creative, spanning interior décor, signage, medical 3D printing prototypes and more. It’s not just about production, it’s about technology, innovation, and design. With the growing use of cutting-edge technologies like robotics and artificial intelligence, the industry now requires highly skilled employees who can operate and manage complex machinery.
To attract more women, and more diverse talent in general, it’s crucial to shift the narrative. Print is no longer just about machines and manufacturing, it’s a forward-looking, technology-driven industry where people with diverse skillsets can thrive. Rebranding the print industry as a dynamic and creative career path is essential to attracting a more diverse workforce for a more inclusive future.
At Mimaki, we believe in leading by example. Personally, I’ve been mentoring students for many years at the University of Amsterdam, with a particular focus on empowering young women as they take their first steps into the job market. This experience has given me the opportunity to highlight the diversity, creativity, and technological innovation that define today’s print industry, and to inspire more women to see themselves as part of its future. Over the years, we have also developed an internship programme that continues to grow and deliver excellent results, helping young talent gain hands-on experience and contribute new perspectives to our teams.
While the print industry still faces challenges when it comes to female representation, the developments made in recent years are encouraging. More women are entering the field, taking on high-level positions and in general helping to shape the industry’s future.
However, achieving true inclusivity and diversity will require continued effort from companies, organisations, and individuals. By supporting female talent, offering mentorship opportunities, and breaking down outdated perceptions about the industry, we can ensure that the print sector becomes a place where all employees, regardless of gender, feel valued and empowered.
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.
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