Printing SA held its successful Johannesburg Women in Print event on 8 August 2025. The event celebrated the invaluable contributions of women and provided unparalleled opportunities to connect with peers, industry leaders, and mentors.
This year’s Women in Print series, under the inspiring theme ‘Empower, Innovate, Inspire: Shaping the Future Together’, continues a powerful tradition of honouring women in the industry. Africa Print, Sign Africa and Modern Marketing are proud to be media partners of the series.
The keynote address was given by Sindisiwe Lydia Chikunga, the Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, who touched on the value of print. ‘Print media builds public trust. It also plays a vital role in combatting misinformation, helping to build a more engaged and informed society,’ said Chikunga.
‘ I congratulate Women in Print for the strides you have made in transforming what has historically been a male-dominated sector. I want to reaffirm that your effort in developing and transforming this industry has our department’s full commitment and unwavering support.’
‘We also commend Printing SA’s PrintHer mentorship programme and express our interest in working with you to mobilise additional resources for skills development and to support women’s transition into technical and creative roles within the printing industry.’
‘Research consistently demonstrates that diverse and gender inclusive teams make better decisions and are more innovative. These are essential qualities for an industry that must continuously adapt to shifting market demands,’ concluded Chikunga.
Panel Discussion
The panel discussion, moderated by motivational speaker, author and entrepreneur, Cindy Norcott, was titled ‘The woman who wore too many hats.’ Panellists included: Cindy Moller, Client Services and Technical Support, Fujifilm South Africa; Colleen Zimmerman, Managing Director, Renform; Alinah Fosi, CEO, Government Printing Works; and Samkelwe Gqomo, Marketing and Media entrepreneur and Founding Director of the Womandla Foundation.
The panellists were asked what they do to ensure their wellbeing. Zimmerman said, ‘You can’t take on the world by yourself – you need a support structure. There’s so much pressure to always put your best foot forward but it’s OK not to be OK. It’s also OK to seek professional help if you need it.’
Norcott agreed, saying that sometimes our goal as women is just to cope and that we’ve set the bar very low. ‘Sometimes we don’t realise a season has ended and we feel burnt out. We’ve got to know when the time has come to let go of a hat.’
The panellists were also asked about their leadership advice. Fosi said: ‘Teamwork is fundamental – remember that you’re not better than your team members. Your leadership should be visionary. Be self-driven and have self-discipline. As a manager, you need to be on the ground – not at your desk all day. Walk around your factory or workplace so that you know what’s happening. Embrace technology and encourage your team to keep studying and training.’
Moller had been told by men that her leadership style was too ‘soft’, but she rejected this and attributed her more collaborative leadership style as the key to her team’s success. ‘Be true to yourself and execute yourself according to your values,’ she said.
Gqomo said, ‘Let your authenticity be your guiding light. Test your vision. You also need to assess whether this is truly your vision, or others’ expectations.’
Norcott’s final takeout was: ‘Women need to be connected with each other and give themselves permission to be vulnerable.’
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
Attendees at Women in Print also enjoyed various brand activations that showcased products and services from various companies, including lifestyle activations with beauty, health, and wellness brands to create a holistic experience.
Live entertainment and pampering sessions ensured a balanced and enjoyable experience for all attendees.
There are limited tickets available for these upcoming Women in Print events – book now to avoid disappointment:
– KZN Chamber: 21 August, 8am-2pm, Radisson Blu Hotel, Umhlanga, Durban,
– Cape Chamber: 27 August, 8am-2pm, D’Aria Winery, Tygerberg Valley, Cape Town.
For more information, contact Abisha Katerere, akaterere@printingsa.org or + 27 11 287 1160
PRINTING SA
+27 11 287 1160
info@printingsa.org
http://www.printingsa.org
