Women in Print Alliance Presence at Expo Reveals Positive Shift in The Industry
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Coming off the whirlwind of PRINTING United Expo, it’s easy to remember the cutting-edge technologies that were showcased on the show floor.
However, what makes PRINTING United Expo unique is also its emphasis on community off the show floor, and that was evident with the Women in Print Alliance’s (WIPA) presence in Orlando.
Women in Print Alliance Director Lisbeth Lyons Black kicking things off at the Networking Luncheon
From dozens of women walking around branded with temporary tattoos from California Tattoos, a Women in Print Alliance corporate member, to having its own designated spot at the PRINTING United Alliance booth, holding a smashing welcome reception, and providing an insightful networking luncheon, WIPA had its largest presence at the Expo to date.
And if you’re not a member yet, Lisbeth Lyons Black, director of WIPA, reminded women in attendance at the luncheon that Women in Print Alliance is, first and foremost, an inclusive entity that doesn’t leave any women in the industry behind.
“We are a community-building initiative and a workforce development initiative. Our mission is to attract, advance, and advocate for women at all stages of their careers,” Lyons Black said. “We are a very good time, we are an inclusive, and we are a welcoming community.”
Following a first night welcome reception at Orlando’s Hampton Social, where Women in Print Alliance members had a chance to unwind from the day and chat with their fellow colleagues, the annual Women in Print Alliance Networking Luncheon, which took place the next day, hosted more than 200 women from all segments of the industry and from all around the world. Countries including Honduras, Latvia, India, Colombia, Jamaica, and more were represented at this year’s event.
Layla Caballero, who is a sales manager for audience solutions with Valpak, said she was inspired to see diversity in the room, but that there’s always room for improvement.
“We need more, and I think we're defined, to some extent, by being women,” Cabellero said. “But I think with more diversity and all of these different places we’re coming from, it provides another element of learning, another element of collaboration, and another element of experience, because it depends on where you're coming from ... you may experience either different challenges or different opportunities, and also visualize them differently,”
Following a sit-down plated lunch and lively discussion, professional negotiation coach Joan Moon took the stage to discuss the art of negotiation and how everyone in the room can better advocate for themselves.
Moon’s presentation focused on negotiation strategies, emphasizing the importance of understanding underlying interests beyond positions. She also highlighted the need to expand the definition of negotiation to include informal situations, reducing ambiguity by investigating negotiable aspects, and to frame requests as legitimate wins. Most importantly, she added, be patient with yourself when you’re doing it.
“Negotiating can be really stressful, and I've had too many women come up to me like, ‘Oh, I know I shouldn't have done that,’ and ‘I wish I said something.’ So, if anything, when you’re using these tools, I want you to be kind to yourself in the process,” Moon said.
For Aimee Piercy, embroidery production manager for Varsity screen-printing shop in Fort Pierce, Florida, Moon’s presentation and WIPA’s presence at the Expo solidified for her that women in our industry are increasingly finding the confidence to stand up and speak up.
“We need to advocate for ourselves,” Piercy said. “I mean, it's always been men, you know. And I think women are a lot stronger than we give ourselves credit for. And I think in this type of area of work, we have so much potential to stand out more and show people what we’re capable of.”
