This year I had the exciting opportunity to attend my first Girls Who Print Day Conference. Although I could only participate virtually for a few hours in the morning, I thoroughly enjoyed engaging with the event and reading through the lively chat discussions as they progressed. Since I was traveling to Florida at the time and couldn’t join for the entire event, I made the most of the experience by watching the replays later on their new YouTube channel. Having these recordings available is such a fantastic way for those with busy schedules to still be part of the Girls Who Print Day celebration.
This event is an amazing resource for the print industry. It offers valuable insights and inspiration. It was so cool to hear from professionals from around the globe, showcasing industry innovations and discussing strategies to attract and engage with young talent. The speakers were outstanding, and I gained so much knowledge about using my skills to my advantage, developing leadership skills, and marketing techniques, and confidently putting myself out there. It was an experience that left me feeling both informed and inspired!
As a student, I may be a bit biased, but my favorite part of the event was the focus on students entering the industry. I connected with so many of the points that were made. As someone younger, it’s often hard to know how others see us. It was incredibly refreshing to hear this topic addressed directly. The acknowledgment that stereotypes about Gen Z being lazy or unwilling to work are simply untrue was so validating to hear. I also really appreciated Trish Witkowski’s comment about hiring two interns at a time. I wholeheartedly agree with that suggestion.
It is hard to find people our age in the industry right now. I’ve had a few internships now and had the opportunity to work with other students. I have done previous internships with other students, and I truly believe that made the experience even better. Having someone I can relate to and work with on projects was so important and made me more confident. Everything shared in that discussion was so helpful for someone like me preparing to step into the professional world and everyone looking to hire younger talent.
I absolutely loved the leadership panel as well. It wasn’t just about the questions and answers, it was the way the women in leadership positions carried themselves that stood out. You could see the qualities that helped them get where they are. They were attentive listeners, confident, patient, resilient, and passionate about what they did. It was also so fun to watch the reactions of the award recipients. They were all clearly well-earned, even if they were humble about receiving them. The entire event was truly inspiring from start to finish.
Girls Who Print Day was such an inspiring experience. It was amazing to see all the talent, creativity, and leadership in the print industry. From the discussions about bringing students into the field to celebrating the incredible women in leadership, every part of the event was full of helpful advice and motivation. I loved seeing all the support from people all over the world from Europe to Africa, and back. I can’t wait to attend again and continue learning from these amazing women in the industry!
I want to throw out a huge thank you to Girls Who Print for the Girl Power event, and to Kelly Mallozzi and Deborah Corn for all they do to make events like this possible! I can’t wait to see what this community does in the future.
Tara Seth is a Graphic Media Management student at Ferris State University, where she serves as Vice President of the Graphic Arts Association. A passionate advocate for the print industry, Tara blogs for Printing Impressions and is an active member of Girls Who Print. She is also very active in the Graphic Media Alliance and has appeared on panels at DSCOOP and other industry events. Her dedication reflects her ambition to shape the future of graphic communications.
